2023 Shore Conference Wrestling Upperweights to Watch
2023 Shore Conference Wrestlers to Watch
Upper weights (150-285)
Note: Wrestlers are listed in alphabetical order. Criteria is a region medal or better.
Ryan Acquisto, Jr., Point Boro, 150
Acquisto was third in District 21 and fifth in Region 6, finishing his sophomore season with a 27-8 record.
Tyler Barrett, Sr., CBA, 150
Barrett's junior season was a redemptive one. After failing to return to the state tournament after qualifying as a freshman, Barrett won District 21 and Region 6 titles on his way to a third-place finish in the state at 150 pounds. His spot at 150 begins a formidable stretch for the high-powered Colts. Barrett is committed to Columbia University.
Joe Berryman, Sr., Freehold, 165
Berryman reached the state tournament last season when he went 25-12, placed second in District 22, and fourth in Region 6.
Ryan Boyer, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven, 165
Boyer came within one win of a state medal last season by reaching the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. In total, he went 31-10, won a District 19 title, and placed third in Region 5.
Robert Canterino, Sr., CBA, 215
Canterino, who is committed to Davidson College, was a revelation for the Colts last season. He had no prior postseason criteria heading into his junior year before putting together a 32-6 campaign that included a District 24 title and a Region 6 championship. He finished one win short of a state medal, falling in wrestleback round 4, so it's obvious Canterino has his sights set on a state medal in his final high school season.
Matt Coon, Sr., Lacey, 190/215
Coon had a great junior season by going 32-8, winning a District 25 championship, finishing second in Region 7, and reaching the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.
Conor Delaney, So., Rumson-Fair Haven, 190
Delaney was just 13-7 on the season as a freshman but made his mark in the individual postseason by winning a District 19 championship and placing sixth in Region 5.
Nicholas DeLorenzo, Sr., Toms River East, 157
DeLorenzo went 27-7, won a District 25 title, and finished sixth in Region 7.
Donovan DiStefano, Jr., Wall, 150
DiStefano just missed a state medal last season in advancing to the fourth round of wrestlebacks at 144 pounds. The Crimson Knights standout was 26-2, a District 22 champion, and a Region 6 champion as a sophomore.
Anthony Evangelista, Sr., Southern, 285
Evangelista joins the Rams after transferring from Hammonton where he finished second in districts, third in regions, and reached the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.
Ryan Fischer, Sr., Jackson Memorial, 285
Fischer was third in District 24 and placed sixth in Region 6 to finish with a 22-11 record.
Michael Foley, Sr., St. John Vianney, 215
Foley's presence up top gives SJV some balance to go along with its awesome group of lowerweights. Last season, he was 23-7 with a District 17 title and a fifth-place finish in Region 5.
Luke Hamann, Sr., Jackson Memorial, 175
Hamann went 28-6, won a District 24 title, and finished fifth in Region 6 as a junior wrestling at 165 pounds.
Matt Henrich, Jr., Southern, 150
The Rams return a whopping 12 wrestlers with postseason criteria and Henrich is one of their best after a tremendous sophomore season. The Rutgers commit won a District 25 title, secured a Region 7 title, and concluded his season on the podium as the state seventh-place finisher at 138 pounds.
DJ Henry, Sr., Howell, 190
Henry helped the Rebels reach the Group 5 final and finished 28-5 with a District 22 championship and a second-place finish in Region 6. He then reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks to finish one win short of a state medal.
David Hussey, Sr., Middletown South, 165
Hussey was 32-7, won a District 20 title and a Region 5 championship, and reached the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament to help Middletown South to one of the best seasons in program history.
Cael Huxford, Jr., Jackson Memorial, 150
Huxford went 30-9 and qualified for the state tournament after finishing second in District 24 and third in Region 6.
Jake Klein, Sr., Jackson Liberty, 215
Klein was 26-8 last season, finishing second in District 21, second in Region 6, and reaching the second round of wrestlebacks in Atlantic City.
Anthony Lawrence, Sr., CBA, 165
After transferring from Toms River East prior to last season, Lawrence gave the Colts another stud among the upper weights. He went on to win a District 21 title, finish third in Region 6, and reach the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.
Joe Layton, Sr., Colts Neck, 165
Layton went 25-12, finished third in District 22, and earned a Region 6 medal with a fifth-place finish.
Harvey Ludington, So., Brick Memorial, 175
Ludington took New Jersey by storm last season with an incredible individual postseason that culminated with the NJSIAA 175-pound state championship. He was 35-1 on the season and avenged his only loss. Back at the same weight for his sophomore season, Ludington is the man to beat at 175. He is ranked 17th/13th in the country by Rokfin and FloWrestling, respectively.
Kevin McBride, Sr., St. John Vianney, 157
McBride is proof that record matters little if you can produce in the postseason. He was just 13-12 last season but reached the state tournament via a third-place finish in District 17 and a fourth-place finish in Region 5.
Riley O'Boyle, Sr., Southern, 215
O'Boyle went 29-9, finished second in District 25, placed fourth in Region 7, and nearly completed a Cinderella run to a state medal before being eliminated in the fourth round of wrestlebacks.
Lorenzo Portella, Jr., Red Bank Catholic, 285
While his older brother, Sabino, was the headliner last season, Lorenzo had an excellent season of his own by winning District 20 and Region 5 championships and then finishing seventh in New Jersey at the state tournament. He was 29-5 as a sophomore and figures to be among the state's top heavyweights this season.
Sabino Portella, Sr., Red Bank Catholic, 175/190
On both the football field and the wrestling mat, Portella has been an all-time Caseys great during his first 3 1/2 years at RBC. He was 28-3 last season, won a District 20 championship, finished second in Region 5, and placed fourth in the state for his second state medal. Portella is ranked 6th in the nation by Rokfin and 18th by FloWrestling, and is committed to the University of North Carolina.
Jasiah Queen, Sr., St. John Vianney, 165
Queen made an immediate impact for the Lancers after transferring from Elizabeth. He was 22-4 on the season, winning a District 17 title and placing second in Region 5 before an excellent run at Boardwalk Hall that culminated with a fifth-place finish. Queen is ranked 20th nationally by Rokfin and 8th by FloWrestling and committed to Drexel University
Zander Silva, Sr., CBA, 157
After qualifying for the state tournament in each of his first two seasons, Silva enjoyed a breakout season as a junior by going 33-5, winning District 21 and Region 6 championships, and placing third in New Jersey at 157 pounds. The Princeton University commit is a state title contender and one of several hammers on a potent CBA team.
Hudson Skove, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven, 215
Skove was 37-4 as a sophomore and captured the District 19 crown and a Region 5 title. He reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament, one victory short of a coveted state medal. Now in his third year as an upperweight standout, Skove is aiming for a spot on the podium in Boardwalk Hall this coming March.
Cole Stangle, So., St. John Vianney, 150
An integral part of SJV's phenomenal 2025 class, Stangle was 27-12 with a District 17 title and a third-place finish in Region 5. He then advanced to the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.
Nick Stump, Sr., CBA, 175
Stump went 25-9 as a junior, won a District 21 title, finished third in Region 6, and reached the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.
Jack Thompson, Sr., Point Boro, 157
Thomspon went on a Cinderella run in the state tournament last season and nearly secured a state medal despite entering as a fourth-place region finisher. He reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks to finish one victory short of a top-eight finish. He was second in District 21 and finished with a 32-6 record.
Cole Velardi, Sr., Southern, 157
Velardi's junior season was one of redemption. After reaching the state tournament as a freshman but failing to qualify as a sophomore, Velardi punched back with a fifth-place finish in New Jersey at 150 pounds. He also won his first district and region titles and finished with a 37-5 record.
Cosmo Zaccaro, Sr., Central, 215
Zaccaro was one of the Shore Conference's top upperweights last season when he won a District 25 championship, finished third in Region 7, and advanced to the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He posted a 36-5 record.
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