Local Teams Win Four Wresting Sectional Titles and Two State Crowns
The team portion of the high school wrestling season has concluded, and it was another big year for teams from the seven-county South Jersey area.
Camden Catholic and Delsea repeated as state champions.
Meanwhile, Audubon won its first-ever sectional title while Lower Cape May was also a sectional champion. Here is a look at the fourth schools.
Audubon
The Green Wave won their first ever sectional title, and it came over a South Jersey and state powerhouse. Audubon defeated host Paulsboro, 36-30 to win the South Jersey Group 1 championship and end the Red Raiders’ 16-year sectional championship streak.
It also avenged Audubon’s 37-33 regular season loss at Paulsboro.
Coach Mike Ahern, in his first year guiding the Green Wave, did a masterful job.
In the sectional championship, Audubon received pins from Joem Gonzalez (150) and David Borodziuk (190).
Audubon then concluded its dual meet season with a 39-36 loss to Emerson.
Camden Catholic
The Irish won their state title in convincing fashion with a 53-19 victory over Pope John XXIII in the NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena.
This is a program used to standing on the winning podium as it was Camden Catholic’s 20th state championship.
It was not only Camden Catholic’s second straight state championship, but the second year in a row that coach Bill Heverly’s team went 17-0.
It was such a dominating season that Camden Catholic’s closest win was 39-26 over Paramus Catholic during the second match of the season.
In the state final, the Irish had five pins. The team leader is Sammy Spaulding, the defending individual state champion at 132 pounds.
Spaulding had one of the five pins in the state championship, at 132 pounds.
Delsea
The Crusaders barely broke a sweat in earning a fifth straight state Group 3 championship. Delsea beat Brick Memorial, 51-22 in the state championship meet.
First-year coach Kurt DeWoody had his team wrestling its best in the postseason. Each of the five postseason matches were won by at least 20 points.
In the state final, Delsea received pins from Greyson Pettit (132), Amari Vann (138), Cameron Pote (175) and Greg Sawyer (190),
Earlier, Delsea won its 15th consecutive sectional title when the Crusaders beat Seneca, 58-21 in the South Jersey Group 3 final. The Crusaders then beat Ramapo, 48-28 in the state semifinal before finishing matters with its state championship win over Brick Memorial.
Lower Cape May
The Tigers won their second sectional title over the past three years when they defeated Collingswood, 46-27 in the South Jersey Group 2 championship.
Lower Cape May then beat Caldwell, 42-27 in the state Group 2 semifinal and fell just short in the state final, losing 35-33 to Rumson-Fair Haven.
Needing a pin in the final bout to tie the score, Lower Cape May instead earned a major decision, leaving the Tigers two-points short.
The leader for Lower Cape May has been Chase Hansen, who improved to 36-2 win a pin in the state championship at 138 pounds. The pin took just nine seconds to accomplish.
Audubon wrestling team / Photo courtesy of Audubon wrestling
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