Bridgewater-Raritan High School concluded its dual wrestling season with an impressive title—the No. 2 Group 5 team in all of New Jersey.
Bridgewater-Raritan appeared in the wrestling program’s first group state championship match when it squared off with powerful Southern Regional High School in the Group 5 final on Sunday afternoon, February 16, at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway.
But Bridgewater Raritan's bid to win its first state championship was foiled when it ran into a buzzsaw—Southern Regional, which scored a 58-18 victory to successfully win its third straight Group 5 state championship.
Southern, ranked No. 8 in the state, finished the season with a 20-3 record and the Group 5 state title was the Manahawkin school’s fifth in the past six years.
Meanwhile, Bridgewater-Raritan capped a historical season.
Not only did Coach Kyle Murphy’s squad advance to the program’s first state group final, but the team established a school record for victories en route to its 21-8 finish Last year’s team won 20 matches that had established a school record.
The North Jersey Section 2, Group 5 state sectional title that was achieved with a 57-13 victory over Bayonne High School on Wednesday, February 12, was the school’s first since 2016, when Coach Murphy was a senior on that team.
Before a large crowd at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena, Bridgewater-Raritan had gained a 6-6 tie after two bouts with Southern when Andrew Adell pinned Hunter Borer at 1:33 in the 120-pound match.
But Southern then ripped off victories in the next seven matches, including four pins, to break away to a 41-6 lead.
Matthew DiEduardo, a state tournament qualifier last winter, stopped that streak for Bridgewater-Raritan when he pinned Nicholas Daddona in 5:19 at 175 pounds. That fall cut Bridgewater-Raritan’s deficit to 41-12.
Southern bounced back with a pin at 190 pounds, but Bridgewater-Raritan responded with its third and final victory of the match when Trent Levash pinned Sean Dupnak in 2:45 at 215 pounds. That left the score at 47-18 in favor of Southern before the Ocean County power won the final two bouts to close the match.
Coach Murphy summed up what has been a memorable season at Bridgewater-Raritan after the match at Rutgers.
“I’m just incredibly proud to be the coach of these kids. The athletes deserve this,” Coach Murphy said. “Thanks to the community for having our back these last few weeks for our historical run.”
He added:
“We will be back because that is what Panthers do.”
All seven NJSIAA group championships were decided at Rutgers on February 16.
In the biggest upset and in the showdown for the No., 1 ranking, St. Joseph Regional High School of Montvale shocked the defending champion, Delbarton School, 30-26, in the Non-Public A state final. Delbarton entered the match ranked No. 1 and St. Joseph came in at No. 2.
Delbarton defeated St.Joseph in last year’s Non-Public A state final one year after St.Joseph had upset Delbarton in the Non-Public A state championship match.
Two Skyland Conference rivals clashed in the Group 4 final where North Hunterdon Regional High School defeated Phillipsburg High School, 37-27. The Group 4 state title was North Hunterdon’s third in the past five years and seventh state group championship overall. North Hunterdon had previously won four Group 3 state championships.
Phillipsburg was seeking its 24th state group championship. This storied program has won one Group 5 state title, 13 Group 4 state championships and nine Group 3 state crowns.
Delsea Regional High School captured its fourth straight Group 3 state championship when the Gloucester County power took down Brick Memorial High School, 45-30.
Rumson-Fair Haven High School collected its second consecutive Group 2 state title when it defeated Caldwell High School, 40-28.
In the Group 1 state title bout, Delaware Valley Regional High School rolled past Hanover Park Regional High School, 47-16. That result gave Delaware Valley its 11th state title–the Frenchtown school won eight Group 2 state championships and now it has captured three state titles in Group 1.
Camden Catholic High School claimed its 19th state championship when it scored a pin in the final bout to rally past Pope John Regional High School, 32-30. Camden Catholic has won nine Non-Public B state titles and 10 Non-Public A state championships.
Next up will be the 32 district tournaments that will end on Saturday, February 22. The eight region tournaments will be wrestled February 28 and March 1 and then the season will come to an end when the state tournament is contested March 6-8 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.