By Joe Zedalis | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Pinning down the Top 20
Bergen Catholic is in its familiar spot atop the NJ.com Wrestling Top 20. The question is, can any team in New Jersey dethrone the Crusaders -- another non-public power like Delbarton or a loaded public squad like Howell or Paulsboro? We will find out over next three months. The NJ.com Top 20 is voted on by wrestling writers Bill Evans, Pat Lanni and Joe Zedalis.
Keith Mucilli | For NJ Advance Media
20-Monroe (18-2)
Ten returning regulars are spread throughout the line-up for Monroe, which cracked the NJ.com Top 20 for the first time last season. Kaylon Bradley (29-5 at 220), Nick DePalma (26-7 at 120) and Andrew Lombard (25-10 at 138) are the top returns for the Falcons.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
19-Emerson-Park Ridge (19-6)
Will a move to Group 1 make the difference for Emerson/Park Ridge? With a group led by five returning 30-match winners, including nationally ranked 106-pounder Nick Babin, Emerson/Park Ridge will try to gear up for its second state title in the last three years.
MORE: 36 N.J. wrestlers in national rankings
Jesse Bair | For NJ Advance Media
18-St. Augustine (18-8)
The Hermits captured a fourth straight South Jersey Non-Public A title last season and will have a soild nucleus back as they face their usual challenging schedule and try to hold off up-and-coming Camden Catholic. Sean Lensch, who reached the 195-pound state semifinals last year, is the top of a good group of returners and should be one of the state's top upperweights..
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
17-Kittatinny (18-5)
After reaching the Group 1 final in back-to-back seasons, Kittatinny got the bump up to Group 2, where its cast of nine returning starters will try maintain the team’s championship expectations. Junior state qualifier Zach Mafaro is coming off a 30-win season and will be a part of a strong group in the upperweights.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
16-Camden Catholic (26-6)
The Fighting Irish return all but on starter from a team that reached the South Jersey Non-Public A final. State placewinner Lucas Revano is the top retunrer.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
15-Long Branch (20-7)
Long Branch returns 11 starters — eight of them regional qualifiers — from a team that won the District 23 team title last season. Long Branch is balanced, but is particularly tough from 160 and up with Luke Arnold (25-13, 160); Dan Santos-Silva (25-12, 170), Pete Wersinger (35-8, 195) and Kevin Cerruti (20-18, 285).
MORE: Beast Mode: N.J. wrestlers to compete in 25th Beast of the East Tournament this weekend
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media
14-High Point (16-6)
High Point, which won the North 1, Group 2 title a season ago, returns nine starters from last year’s team and will turn its strength down low where a trio of state qualifiers -- Brandon LaRue, Devin Flannery and Shane Kobis -- lead the way.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
13-Hunterdon Central (23-3)
Hunterdon Central dropped a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to Howell in the Group 5 final last season, and while it graduated a pair of state medalists from that team, there is enough to build around, including state qualifiers Jack Bauer and Hunter Graf.
Lori M. Nichols | For NJ Advance Media
12-Delsea (24-5)
The 7-time defending South Jersey Group 3 champions would like another shot at South Plainfield after losses in the last two state finals. State champion Billy Janzer will compete at 182 pounds this year after winning the title at 170. The Crusaders are a balanced team with point production throughout the lineup if healthy.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
11-Seton Hall Prep (25-2)
Despite graduating three key seniors, Seton Hall Prep brings back 12 experienced wrestlers to take on a vamped up schedule which includes duals against South Plainfield, Don Bosco, Raritan and Middletown North.
RELATED: 2017-2018 group classifications
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
10-Southern (13-3)
Don’t sleep on Southern. The Rams return 10 wrestlers, who qualified for the Region 8 tournament last season. Southern is the two-time defending Class A South champions. The Rams meet Brick Memorial in an early division test Friday night. Phillipsburg, South Plainfield and High Point are on the Southern schedule.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
9-South Plainfield (30-1)
South Plainfield has to have a down season one of these years, right? Not this season. The Tigers are still the top team in Middlesex County and will be in the hunt for the Group 3 title later this season. South Plainfield returns three, 40-win wrestlers — Joe Heilman (44-2, 120), Joe Sacco (40-8, 145) and Zach DelVecchio (44-3, 285).
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
8-Raritan (27-3)
Raritan will be a contender for the Group 2 title with the return of 11 starters. Raritan will have three district champs between 120-145 pounds and could save six district place winners starting between 152 and 220. The top returner for the Rockets is Russell Benson, who has 99 career wins.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
7-Hanover Park (17-5)
Hanover Park came within a bout of winning the Group 2 title a season ago and will bring back state champion Nick Raimo as one of the hammers for a team with plenty of punch in the lower weights.
RELATED: Gateway's Dante and Antonio Mininno: The wrestling twins who energized a program and its fans
Frank Conlon | For NJ Advance Media
6-Phillipsburg (16-1)
Phillipsburg will say goodbye to a senior class that won four straight state titles but brings back plenty of talent and will welcome a strong freshman class. Brian Meyer, a Lehigh commit and third-place finisher at 152, headlines a group of 10 returners.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
5-Pope John (16-2)
Building around a young nucleus, Pope John returns three state medalists, including state runner up JoJo Aragona. Look for the Sussex County school to be one of the favorites to win a state title after getting bumped from Non-Public A to Non-Public B.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
4-Paulsboro (23-0)
A more challenging schedule will make it more difficult for the Red Raiders to go undefeated again, but they'll be tough to beat in Group 1 after back-to-back state titles. State placewinner Santino Morina joins cousin Anthony in the upperweights, Jacob Perez-Eli and Georgio Mazzeo are among the top lightweights and transfer Gabe Onoroto and two-time state qualifier Georg Worthy spark the middleweights.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
3-Howell (30-1)
Howell won every title possible last season including the Group 5 team title. It finished as the No. 1-ranked team in the Shore Conference and figures to go wire-to-wire atop the Shore rankings this season. Howell has some question marks up top, but has hammers spread throughout the rest of the lineup including state runner-up, Kyle Slendorn.
RELATED: South Jersey Times wrestling preview: Teams to watch in 2017-18
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
2-Delbarton (16-3)
Patrick Glory, NJ.com’s reigning Wrestler of the Year and the country’s top-ranked wrestler at 126, headlines a list of 13 returners as Delbarton brings back plenty of experience and continues to climb the national rankings.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
1-Bergen Catholic (14-4)
Expectations are as high as ever as Bergen Catholic tries to remain the No. 1 team for the fifth consecutive season. The lineup, which returns all but one starter, is scattered with six nationally ranked wrestlers including sophomore Robert Howard and senior Shane Griffith, who are both in the mix to be No. 1-ranked in their weight classes nationally.
More H.S. wrestling for NJ.com
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• Wrestling preview 2017-2018: A preseason look at Group 5
• Wrestling preview 2017-2018: A preseason look at Non-Public A
• Wrestling preview 2017-2018: A preseason look at Non-Public B
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