District 19 Tournament
at Matawan

DISTRICT 19 TRACK WRESTLING PAGE

DISTRICT PAGES
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Team Champion: Raritan

TOP 4 FINISHERS

106
1st: Logan McDermid (Hillsborough)
2nd: Nicholas Sheldrick (Raritan)
3rd: Melvin Lopez-Castro (Red Bank)
4th: Rowen Blackmore (Holmdel)

113
1st: Dom Sena (Red Bank)
2nd: Thomas Kester (Hillsborough)
3rd: Dylan Placca (Holmdel)
4th: Dean Cuiffo (Matwan)

 

TEAMS
Hillsborough
Holmdel
Keansburg
Keyport
Marlboro
Matawan
Raritan
Red Bank Regional
Rutgers Prep

 

SHORE STUFF

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
1st: Alex Reyes (190)
2nd: Dylan Placca (113) / Nicholas Paulino (120)
3rd: Rowen Blackmore (106) / Anthony Paulino (132) / Michael Todisco (150) / Jack Cleary (157) / AJ Todisco (165)
4th: AJ Fernandez (126) / James Vanderham (138) / Shahood Khan (144) / Hamsa Elmesi (215) / John Gann (Hwt)

The Hornets have 13 of their 14 wrestlers seeded in the Top 4, which puts them in very good position to make a run at their first District Team Title since they went back-to-back in 1981 and 1982. Holmdel crowned 5 champions in each of those seasons, which is the program high mark. Their current run of 7 straight seasons with at least one champion is also a program best.

Sophomore Alex Reyes used a pair of pinfalls to win the 175-pound District 18 title last season. He's the #1 seed at 190 this year, and looking to become the 8th wrestler in program history to win multiple District Titles.

Another Hornet looking to repeat is AJ Todisco. The senior is seeded 3rd at 165 behind #2 Shawn Retta of Keansburg, who he dropped a 5-2 decision to a couple weeks back in the Hornets dual against the Titans. Todisco, who went on to finish 5th at Regions last year, was also a District Finalist in 2022.

Senior Anthony Paulino iand junior Jack Cleary have also previously advanced to the District Finals, with both wrestlers making it in 2022. They are also seeded 3rd in their respective weight classes

 

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
1st: Dom Terracciano (126)
2nd: Shawn Retta (165)
3rd: Jayden Johnson (175) / Michael Sullivan (215)

The Titans have not had a District Champion since heavyweight Paul Liseno won back in 2017. Senior Dom Terracciano, who became the school's first ever Shore Conference Tournament medal winner at this year's tournament, gives them a great shot to end the drought as the #1 seed at 126. Terracciano, a 2-time District medalist, defeated the #2 seed in his bracket, Lawrence Liss of Matawan, by fall in the 3rd-place match at the SCT.

Keansburg had 4 wrestlers seeded in the Top 3 this year. If the seeds hold, it would give the Titans their most medal winners in a single season since they sent 5 to the podium in 2007.
 

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
4th: Max Fredericks (165)

The Red Raiders will be looking to get their first District medal winner since Shane Zimmerman took 3rd in 2020. Junior Max Fredericks, a 21-match winner, is the Red Raiders' highest seed at #4 at 165, while Chris Prevost (144) and Justin Fernandez (157) received #5 seeds.
 

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
2nd: Andrew Silvia (138) / Alex Jang (150) / Devin Leonardo (175)

The Mustangs received three #2 seeds in juniors Andrew Silvia and Alex Jang, and senior Devin Leonardo. If all three can hold their seeds and advance to the finals, it would be the first time since 2020 Marlboro had multiple District Finalists.

Jang, a 4th-place finisher last season, spent the majority of the season wrestling up at 157. He's down at 150 for the first time this year. Leonardo defeated both of his potential semifinals opponents earlier this season, with a 9-5 win over #3 Jayden Johnson of Keansburg back in December at the Holmdel Holiday Tournament, and a 4-2 win over #7 Aidan Kauffman of Matawan last weekend.

 

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
1st: Colin Palumbo (157)
2nd: Lawrence Liss (126) / Alexander Liss (132)
3rd: Mohammad Targali (Hwt)
4th: Dean Cuiffo (113) / Metin Metioglu (190)

The Huskies current streak of 4 seasons with a District Champ is the longest since their 8 year run from 1977-1984. 

Junior Colin Palumbo received the lone top-seed for the Huskies. Palumbo is a returning District Champ, and was a State Qualifier a year ago after placing 4th at Regions. 

Senior Lawrence Liss will be attempting to become the Huskies' first ever 3-time District Champion. A 2-time State Qualifier, Liss became the 6th wrestler in program history to reach 100 career wins. He is in the 2-seed due to a loss at the Shore Conference Tournament to #1 Dom Terracciano of Keansburg. 

Lawrence's brother Alexander also received a #2 seed. A 3rd-place finisher at Districts last season, Liss has a pair of pinfall victories over both of his potential semifinal opponents, #3 Anthony Paulino of Holmdel, and #6 Matt Falcone of Marlboro.

 

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
1st: Aidan Davis (132) / Zach Reilley (144) / Alex Delaurier (150) / Jonathan Gazerwitz (Hwt)
2nd: Nicholas Sheldrick (106) / Logan Acevedo (157) / Ryan Settle (190)
4th: Charles Geoghan (120)

The Rockets four #1 seeds trails only Hillsborough's five. Their 128 District Champions is 8th most all-time in Shore Conference history, 59 of those champions were coached by Rob Nucci, who is leading the Rockets into the individual postseason for the final time as he will be stepping down at the end of the year. He'll still be helping the Rockets pump out District Champs though as he will be taking over as the middle school coach. Raritan is currently on a streak of 21 seasons with a District Champion; a streak that began in 2002, Nucci's first year as head coach. Nucci has also led the Rockets to 7 of their 11 District Team Titles.

Returning champions Zach Reilley and Alex Delaurier each received #1 seeds. Reilley, a 5th-place finisher at States last season, enters the postseason with 116 career wins, and will finish his career as the 4th winningest wrestler in program history. He will be continuing his career at Long Island University next year. Delaurier also made the trip to Atlantic City last year after finishing 4th at Regions. He was two wins away from the podium at Boardwalk Hall.

Also receiving #1 seeds were senior Aidan Davis and Jonathan Gazerwitz, who both placed 3rd at Districts last year. Gazerwitz, who split time at 215 and heavyweight this season, picked up some solid wins up at heavy and could be a sleeper throughout this weight class.

 

 

 

Top 4 Seeds
1st: Kevin Ruland (120) / Tyler Palumbo (175)
2nd: Jason Huss (144) / Evan Eckerstrom (215)
3rd: Dom Sena (113) / CJ Principe (138) / William Richards (150)
4th: Melvin Lopez-Castro (106)

The Bucs have 7 wrestlers seeded in the "money seeds" (1st-3rd). If those seeds hold, it would top what is believed to be their program record of 6 District medal winners in a single season. I say "believed to be" as we never could confirm that the 6 medal winners in 2009 was, in fact, their highest. Anyway...

Junior Kevin Ruland and sophomore Tyler Palumbo received #1 seeds for the Bucs. Ruland, a runner-up last season, was tied for the team lead in wins during the regular season with Dom Sena (seeded 3rd), with 28 wins. Ruland has 89 career wins through his first two-plus seasons. Palumbo was also a runner-up last season, and was a win away from a trip to Atlantic City as a freshman last year.

 

Team Title Prediction

Raritan

Champions Prediction

106: McDermid (Hillsborough)
113: Placca (Holmdel)
120: Ruland (Red Bank)
126: Terracciano (Keansburg)
132: Davis (Raritan)
138: Miller (Hillsborough)
144: Reilley (Raritan)
150: Delaurier (Raritan)
157: Palumbo (Matawan)
165: Todisco (Holmdel)
175: Palumbo (Red Bank)
190: Reyes (Holmdel)
215: Jones (Hillsborough)
Hwt: Gazerwitz (Raritan)

Advancement History