New Jersey Wrestling Braces for State Playoff Sprint
– New Jersey high school wrestling is entering a critical phase, with sectional title races heating up and teams preparing for the state playoffs. Recent results and rankings indicate a competitive landscape across the state, with several teams positioning themselves as favorites and contenders.
NJ.com wrestling coverage highlights 44 finalists and 22 champions expected to emerge from the upcoming sectional tournaments. The publication has released predictions for every wrestling sectional title race, offering insights into potential winners and dark horses.
Saturday, , saw a flurry of action, with several notable matchups shaping the playoff picture. Shore defeated New Egypt in a postseason tune-up, while Glen Rock benefited from strong performances from its lightweights in a win over Garfield. Point Pleasant Beach secured a narrow victory over Spotswood thanks to a last-bout pin, and Toms River South leveraged its upper weights to triumph over West Deptford. Washington Township dominated the lightweights in a win against Paulsboro, and Middle Township continued its winning streak, defeating Ocean City for their tenth consecutive victory. Toms River South also secured a win against Northern Burlington, riding early momentum, and Ocean Township downed Hopewell Valley in their final regular season tune-up.
Looking ahead, previews are available for the South, Group 4, South Group 1, North 2, Group 5, and South Group 5 wrestling tournaments. These previews identify favorites, contenders, and provide an outlook for each competition. The NJSIAA Wrestling team tournament brackets for 2026 have also been released, with quarterfinal and semifinal matches scheduled for Monday.
St. Augustine Prep, a District 29 and Region 8 team, is currently ranked #19 in New Jersey. The team boasts a history of success, winning 60% of its individual matches and accumulating 20 state medals, 29 Region Championships, and 34 Group Championships. Notable wrestlers from St. Augustine include Anthony Depaul (competing at 144 in 2025 and 138 in 2024), Richie Grungo (a 2023 state champion at 144), and Brady Conlin (a 2023 runner-up at 150).
Richie Grungo currently holds the second-highest score among St. Augustine wrestlers, with a score of 325, 4 medals, and 1 state championship. Mike Misita follows with a score of 298, 3 medals, and 1 state championship. Brady Conlin has a score of 258, 3 medals, and 2 state championships. Kaden Naame has a score of 228, 3 medals, and 4 state championships.
The New Jersey wrestling scene is clearly vibrant and competitive, with teams and individual wrestlers preparing for the challenges ahead. The upcoming tournaments promise exciting matchups and will ultimately determine which teams will advance to the state championships.
