Delbarton wrestling continued its dominance this past weekend, capturing the Catholic School Duals championship for the second consecutive year at Christian Brothers Academy. The tournament featured 14 of the top Catholic wrestling programs in New Jersey, but the Green Wave stood out with their commanding performances. On Friday, Delbarton overwhelmed St. Augustine, 59-7, and followed up with a 58-6 victory over Seton Hall Prep, earning a spot in the semifinals against returning Non-Public B champs St. John Vianney.
In Saturday's semifinal, Delbarton showcased their depth and skill, starting with Ryan DeGeorge's electrifying 10-5 victory over three-time state medalist Patrick O'Keefe at 132 pounds. The Green Wave dominated the rest of the match, highlighted by pins from Elbrus Majagah and CJ Betz, as well as technical falls and major decisions by PJ Terranova, Cameron Sontz, and Alessio Perentin. Delbarton dropped only three matches on their way to a decisive victory, setting the stage for a championship clash against No. 3-ranked St. Peter's Prep.
The final began with fireworks as Chase Quenault stunned the gym by upsetting returning state champion Caedyn Ricciardi in a 4-3 decision, igniting the Green Wave's momentum. "My game plan was to get to my attacks, let my shots fly, and control the match,'' Quenault said after the thrilling victory. Nick Schwartz and Jayden James added key victories, with James earning a dominating technical fall at 150 pounds. Alessio Perentin and CJ Betz followed suit with technical fall wins of their own, while Terranova and Sontz delivered crucial pins at 106 and 113 pounds to build an insurmountable lead. Tommy Marchetti, Braden Jones, and Ryan DeGeorge capped off the championship performance with decisive wins, sealing a 50-12 victory and securing Delbarton's title as back-to-back Catholic School Duals champions.
"We were firing on all cylinders," Coach Stoll said after the win. "We're happy where we're at to start the New Year." Reflecting on the tournament's competitive field, Stoll added, "When we were warming up, I just took a look around the gym and saw how many state champs were there. I can't remember the last time, aside from the state tournament, where you had this much talent in one building on the same day." With a 4-0 weekend and a reaffirmed position as the No. 1 team in New Jersey, Delbarton is poised for another dominant season.
