By Andy Loigu

The Warren Hills Blue Streaks wrestling team, ranked eighth in the state by nj.com, came up just short of winning a State title. In the meantime, though, they made a heck of a run.

The team won its first sectional title since 2007 with a decisive 51-12 win over West Essex. That same West Essex team had eliminated Warren Hills in the sectional playoffs two years earlier.

“Our kids have been fantastic in the big moments,” said head coach David Sbriscia, a former Blue Streaks wrestler and football player. “It’s their work ethic, drive, and determination. They deserve this.”

The Blue Streaks won the first 10 bouts in the sectional final. Junior Mike Drazek delivered bonus points with a 13-1 major decision in the first bout. Senior Steve Malia followed with an 11-3 major. That was followed by a streak of four straight pins. Senior Owen Frizzell only needed 22 seconds to win by fall and Ryan Galka, Jarett Pantuso and Tyler McCatharn also floored their opponents.

Next, the Streaks faced North I champion Paramus in the state semifinal and won big, 66-3. Junior Shawn Redfield won a tough bout in a tie breaker with an escape point, 1-0. Senior Max Pagano followed that, at 130 pounds, using an arm bar to score a pin in 5:12.

“Pagano is coming back from an injury and he’s getting better each time out,” Sbriscia said, indicating he could make a run at district and regional crowns in the upcoming road to Atlantic City as the focus turns from team competition to individuals seeking medals in their weight classes.

The Streaks set and achieved several goals this year, but the big one that they missed by just a point, was the program’s first state title in three decades. In the state final they lost 28-27 to South Jersey sectional champion Delsea, a winner over Central champ South Plainfield in the semifinal.

Delsea, 21-4, was strong in the upper weights all season and won critical decisions at 175, 190 and 215 to overcome an early Warren Hills lead. The Blue Streaks finished a memorable season with an 18-4 record for the dual meets portion of the season. Hopefully, more good news awaits over the next three weeks.

DEFENSE DELIVERS IN ICE HOCKEY

Ryan Tatarka played football and baseball at Hackettstown High and now has coached a tri-op ice hockey team with players from Hackettstown, Hopatcong and Mount Olive into the Haas Cup final in the highly competitive Morris Area Hockey League.

Nick Gargiulo stopped all 24 shots on goal he faced, as the MOHOHA squad blanked Hanover Park 3-0 in the semifinal. They now await the winner of West Morris versus Vernon, for the division championship game.

“The tone of the game was immediately established with a fantastic backcheck hustle play by Nick Cioce, who sold out to stop a breakaway,” Tatarka said with admiration.

The goals were scored by Christian Hertzig, Frank DiLoreto and Ethan Tillery. Defenseman Ryan Twist assisted twice and Hertzig also assisted on a second-period goal.

Tatarka praised the defensive work of freshman Liam Parr. “He played one of his best games as a high school player,” he said. “He showed a great deal of poise and hockey IQ.”

The coach also praised the blue-line defense of juniors Braden Ensinger and Tyler Dean. “They continue to rise to the occasion.”

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.