By Andy Loigu

State tournaments have been wiped out for high school sports teams in New Jersey this year, due to the ever present COVID-19 concerns and it would have been easy for officials to deny post-season wrestling, too.

However, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has gone out on a limb for wrestling.

While there will not be a state tournament this year for teams, the NJSIAA announced that there will be the traditional individual state tournament with finals being held April 24 and 25 at a site to be determined. It appears that Atlantic City will not host the finals but the fact that the championships will be held at all has lit a fire underneath all the hopefuls, particularly the seniors.

“From our perspective,” said K.C. Wanamaker of the Warren Hills coaching staff, “it’s a positive that the state came up with a solution for the kids to compete for a state title. We’re disappointed they could not also run a team postseason, but understand.”

The top four place winners from each Super Region qualify for the road to the state finals, where the brackets will have 16 competitors instead of the usual 32.

In addition to the boys tournament, the NJSIAA will also award state titles to 11 girls winners on April 10 in a one-day event. Like last year, there will be two region tournaments held the week prior.

Without districts and with fewer entrants, it won’t be quite the same, Some coaches may complain about the changes, but they should be glad there is a tourney, period.

“Things are not going to be ideal,” said Delbarton coach Bryan Stoll, “but this postseason tourney came close to not happening. We’ve been discussing this since June and I’m glad something got done for the sake of our wrestlers.”

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building