New Jersey's best wrestling team? That's unknown

Paulsboro captured its 28th Group 1 championship, Brearley (Kenilworth) earned its first Group 2 crown and High Point (Sussex) avenged its loss in last season's Group 3 title bout to highlight an exciting day of wrestling Sunday at Poland Spring Arena in Toms River.

Yet, after crowning fresh group champions, we still wonder: Who is really the best team, weight class for weight class, in New Jersey?

Seeing how well it has worked in basketball and volleyball, a Tournament of Champions would answer any and all questions, allowing the Garden State's fan base to witness another day of tension-filled bouts to crown the state's undisputed champion.

As of now, High Point is probably perceived as the state's top team after defeating the previously anointed No. 1, South Plainfield, in Group 3. However, Jackson Memorial (Jackson Township) outpointed a perennially strong Phillipsburg lineup in Group 4, Paulsboro is historically tough and the trio of Brearley, Delbarton (Morristown) (Non-Public A) and Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill) (Non-Public B) would surely like to see how they would fare against fellow champions.



However, with the state tournament starting this weekend, all we can simply do is congratulate the six state group champions and hope a Tournament of Champions joins the New Jersey wrestling landscape.

GILCHRIST, CANTY, FAGBENLE EARN ALL-STAR GAME SELECTIONS
Not surprisingly, St. Patrick phenom and Kentucky signee Michael Gilchrist was selected to play in both the 2011 McDonald's All-American Game (March 30 at the United Center in Chicago) and 2011 Jordan Brand Classic (April 16 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.).

Although Gilchrist is the only Garden State player representing the boys on the national stage – we think St. Anthony point guard and Rutgers recruit Myles Mack was overlooked – two New Jersey representatives will play in the girls' McDonald's All-American Game: Trenton Catholic Academy's Briyona Canty (Rutgers) and Blair Academy's Temi Fagbenle (Harvard). They will play on the East squad, which will be coached by Rutgers Prep's Mary Klinger.

LINDEN BOYS SURVIVE DAUNTING SCHEDULE
Linden just played the most daunting four-game stretch we have seen recently, surviving with a 1-3 record while playing three teams ranked in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 boys basketball rankings presented by the Army National Guard and Plainfield, always a strong squad and one of the Tigers' chief rivals.

However, their lone victory came when they dealt previously unbeaten Montrose Christian, ranked No. 11 in the Xcellent 25, a 57-53 defeat last Friday at the Primetime Shootout at Kean University's Harwood Arena in Union. Although Linden also lost to No. 1 St. Patrick (56-43 on Feb. 5) and No. 2 St. Anthony (55-39 this past Monday), how many teams have three Top 15 squads over a nine-day stretch?

Credit veteran coach Phil Colicchio's willingness to challenge his student-athletes, which is why the Tigers are one of the favorites in the North 2, Group 4 bracket and could very well face St. Patrick again in the Union County Tournament final. Seniors Elijah Hodge and J.R. Pringley – who scored a season-high 21 against Montrose Christian – have led the way, while 6-9 freshman Quadri Moore looks like a future blue-chip Division I recruit.



MaxPreps New Jersey boys basketball Freeman Rankings

IS JOHNSON THE NEXT BIG THING FOR ST. PATRICK'S?
Michael Gilchrist is Kevin Boyle's best player now, but 6-10 freshman center Dakari Johnson might inherit this title in the next few years at St. Patrick. Although he has been inconsistent, Johnson finished with 12 points and nine rebounds against St. Thomas More star 6-10 junior Andre Drummond on Sunday, a big reason the Celtics outlasted St. Thomas More on Sunday at the Primetime Shootout.

It is still too early to tell, but Johnson could potentially be Boyle's best big man since Samuel Dalembert, who currently plays for the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

"This is the way he played in Florida, then he hit a wall because of our practices,'' Boyle said. "But he's picked it up again.''

TOP PERFORMANCES
* Damian Corredor, Weehawken boys basketball: The sophomore scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half as the Indians overcame a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Lodi, 53-51, on Feb. 9. He also contributed six rebounds, five steals and four assists.

* Sarah Halejian, Ramapo girls basketball: The senior poured in 25 points as the Green Raiders reached the Bergen County semifinals with a 47-41 win Sunday over Pascack Hills.



* Marcus Harmon, Middle Township boys basketball: Tallied 20 points as the Panthers shocked Middletown North, 82-52, at the Primetime Shootout last Friday.

* Andrew Herasimtschuk, Wayne Valley boys basketball: Behind the senior's 20-point performance, the Indians shocked top-seeded Passaic Tech, 45-34, in the Passaic County boys basketball tournament last Saturday.

* Curtis Hopkins and Alssene Saintilus, Williamstown boys basketball: Hopkins dropped in 24 points, while Saintilus contributed 10 points and 17 boards as the Braves stayed hot with a 62-58 victory over Collingswood last Saturday.

* Jakelle King-gilchrist, Teaneck girls basketball: The senior's 23 points and five assists enabled the Highwaywomen to survive Northern Highlands in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals Sunday.

* Myles Mack, St. Anthony boys basketball: Netted 25 points in a 74-63 win over Hotchkiss Academy last Saturday at the Primetime Shootout.

* Ste'yce McNeil, Winslow Township (Atco) girls track: Helped the Eagles' girls win the South Jersey Group 3 team title by finishing first in the 55-meters (7.38 seconds), 55 hurdles (8.38) and 400 (57.87). She also anchored the victorious 4x400 meter relay team.

* Wyatt Polk, Haddonfield boys basketball: His 35 points, including seven 3-pointers, and seven rebounds helped the Bulldawgs snap Kingsway's 12-game win streak, 76-58, last Saturday.

* Sarah Vagie, Johnson (Clark) girls track: In the Central Jersey Group 1 Championships last Friday, the senior touched the tape first in the 800 (2:26.08), 1,600 (5:25.09) and 3,200 (11:40.36).



LOOKING AHEAD
* District Wrestling Championships, Friday and Saturday: The road to Atlantic City begins at 32 district championship sites this weekend, with the top three in each weight class advancing to next week's regional tournament. Always worth watching for both youngsters who shine for the first time and veterans who defy their seeding and start a compelling underdog story.

* Shore Conference Tournament girls basketball, Thursday and Saturday: Should the seeds hold true to form through the round of 16, two of Saturday's quarterfinals could feature second-seeded St. Rose (Belmar) against No. 7-seed Rumson-Fair Haven which the higher seed won, 38-31, on Jan. 16. Also, No. 3 St. John-Vianney (Holmdel) should face a stiff test against No. 6 Manasquan, which produced a 52-42 triumph over St. Rose last Saturday.

MaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball Freeman Rankings

* Bergen County Tournament boys and girls basketball semifinals, Sunday: All four games will be held at Ramapo College's beautiful Bradley Center. On the girls side, Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township) and Teaneck are the top two seeds and could make deep runs into March. However, King-Gilchrist and Teaneck must first escape a scrappy No. 3 seed in Academy of the Holy Angels (Demarest) that is still dangerous despite losing senior standouts Jillian Crawford and Nicole Pepe. Meanwhile, IHA is the deeper team, but two-time defending champion Ramapo, seeded fourth, might have the best player in Halejian.

On the boys side, No. 7 Pascack Valley (Hillsdale) will face No. 3 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) after upending defending champion Paramus Catholic in the quarterfinals. Top-seeded Teaneck will face neighboring rival and 12th-seeded Hackensack, which got here after Chris Myers' shot with 2.7 seconds left eliminated No. 4 Pascack Hills.

* Passaic County Tournament boys and girls basketball semifinals, Saturday: On the boys side, any of four teams could win the first county tournament since perennial powerhouse Paterson Catholic closed its doors last June. Wayne Valley is the eighth seed and just shocked top-seeded Passaic Tech, but the Indians must survive No. 4 Kennedy (Paterson) first. No. 3 West Milford is making just its fourth semifinal appearance in the tournament's 41-year history and will oppose No. 7 Eastside (Paterson).

In the girls bracket, No. 2-seeded Eastern Christian (North Haledon) is vying for its first county crown after losing last season to Paterson Catholic. Provided the Eagles survive sixth-seeded Passaic County Tech (Wayne), they will face either No. 1 Kennedy (Paterson) or No. 4 DePaul (Wayne) next weekend.

RECRUITING NEWS
St. Augustine Prep senior midfielder Connor Hurff signed his national letter of intent to play men's soccer at Rutgers. Named the 2010 Press of Atlantic City Player of the Year, Hurff scored 25 goals his senior year while leading the Hermits to the state Non-Public A title. He chose Rutgers over Northwestern.