While dozens of wrestlers across 14 weight classes aspire toward winning wrestling state championships this weekend at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, Andrew Campolattano of
Bound Brook is on a quest to become the second four-time champion and is undeniably the tournament's biggest draw.
After posting three first-period pins en route to becoming a four-time Region 5 titlist, Campolattano enters this weekend with state records for victories (171-1) and falls (114). If he does the expected, he will match Delbarton's Mike Grey (2003-06) as the grappler standing atop the medal stand four times.
The next New Jersey wrestler who could win four state titles is
North Bergen freshman Luis Gonzalez, the Bergen County and Region 4 champion at 103 pounds.
Nick Francavilla of
High Point (Sussex), the prohibitive favorite at 125 pounds, has won 150 career bouts and just became the third competitor to capture four Region 1 championships.
COUNTY BASKETBALL BRAGGING RIGHTS DECIDEDWhile the
St. Patrick (Elizabeth) boys outlasted Linden in Union County as expected,
Raritan (Hazlet) posted the most surprising result in county tournament title games across the state, defying its No. 13 seeding to stun No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven, 43-35, in the Shore Conference Tournament final Saturday thanks to a superstar performance from 6-foot-8
Michael Aaman (22 points, 24 rebounds).
Also in the Shore Conference,
Neptune halted St. John Vianney's two-year reign with a 57-48 triumph while possibly setting up a rematch in the Tournament of Champions.
Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township) recorded a shockingly easy 58-35 win over Holy Angels in Bergen County, beating the Angels for the fourth time this season; a fifth meeting could occur in the upcoming North Non-Public A final.
In Passaic County, the
Kennedy (Paterson) boys ended an 11-year drought by defeating intracity rival Eastside, 61-56, while
DePaul (Wayne) dropped Eastern Christian, 54-32, for its first county crown since 1996.
MaxPreps New Jersey boys basketball playoff bracketsMaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball playoff bracketsTOP PERFORMANCES* Michael Aaman, Raritan boys basketball: Totaled 56 points and 46 rebounds as the Rockets beat Lakewood and Rumson-Fair Haven to win the Shore Conference Tournament title.
* Emiliano Betancor, West Orange wrestling: The senior won his final match in his home gym, securing the Region 4 285-pound title with a pin in 3:29. He placed fourth in the state last season.
* Dawan Lighty, Kennedy boys basketball: The senior guard scored 18 points, including six clutch free throws in the final 52 seconds, as the Knights defeated intracity rival Eastside, 61-56, for the Passaic County Tournament championship.
* Xavier Lundy, Paulsboro boys basketball: The sophomore continued his torrid play of late by tallying 28 points, including the game-winning bucket with 2.5 seconds remaining in a 51-49 victory over Highland last Saturday.
* Robert Poole, Paul VI boys basketball: The Siena-bound senior contributed game highs of 21 points and eight rebounds as the Eagles nipped Bishop Eustace, 53-51, last Friday to capture the Olympic Conference National Division championship.
* Raquel Scott, Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township) girls basketball: The junior center finished with 16 points, 10 boards and two blocks as the Blue Eagles stayed undefeated with a 58-35 victory over Academy of Holy Angels in the Bergen County girls tournament final.
* Kevin Walker, St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) boys basketball: His 16-point, 12-rebound, eight-assist showing lifted the Marauders past Marist, 76-46, for their fourth-straight Hudson County title last Saturday.
EVENTS TO WATCH* NJSIAA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments, all week: By week's end, we will have a better idea of how each sectional bracket will look. In boys Non-Public B, St. Patrick and St. Anthony – the top-two teams in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 boys basketball rankings presented by the Army National Guard – will be that much closer to a March 9 mythical national championship game at the Rutgers Athletic Center.
* NJSIAA Wrestling Tournament, Friday-Saturday: Champions in 14 weight classes will be crowned before 10,000 strong inside of Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
BRIEFLYThe Colonial Conference saw two head football coaching openings filled when Dave Dale was approved at
Haddon Township (Westmont), while Clint Wiley will take the reins at
Sterling (Somerdale). Dale also coached Haddon Township's baseball team from 2002-2009.
