Wrestling: Pope John edges West Morris at District 11, Morristown’s Myers MOW

Jack Myers of Morristown (fore) fights against Sonny Amato of Rumson-Fair Haven at 144 in the semifinals of Sam Cali Battle for the Belt high school boys wrestling tournament on Thursday at the FDU Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison. Amato took a 3-2 decision to the finals. 12/28/2023. Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

It was close, but behind five champions, Pope John edged out West Morris for the NJSIAA District 11 title at Morristown High School.

Perhaps the champion that put the Lions over the top was Kevin Wilson, who entered the 157-pound class with a 13-13 record, but used a forfeit, pin, and 6-3 decision over Whippany Park’s Gabriel Saliani to clinch the title.

Another key for the Lions was Matthew Reilly at 120, who despite entering with a 4-16 record, won his quarterfinal match to score eight valuable points for the champions. Pope John finished with 161 points, while the Wolfpack were runners-up with 154 points.

In addition to Wilson, Jake Holly (106), Dalton Weber (126), Carson Walsh (132), and Justin Holly at 138 all won titles for the Lions. Pope John sent a total of seven grapplers onto regions.

West Morris was strong up top, as Tommy Borgia and A.J. Codella each won district titles at 215 and Heavyweight, respectively. Borgia crossed the 30-win mark for the season with his triumph. Pack head coach Chris Marold was named District 11 Coach of the Year as well.

Morristown’s Jack Myers, a third-place state finisher last year in Atlantic City, rolled to the 144-pound title once again and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for the district. Teammate Shawn Curnow also won a title at 150 pounds. Casey Flynn – the head football coach for the Colonials – was named the district’s Assistant Coach of the Year.

Elsewhere, St. Benedict’s – making its first appearance in decades at a district tournament – Matt D’Arcy and Temuulen Mendbileg won at 113 and 175 for the Gray Bees. St. Benedict’s will send six grapplers onward to regions next week.

The little Group 1 school from Warren County, Belvidere, had itself a champion at 190. Kiyle Blew ran his record up to 34-4 on the season in the process. The same went for Whippany Park, which had the 165 champion in Michael Fahmie.

Columbia’s Jared Van Allen won the 120-pound class to round out the champions in the district.

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