WRESTLING: Pomrinca becomes three-time HWS champion

North Hunterdon 126-pounder Ryan Pomrinca became just the second wrestler to win three Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament titles while competing in the sixth annual event at Hopatcong High School on Saturday.

Phillipsburg, led by 170-pound champion Max Elling, who became the 15th wrestler in school history to win 100 career matches with a first-period pin of Voorhees' Sam Lamport in the morning session, captured its fifth consecutive team title.

Phillipsburg amassed 217 points to outdistance runner-up North Hunterdon (169).

Brian Smolinsky of North Hunterdon (152) and Nestor Crespo of Hunterdon Central (195) also won individual titles in the 18-team tournament.

Hunterdon Central (three), North Hunterdon (two), Delaware Valley (one) and Voorhees (one) advanced a total of seven wrestlers to the finals.

Pomrinca won his third HWS crown with a 2-1 overtime decision against High Point's Dom Gallo. Voorhees' Jadaen Bernstein is the only other HWS three-time champion.

Kittatinny's Nick Klinger (120), Phillipsburg's Jimmy Schuitema (160) and Warren Hills' Andrew Pacheco (285) each won a second consecutive HWS title.

Team scores: 1. Phillipsburg 217; 2. North Hunterdon 169; 3. Lenape Valley 159; 4. Hunterdon Central 157.5; 5. High Point 127.5; 6. Sparta 114; 7. Voorhees 112.5; 8. Warren Hills 110; 9. Kittatinny 109.5; 10. Belvidere 97; 11. Delaware Valley 95.5; 12. Hackettstown 76; 13. North Warren 62.5; 14. Hopatcong 52; 15. Newton 49; 16. Pope John 45.5; 17. Wallkill Valley 27; 18. Vernon 11.5.

Finals

106: Jacob Falleni (Lenape Valley) d. Kyle Markus (Phillipsburg) 8-4

113: Joe Aumann (Hopatcong) d. Peter Nace (Hunterdon Central) 3-1

120: Nick Klinger (Kittatinny) d. Matt Valli (Warren Hills) 4-0

126: Ryan Pomrinca (North Hunterdon) d. Dom Gallo (High Point) 2-1 (OT)

132: Austin Scrivani (Kittatinny) d. Nick Palumbo (Lenape Valley) 10-6

138: Jared Kobis (High Point) d. Max Nauta (Warren Hills) 4-3

145: Jason Gaccione (High Point) d. Steve Friedman (Phillipsburg) 7-1

152: Brian Smolinsky (North Hunterdon) md. Michael Fernandes (Voorhees) 16-5

160: Jimmy Schuitema (Phillipsburg) p. Joe Scerbo (Hunterdon Central) :55

170: Max Elling (Phillipsburg) p. Joey LaBell (Lenape Valley) 1:22

182: D.J. Barrett (Lenape Valley) d. Kyle Schlittler (Delaware Valley) 6-4

195: Nestor Crespo (Hunterdon Central) d. Drew Horun (Phillipsburg) 3-1 (SV)

220: Gavin Lally (Sparta) d. Gus Protogeropoulos (Newton) 3-2

285: Andrew Pacheco (Warren Hills) p. Robert Melise (Phillipsburg) 2:26