SJV and CBA combine for three champs, 10 other place-winners in state wrestling
March 14, 2025 at 2:38 p.m.
Wrestlers from Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and St. John Vianney, Holmdel, captured several championships after competing in the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championship in Atlantic City March 6-8.
The Lancers produced two repeat champions and five other place-winners in Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall March 8, while the Colts had one champion and five other place-winners.
The SJV champs were 126-pounder Anthony Knox, who became the fifth wrestler in New Jersey history to win four state titles, and heavyweight Rocco Dellagatta, who claimed his second straight crown. Dellagatta won last year’s championship while at St. Joe’s, Montvale, and both he and Knox are expected to wrestle at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, next year.
Knox had been the subject of controversy following his alleged involvement in an altercation Feb. 22 during the District level tournament in Collingswood. A decision by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to disqualify the wrestler from further competition was contested in New Jersey Superior Court, resulting in a ruling that prevented the NJSIAA and St. John Vianney High School from barring the athlete from competition.
A statement by St. John Vianney High School said that its “Administration is aware of the Superior Court’s ruling and respects the decision.”
Knox won by major decision over Bergen Catholic’s Nathan Braun in the championship bout. It was his third major to go along with two technical fall victories in five state bouts as he finished the season with a 42-0 record.
Dellagatta took a 7-1 decision over his former teammate, St. Joe’s Christian Alvarez, in his championship match. He won his semifinal bout 6-2 after pinning through the first three rounds. Dellagatta ended his final high school campaign 37-0.
The Lancers had two fifth-place finishers in seniors Jake Zaltsman at 144 pounds and Desmond Lenaghan at 150.
Zaltsman reached the quarterfinals of the main draw before falling into the consolation bracket and going 3-2 to secure fifth place. He improved from his seventh place finish last season and finished the year 41-7. Lenaghan lost in the second round but wrestled back to win five of six consolation matches to earn his first medal and end the campaign 31-9.
Seniors Patrick O’Keefe (132 pounds) and Cole Stangle (165) each finished sixth. It was the first time Stangle (33-13) took the podium at Atlantic City, while O’Keefe (42-8) equalled his sixth-place finish in 2024.
Rounding out the Lancers’ place-winners was sophomore Bubba Gavrish, who claimed seventh at 157 to take his first state medal and finish 35-15.
CBA’s tournament was highlighted by the Kenny brothers, as sophomore Paul Kenny won the 120-pound championship and freshman Sean Kenny took third at 106 pounds.
In becoming just the third state champion in school history and the first since 2016, Paul Kenny defeated St. Joe’s Jonathon McGinty, 1-0, in the finals to conclude the season 38-2. The lone point in the championship bout came when McGinty allowed Kenny to escape to start the third period. It was Kenny’s second state medal as he took third last year.
Brother Sean reached the semifinals before losing, and won two straight consolation bouts to take third and finish his first high school campaign 37-7.
The Colts featured two other top-three finishers as senior AJ Falcone was second at 165 and sophomore Brock Oizerowitz took third at 175.
Falcone, making his second straight state appearance, won his first medal by winning his first four matches before falling to Alessio Perentin of Delbarton, Morristown in the championship bout. He finished the year 36-7.
Oizerowitz has medaled in his first two years at CBA, improving from last year’s eighth-place finish. He lost in the semifinals before winning two consolation matches to surpass his No. 5 seed and finish 31-7.
Also placing for CBA were junior Bobby Duffy, who took fifth at 132, and senior Tyler Palumbo, who was sixth at 215. Duffy, who surpassed his No. 9 seed, won once in the main draw before winning five of six consolation bouts to end the year 34-12. Palumbo reached the semifinals before falling twice in the consolations to wind up 21-12.
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Wrestlers from Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and St. John Vianney, Holmdel, captured several championships after competing in the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championship in Atlantic City March 6-8.
The Lancers produced two repeat champions and five other place-winners in Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall March 8, while the Colts had one champion and five other place-winners.
The SJV champs were 126-pounder Anthony Knox, who became the fifth wrestler in New Jersey history to win four state titles, and heavyweight Rocco Dellagatta, who claimed his second straight crown. Dellagatta won last year’s championship while at St. Joe’s, Montvale, and both he and Knox are expected to wrestle at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, next year.
Knox had been the subject of controversy following his alleged involvement in an altercation Feb. 22 during the District level tournament in Collingswood. A decision by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to disqualify the wrestler from further competition was contested in New Jersey Superior Court, resulting in a ruling that prevented the NJSIAA and St. John Vianney High School from barring the athlete from competition.
A statement by St. John Vianney High School said that its “Administration is aware of the Superior Court’s ruling and respects the decision.”
Knox won by major decision over Bergen Catholic’s Nathan Braun in the championship bout. It was his third major to go along with two technical fall victories in five state bouts as he finished the season with a 42-0 record.
Dellagatta took a 7-1 decision over his former teammate, St. Joe’s Christian Alvarez, in his championship match. He won his semifinal bout 6-2 after pinning through the first three rounds. Dellagatta ended his final high school campaign 37-0.
The Lancers had two fifth-place finishers in seniors Jake Zaltsman at 144 pounds and Desmond Lenaghan at 150.
Zaltsman reached the quarterfinals of the main draw before falling into the consolation bracket and going 3-2 to secure fifth place. He improved from his seventh place finish last season and finished the year 41-7. Lenaghan lost in the second round but wrestled back to win five of six consolation matches to earn his first medal and end the campaign 31-9.
Seniors Patrick O’Keefe (132 pounds) and Cole Stangle (165) each finished sixth. It was the first time Stangle (33-13) took the podium at Atlantic City, while O’Keefe (42-8) equalled his sixth-place finish in 2024.
Rounding out the Lancers’ place-winners was sophomore Bubba Gavrish, who claimed seventh at 157 to take his first state medal and finish 35-15.
CBA’s tournament was highlighted by the Kenny brothers, as sophomore Paul Kenny won the 120-pound championship and freshman Sean Kenny took third at 106 pounds.
In becoming just the third state champion in school history and the first since 2016, Paul Kenny defeated St. Joe’s Jonathon McGinty, 1-0, in the finals to conclude the season 38-2. The lone point in the championship bout came when McGinty allowed Kenny to escape to start the third period. It was Kenny’s second state medal as he took third last year.
Brother Sean reached the semifinals before losing, and won two straight consolation bouts to take third and finish his first high school campaign 37-7.
The Colts featured two other top-three finishers as senior AJ Falcone was second at 165 and sophomore Brock Oizerowitz took third at 175.
Falcone, making his second straight state appearance, won his first medal by winning his first four matches before falling to Alessio Perentin of Delbarton, Morristown in the championship bout. He finished the year 36-7.
Oizerowitz has medaled in his first two years at CBA, improving from last year’s eighth-place finish. He lost in the semifinals before winning two consolation matches to surpass his No. 5 seed and finish 31-7.
Also placing for CBA were junior Bobby Duffy, who took fifth at 132, and senior Tyler Palumbo, who was sixth at 215. Duffy, who surpassed his No. 9 seed, won once in the main draw before winning five of six consolation bouts to end the year 34-12. Palumbo reached the semifinals before falling twice in the consolations to wind up 21-12.