Jackson Memorial High School and Shore Regional High School capped successful wrestling seasons on Feb. 10 in Toms River.
Both schools won Central Jersey state sectional titles to advance to the NJSIAA group wrestling championships at Toms River High School North on Sunday.
Jackson Memorial lost to Kingsway Regional High School, 34-23, in the Group 4 state semifinals while Shore Regional fell to Kittatinny Regional High School, 36-32, in the Group 1 state semifinals.
Jackson Memorial’s Brett Blaess, Lance Hobbs, Cartsen Digiantomasso, Hunter Smith and Kyle Epperly won their matches at the 106-pound, 113-pound, 152-pound, 160-pound and 195-pound weight classes, respectively. The Jags lost the team meet, though, because they dropped a slew of matches at the middle and upper weights against the South Jersey school.
Jackson Memorial won the Central Jersey, Group 4 state sectional title when it defeated Colts Neck High School on Feb. 8.
Shore Regional’s Matt Klemser, Jack Maida, Gabe Scalise, Al DeSantis, Michael McGhee, Jack McCrae and Jamie Mazzacco were victorious at the 113-pound, 120-pound, 126-pound, 138-pound, 145-pound, 160-pound and 170-pound classes, respectively.
The Blue Devils, who knocked off Point Pleasant Beach High School in the Central Jersey, Group 1 state sectional final on Feb. 8, fell short against the West Jersey power during the semifinals in the upper weights.
