Both Caldwell and West Essex can take pride in each winning their respective state sectional titles in the 2026 NJSIAA team state tournament; however, the Chiefs, 42-27, at Lower Cape May in Group 2, and the Knights, 44-22, at Brick Memorial in Group 3 saw their hopes for a group state championship come to an end on Friday night.
The NJSIAA team group finals are scheduled for Sunday at Rutgers University. Because of an impending snow storm expected to hit the Garden State there could be revised times for the championship matches with a decision expected to be made by midday on Saturday.
Up next for the state’s wrestlers once the team portion of season does end are the Districts (Feb. 28), Regions (March 6-7) and individual state tournament (March 12-14 in Atlantic City).
Caldwell, with senior Naval Academy commit Carmine Sipper (33-2) at 120 pounds, and West Essex with junior Reid Clausi (33-1) at 165, have legitimate candidates to place high in the state tourney in Boardwalk Hall on March 14. Sipper battled back to earn a third place at 113 last March.
Coach Sean Romano’s Chiefs (16-6) had defeated West Morris, 49-29, to win the North 2, Group 2 state sectional title, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, while West Essex (20-5) had edged Morris Hills, 38-32, in the North 2, Group 3 final as the Knights won their eighth sectional title and first since 2020.
Caldwell made the 2-and-a-half-hour trip to the Southern most tip of the state to face a Lower Cape May team which will be making its first appearance in a state final when it meets defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven in the Group 2 final.
RFH had edged Caldwell in last year’s Group 2 final, which marked the Chiefs’ second appearance in a group final and first since 1986.
This season’s Caldwell squad, which also defeated both Bernards (55-21) and Hackettstown (39-36) at home this past Monday night, Feb. 16, before rolling past West Morris in Long Valley on Wednesday in its run to a 2026 N2G2 crown, features strength in the lower weights with freshman Michael Rankin (24-8) at 106, junior Matt Ruane (21-5) at 113, Sipper at 120, senior Solomon Soriente (30-4) at 138) and sophomore Anthony Barrett (27-6) at 144.
The Caper Tigers defeated Haddon Heights, 71-5, Middle Township, 47-20, and Collingswood, 46-27, to capture its South Jersey, Group 2 crown.
Over at Brick Memorial (17-8) in the Group 3 semifinal, the home team, which has a rich wrestling history and is known for its enthusiastic fans in the Mustangs’ gym, won its share of key bouts to finish strong against West Essex.
The Knights, who had a 14-match winning streak snapped by Brick Memorial, have a deep lineup which should have its own share of individuals now move on to success in the individual tournament season.
