Sipper’s teammate Soriente, who had a terrific senior season for the Chiefs, went 3-3 in the state tourney, reaching the quarterfinals as a 10th seed before being pinned in 1:34 by Lower Cape May’s Chase Hansen, but then rebounded to decision Pascack Valley’s Jacob Inserra, 15-9, in the wrestlebacks before dropping back-to-back decisions, including 14-6 to Toms River East’s Jayce Cappello in the seventh-place bout.

West Essex’s Clausi, a second seed at 165, finished 4-2 and won three straight bouts before being edged, 1-0, in the semifinals by St. John Vianney’s Ryan Gavrish. He then rebounded right away to decision Bergen Catholic’s Manny Gusfa, 7-1, in wrestlebacks before dropping a hard-fought 4-2 decision to St. Joe’s of Metuchen’s Manny Schwarz in the third-place bout.

Clausi, who has continued to get better each season for coach Mike Markey’s strong Wessex matmen, will almost certainly be a state title contender next season whether or not if he moves up a weight class in 2027.

SHP’s Salerno (4-3 in AC) was the Pirates’ lone medal winner with his sixth place at 215, while fellow senior Andre Morero (3-2 at 132) finished in the top 12 in his weight class after being eliminated in the ‘blood round’ during the strenuous wrestlebacks.

The New York University-bound Salerno lost 8-4 in the quarterfinals to familiar foe Tyler Palumbo of Christian Brothers Academy before pinning Delbarton’s Brody Ismael in 1:36 and decisioning Andre Tatishville of Fair Lawn, 12-5, during wrestlebacks before losing 5-2 in sudden victory to Dante Deluca of Don Bosco Prep and then 7-3 to Palumbo in the seventh-eighth place bout.

It was an outstanding 37-8 season for Salerno who finished his SHP career at 122-26, which is the fourth highest total in school history. He was a 3-time state medalist joining only former Pirate state champ Brenden Calas (2011-2013) in achieving that status in the program’s solid mat annals. 

Essex County's Top 4 Finishers In NJSIAA State Tourney:

West Essex - 165 lb. Jr. Reid Clausi - went 4-2 to finish in 4th place
pinned Cristian Rodriguez-Red Bank Catholic-3:32
decisioned Joseph Paretti-St. Joseph (Montvale)-8-2
decisioned Justin Bullock-Mt. Olive-8-2
lost to Ryan Gavrish (St. John Vianney)-1-0
decisioned Manny Gusfa (Bergen Catholic)-7-1
lost to Manny Schwarz (St. Joseph (Matuchen)-4-2

Caldwell - 120 lb. Sr. Carmine Sipper - went 4-2 to finish in 4th place
Tech fall over Casey Pekula (St. Augustine)-16-0-4:14
decisioned Julian Zargo (St. John Vianney)-4-3
decisioned Ethan Michaels (Colts Neck)-4-0
pinned by Cameron Sontz (Delbarton)-4:24
Tech fall over Robert Rodriguez (St. Peter's Prep)-16-1-4:58
lost to Cade Collins (Southern Regional)-2-1

138 lb. Sr. Solomon Soriente - went 3-3 to finish in 8th place
decisioned Dominic Marino (Cinnaminson)-13-2
decisioned Tyler Oden (Middletown No.)-15-4
pinned by Chase Hansen (Lower Cape May)-1:34
decisioned Jacob Inserra (Pascack Valley)-15-9
lost to Nicholas Pallitto (Paramus Catholic)-7-3
lost to Jayce Cappello (Toms River East)-14-6

Seton Hall Prep- 215 lb Sr. Rocco Salerno - went 4-3 to finish in 6th place
decisioned Nick Mignone (Pope John), 11-1
pinned Matthew Morrisey (Old Tappan)-1:54
lost to Tyler Palumbo (CBA)- 8-4
pinned Brody Ismael (Delbarton) -1:36
decisioned Andre Tatishvill (Fair Lawn)- 12-5
lost to Dante Deluca (Don Bosco Prep)- 5-2 SV
lost to Palumbo (CBA)- 7-3           

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