Not the only five, to be sure, but a quintet of athletes with tremendous promise.
(in alphabetical order)
Kyle DiNapoli, Voorhees. There’s not likely to be a wrestler in the state who puts more time, dedication and effort into the sport than the Viking senior. He was rewarded for his passion with an eighth-place state medal at 120 pounds and will hope for even better at 132 pounds this winter. DiNapoli enters the season with 96 wins and seems a certain bet to become Voorhees’ ninth 100-win wrestler all-time. DiNapoli is the kind of quality young man everybody in Hunterdon County will root for, too.
Brandon Paetzell, Phillipsburg. This is the last chance for the Stateliner senior to capture a state championship. He was runner-up in agonizing fashion in 2014, fifth place as a freshman, and missed last year’s postseason with a hand injury. The Rutgers-bound Paetzell won the Beast of the East as a junior before his injury and brings an 87-9 record into his last go-around in high school. Paetzell’s bundle-of-energy style and extroverted personality make him a fan favorite. He will be shooting to become Phillipsburg’s 34th individual champion.
Joe Renne, Hackettstown. Renne enters his senior as the best bet for Hackettstown to put a wrestler on the medal stand in Atlantic City since 2009. Renne, projected at 120-126 pounds, went 35-8 last season and ended up ranked No. 2 by lehighvalleylive.com at 120 pounds. There’s no tougher wrestler – Renne plays football, remember, giving up enormous amounts of weight – and he’s a proven postseason winner as he took District 1 and Region 1 last season. With improved technique, Renne should earn that state medal.
Brian Smolinsky, North Hunterdon. There’s a ferocious intensity to the Lion senior 152-160 pounder that must be seriously intimidating to many of his foes. He went 36-4 last season, won District 17, and qualified for states by coming in third in Region 5. Smolinsky is a good bet to better his record, region finish, and state finish as a senior – not many combine his skill, speed and strength with such intense focus.
Matt Valli, Warren Hills. One of the great what-ifs of last season was how Valli, a sophomore, would have done had an injury not ended his season early. Valli was 11-3 at 120 pounds when he went down and showed great promise with a very physical and fundamentally sound style. Valli, who fits around 126 or 132 pounds this season, could enjoy a very, very successful season if he stays healthy.
Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.