Kittatinny has memorable season full of wins

By Josh Lashley NEWTON — Given the level of talent on this year's team, the Kittatinny High School wrestling program's achievements this season are not all that surprising. But when one considers the veteran coaching staff that’s in place and the type of guidance demonstrated by the leaders on the roster for the Cougars, it's clear their success is due in large part to great leadership. Kittatinny had an overall season record of 16-5 and the team went undefeated in five matches in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division. A major triumph for the Cougars occurred on Feb. 10 when they toppled Emerson Park Ridge, 31-27, to capture the NJSIAA North I Group I Sectional crown. They also won the Caldwell, Cougar Classic and District 3 team tournament titles. Cougars head coach John Gill recalled certain matches that stand out as most memorable this winter for his team. “The Toms River South match (a 34-32 victory at home on Feb. 3) as they were a ranked team at the time," Gill said. “The Pequannock match (during the regular season on Feb. 1, a 38-24 win) which gave us a preview of the sectional semifinal match up and the Emerson Park Ridge match since they were ranked number one in our section at the time." The Cougars downed Pequannock again in a rematch on Feb. 8 in the North I Group I Sectional semifinal round. In the State Group I semifinals, Kittatinny lost a 34-32 match to eventual Group I State champions Bound Brook. Several student-athletes made considerable noise in the post-season individual tournaments for Kittatinny. Gill mentioned a few of the top flight wrestlers in the lineup this year. “Clarke Moynihan was our only state medalist," Gill said. Moynihan placed fourth at 152 pounds at the state championship in Atlantic City. “Jake Brook (170 pounds) came out of nowhere to qualify for the state tournament and James Elphick (113 pounds) was new to Kittatinny after moving here from Penn Argyl, Pennsylvania, and also qualified for the states. These three became keys to us making it to Group I team states."