Middletown North’s 2017-18 Wrestling Program has continued to build on a successful run as one of the state’s elite programs under twelfth year head coach Matt Sirchio.  The Lions completed the regular season with a 17-7 record and suffered a hard luck defeat against perennial power house Phillipsburg High School in the State Championship Final.  During this weekend’s NJSIAA Region 5 Tournament, the Lions had three champions crowned in Sophomore sensation Tyler Klinsky and Seniors Stanley Wojdylak and Nicko Cofone. Klinsky, who was the No. 1 seed at 113 pounds, defeated Hopewell Valley’s Chris Lanciano, 4-3, to win the Region 5 championship.  Klinsky improves his record to 38-4 on the season.

Stanley Wojdylak captured the 145 pound bracket to win his first region title. He pinned Hillsborough’s Raymond O’Callaghan in just 70 seconds in the semifinals and then pinned Hunterdon Central’s Vincent Romaniello in 2:50 to be crowned.  Wojdylak who is Middletown North’s all time wins record holder improved to a 38-4 record on the season as well.

Nicko Cofone defeated Raritan’s George Burdick, 7-3, in the semifinals and topped Hillsborough’s Michael Dooley, 5-2, to also win his first Region 5 Title and advance to the NJSIAA State Tournament for consecutive years.  Cofone won the Shore Conference Tournament earlier in the season and has improved his record to 40-2.  These three wrestlers along with Junior Jacob Anderson set a school record for the most to win and/or advance out of the region tournament in school history.  

The Lions will also be sending Junior Jacob Anderson to the state tournament in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  He finished third at 195 pounds and has an overall record of 30-1.