NJ Wrestlers Earn Top Seeds at State Championships

Esposito, DeGeorge, and Palumbo among top contenders in their weight classes

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The brackets have been released for the upcoming New Jersey state wrestling championships, and several top high school wrestlers from the Garden State have earned high seeds in their respective weight classes. Esposito from St. Joseph's High School is the 2-seed at 133 lbs and could face off against star freshmen Joyce from Christian Brothers Academy or Riotto from Bergen Catholic in the semifinals. DeGeorge, the 2-seed at 144 lbs, will have a tough quarterfinal match against LIU recruit McCann before a potential semifinal showdown with DePaul from Delsea. Palumbo, the 3-seed at 215 lbs, is expected to reach the semifinals where he would likely face top-seeded Hodgins.

Why it matters

New Jersey has long been a hotbed for high school wrestling talent, and the state championships are always highly anticipated events. These top seeds showcase the depth of talent in the state and set the stage for some marquee matchups between the state's best wrestlers.

The details

Esposito from St. Joseph's High School is the 2-seed at 133 lbs and could face off against star freshmen Joyce from Christian Brothers Academy or Riotto from Bergen Catholic in the semifinals. DeGeorge, the 2-seed at 144 lbs, will have a tough quarterfinal match against LIU recruit McCann before a potential semifinal showdown with DePaul from Delsea. Palumbo, the 3-seed at 215 lbs, is expected to reach the semifinals where he would likely face top-seeded Hodgins.

  • The New Jersey state wrestling championships will take place in the coming weeks.

The players

Esposito

A wrestler from St. Joseph's High School who is the 2-seed at 133 lbs.

Joyce

A star freshman wrestler from Christian Brothers Academy who could face Esposito in the semifinals at 133 lbs.

Riotto

A star freshman wrestler from Bergen Catholic who could face Esposito in the semifinals at 133 lbs.

DeGeorge

A wrestler who is the 2-seed at 144 lbs.

McCann

A wrestler from LIU who DeGeorge will face in the quarterfinals at 144 lbs.

DePaul

A wrestler from Delsea who could face DeGeorge in the semifinals at 144 lbs.

Palumbo

A wrestler who is the 3-seed at 215 lbs.

Hodgins

The top-seeded wrestler at 215 lbs who Palumbo would likely face in the semifinals.

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The takeaway

The New Jersey state wrestling championships are shaping up to feature several highly anticipated matchups between the state's top high school wrestlers. These top seeds demonstrate the depth of talent in the Garden State and set the stage for an exciting tournament.