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Montvale Today
By the People, for the People
NJWWA State Wrestling Top 20 Ahead of Team Tournament Seedings
Southern and Howell set to meet in sectional semifinal in Group 5
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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The NJSIAA Team Wrestling Tournament will be seeded on Tuesday, February 10, with the public school tournament beginning on February 16 and the non-public tournament starting on February 17. The top teams in the state, including three-time defending Group 5 champion Southern and talented Howell, are set to face off in the sectional semifinal round.
Why it matters
The NJSIAA Team Tournament is the culmination of the high school wrestling season in New Jersey, with teams vying for group championships. The seeding of the tournament, especially in competitive groups like Group 5, will have a major impact on which teams advance and ultimately win state titles.
The details
The NJSIAA classifies its teams by northing numbers, which means that three-time defending Group 5 champion Southern, as well as a talented Howell team and strong squads from Washington Township and Kingsway, are all in South Group 5. Most wrestling observers believe that Southern and Howell, ranked No. 8 and 10 respectively in the NJWWA Top 20, will meet in the sectional semifinal on February 16 at Howell. In the non-public brackets, Delbarton is expected to be the No. 1 seed in Non-Public A, followed by Christian Brothers Academy, St. Peter's Prep, and St. Joseph (Montvale).
- The NJSIAA Team Tournament will be seeded on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
- The public school portion of the tournament will begin on February 16, 2026 with the sectional quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
- The non-public A and B brackets will start on February 17, 2026 with the first round and quarterfinal matches.
- The tournament concludes on February 22, 2026 with the seven group championship matches at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.
The players
Southern
The three-time defending Group 5 champion wrestling team.
Howell
A talented and young wrestling team that is expected to face Southern in the sectional semifinal.
Washington Township
A very good wrestling team that is also in South Group 5.
Kingsway
A very good wrestling team that is also in South Group 5.
Delbarton
The expected No. 1 seed in the Non-Public A bracket.
What’s next
The NJSIAA Team Tournament seedings will be announced on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The takeaway
The seeding of the NJSIAA Team Tournament, especially in the competitive Group 5, will be a major storyline as teams look to advance to the group championship matches at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena on February 22.
