South Jersey Group 2 Sectional Finals

[RUTBAY1]

I went to my first wrestling match in years on the 9th with Haddonfield traveling to Collingswood for the SJ Grp 2 sectional finals. The crowd was limited by COVID attendance restrictions but I was lucky to have been given two tickets by the parents of one of the Collingswood wrestlers. I had forgotten how exciting these things can be even at the HS level, even my wife who does not follow sports was into it given her nephew was wrestling for Collingswood.

Both head coaches were successful wrestlers at Collingswood so the rivalry was pretty intense with the Collingswood fans really riding the Haddonfield coach for everything he did on the bench. After many surprises, Haddonfield tied it at 25 with a pin in the final match. The decision came down to the 8th criteria which was "first points scored". Collingswood won that by a score of 8 matches to 4. I don't think I've ever seen a match go to that many criterion. It was very cool to see the buildup to the announcement as the judges paged through the rulebook and then witnessing the celebration afterward. They now travel to High Point tonight. It just reminded me that I need to get to some Rutgers matches very soon.

 

[bigmatt718]

HS Wrestling is extremely popular in South Jersey, more popular than HS Basketball in South Jersey in many areas.

 

[cicero grimes]

I went to my first wrestling match in years on the 9th with Haddonfield traveling to Collingswood for the SJ Grp 2 sectional finals. The crowd was limited by COVID attendance restrictions but I was lucky to have been given two tickets by the parents of one of the Collingswood wrestlers. I had forgotten how exciting these things can be even at the HS level, even my wife who does not follow sports was into it given her nephew was wrestling for Collingswood.

Both head coaches were successful wrestlers at Collingswood so the rivalry was pretty intense with the Collingswood fans really riding the Haddonfield coach for everything he did on the bench. After many surprises, Haddonfield tied it at 25 with a pin in the final match. The decision came down to the 8th criteria which was "first points scored". Collingswood won that by a score of 8 matches to 4. I don't think I've ever seen a match go to that many criterion. It was very cool to see the buildup to the announcement as the judges paged through the rulebook and then witnessing the celebration afterward. They now travel to High Point tonight. It just reminded me that I need to get to some Rutgers matches very soon.

Thanks for posting. I saw the box score from the match but did not know what criterion it was decided on. Going to the 8th criteria is amazing and also heartbreaking for the loser.

 

[bigmatt718]

Thanks for posting. I saw the box score from the match but did not know what criterion it was decided on. Going to the 8th criteria is amazing and also heartbreaking for the loser.

How far does the criteria list go before having to flip a coin to determine the winner?

 

[RUTBAY1]

How far does the criteria list go before having to flip a coin to determine the winner?

the answer is HERE

 

[bigmatt718]

the answer is HERE

Wow. Imagine losing the state championship in dual season on a coin flip.

 

[ruclass76]

Wow. Imagine losing the state championship in dual season on a coin flip.

At that point they should be named Co-State Champs.

 

[SCNJ]

It’s basically impossible to get that far in criteria. Bergen Catholic vs Delbarton went even further in criteria, they were tied on first takedowns and it came down to most points scored by near fall.

 

[CollegeFBfan1]

Yeah went to criteria J yesterday so 10 criteria.

 

[29PAS]

Good write-up - too bad about the outcome as I went to Haddonfield a long time ago! I had no idea about the criteria method of determining the winner - any idea when that started?

 

[RUTBAY1]

Good write-up - too bad about the outcome as I went to Haddonfield a long time ago! I had no idea about the criteria method of determining the winner - any idea when that started?

I grew up in Collingswood and also lived in Haddonfield for 20 years after I got married. I moved out of Haddonfield because of the crazy taxes and couldn't justify staying there once the kids started college and I needed to cover those expenses. We looked in Collingswood but it is also crazy expensive and taxes are just as high. However, unlike Haddonfield, the schools in Collingswood are really not great. Collingswood does have a really nice down-town area though.

 

[bigmatt718]

I grew up in Collingswood and also lived in Haddonfield for 20 years after I got married. I moved out of Haddonfield because of the crazy taxes and couldn't justify staying there once the kids started college and I needed to cover those expenses. We looked in Collingswood but it is also crazy expensive and taxes are just as high. However, unlike Haddonfield, the schools in Collingswood are really not great. Collingswood does have a really nice down-town area though.

Collingswood is a strange town in that one street can be upper middle class to borderline rich where the parents send the kids to private/Catholic schools like Paul VI, Camden Catholic, or Bishop Useless, and then you go one street 2 blocks away and its all middle class in a pretty mediocre public school system with Collingswood High. I always thought Haddon Township was where you wanted to raise a family if you couldn't afford the taxes of Haddonfield on that Haddon Avenue strip. Collingswood though is a fantastic restaurant town and probably the best foodie town in South Jersey.

 

[tico brown]

HS Wrestling is extremely popular in South Jersey, more popular than HS Basketball in South Jersey in many areas.

Yeah, I noticed that when I lived down there. Wish there were more wrestling programs up north.

 

[tico brown]

Collingswood is a strange town in that one street can be upper middle class to borderline rich where the parents send the kids to private/Catholic schools like Paul VI, Camden Catholic, or Bishop Useless, and then you go one street 2 blocks away and its all middle class in a pretty mediocre public school system with Collingswood High. I always thought Haddon Township was where you wanted to raise a family if you couldn't afford the taxes of Haddonfield on that Haddon Avenue strip. Collingswood though is a fantastic restaurant town and probably the best foodie town in South Jersey.

The town voted a few years ago to reject the money to build a brand new athletic facility (track/football/soccer/softball/phys Ed/ etc) because they didn’t want their taxes to pay for it. Kind of similar to what happened in Hoboken but CWood’s 1920s stadium was falling apart and had to be demolished. Now their kids play in from of temp bleachers and the student section is a hill built up from the stadium demolition (I believe).

But yea, their taxes continue to go up anyway because of all of the Jersey City condo type construction that’s been going on on Haddon Ave.

 

[bigmatt718]

The town voted a few years ago to reject the money to build a brand new athletic facility (track/football/soccer/softball/phys Ed/ etc) because they didn’t want their taxes to pay for it. Kind of similar to what happened in Hoboken but CWood’s 1920s stadium was falling apart and had to be demolished. Now their kids play in from of temp bleachers and the student section is a hill built up from the stadium demolition (I believe).

But yea, their taxes continue to go up anyway because of all of the Jersey City condo type construction that’s been going on on Haddon Ave.

It's a shame. CHS really could've used the money to revamp their football stadium/field and some of their other sports.

 

[tico brown]

It's a shame. CHS really could've used the money to revamp their football stadium/field and some of their other sports.

It is a shame but that stadium was falling apart, not as bad as Newark Schools Stadium or Paterson Hinchcliffe Stadium. But it was deemed too expensive to rehab it. So while the students go to their neighborhood rivals with their rehabbed or kept up facilities, CHS comes home to a torn up black top track and a giant mound for its student section.

The residents went NIMBY on those kids but were ok with all the construction for expensive condos that they would never move into. Probably STILL blames the school for all the taxes that went up last few years.

 

[wngarbarini]

They should have done what I did in Somerville. Raised $2.5 million to build 3 synthetic turf fields, new stadium lighting, 2 electronic scoreboards, new snack shack, new press box and speaker system. Did not cost the taxpayers one cent on their taxes and is probably the best high school athletic facility in the state.

 

[SCNJ]

They should have done what I did in Somerville. Raised $2.5 million to build 3 synthetic turf fields, new stadium lighting, 2 electronic scoreboards, new snack shack, new press box and speaker system. Did not cost the taxpayers one cent on their taxes and is probably the best high school athletic facility in the state.

How did you raise so much money?

 

[tico brown]

How did you raise so much money?

I’m all ears

FWIW, The median income in Somerville $51K, Collingswood $43k and Woodlynne (at least half the football and basketball players resides is $39K).

 

[tico brown]

Going back on topic, Collingswwod Wrestling has slowly but sure been building up their program for years from youth through HS to become one of the better Group 2s in South Jersey. They have the town support that’s already been there and as long as the current coaches are there, they should continue to grow into a state level program and beyond.

Now support for the other sports like football and athletic facilities???

 

[SCNJ]

I’m all ears

FWIW, The median income in Somerville $51K, Collingswood $43k and Woodlynne (at least half the football and basketball players resides is $39K).

Somerville is also home to Jeff Vanderbeek who if he isn’t a billionaire is pretty close. Vanderbeek was coaching the high school football team a few years ago when they won a state title. Not sure if he had any involvement in a 2.5 million dollar fundraiser but that is not a small figure.

Would love to hear how it’s possible to reach that figure without a major player involved. Bill, if you can provide some details I’d be interested in bringing some ideas to a few of the fundraisers I do with various schools I’ve been connected with.

DM me if needed

 

[RUTBAY1]

Collingswood is the 5th most winningest wrestling program in NJ. Yup, surprised me too.

 

[tico brown]

Collingswood is the 5th most winningest wrestling program in NJ. Yup, surprised me too.

Well I’ll be dammed. They’re never talked about on the same level of Phillipsburgh, Paulsboro, or some of the others. Hope they do well in AC

 

[29PAS]

I grew up in Collingswood and also lived in Haddonfield for 20 years after I got married. I moved out of Haddonfield because of the crazy taxes and couldn't justify staying there once the kids started college and I needed to cover those expenses. We looked in Collingswood but it is also crazy expensive and taxes are just as high. However, unlike Haddonfield, the schools in Collingswood are really not great. Collingswood does have a really nice down-town area though.

I sort of officially left Haddonfield in '69 - people were complaining about taxes then and I guess it just got worse over the years. My cousin, a surgeon, left town in the early 2000's because the taxes were too high. He went to Voorhees. I never would have guessed taxes in Collingswood would be so high. Haven't been there in years but I've heard the downtown is nice with several good restaurants. Haddonfield is still dry although I think restaurants can sell NJ made beverages?

 

[bigmatt718]

I sort of officially left Haddonfield in '69 - people were complaining about taxes then and I guess it just got worse over the years. My cousin, a surgeon, left town in the early 2000's because the taxes were too high. He went to Voorhees. I never would have guessed taxes in Collingswood would be so high. Haven't been there in years but I've heard the downtown is nice with several good restaurants. Haddonfield is still dry although I think restaurants can sell NJ made beverages?

Haddonfield does have a craft brewery called King's Road now. Outside of that, I believe the town is still dry but you can BYOB for any restaurant in town.

 

[tico brown]

Haddonfield does have a craft brewery called King's Road now. Outside of that, I believe the town is still dry but you can BYOB for any restaurant in town.

Same as CWood with their Devils Creek Brewery.

 

[wngarbarini]

SCNJ
Sorry I did not get back sooner. Somerville is landlocked so they will never qualify for Open Space funding yet they pay part of their property tax bill every year toward that fund. I convinced the Freeholders to give us some money when the State allowed Open Space funds allocated toward recreational facilities. That got us $1 million. Then stadium naming rights got us $500 k + the Somerset Hospital, Immaculata, Pop Warner and our Hall of Fame committee got us another $400k. Other big hitters gave us another $400 k and smaller donations got us to the top. Not bad for an old 80 year old cout!

 

[tico brown]

So someone who supports Somerville HS has connections? Good for them and that’s great that they were able to come up with that money for their program. Dude made it sound like the money was raised by GoFundMe and a f***ton of hoagie sales.

Collingswood doesn’t have those type of connections and in fact half the residents don’t give a rats arse about the HS or the students. Hence the mound of dirt that the student section go on during games. They rather vote for “Lumber Yard” extensions (the name of the condo area on/around Haddon Ave) and to get rid of the people living on Parkview Towers (where a lot of the students live at down the street from the HS).

Other than that, it’s a NIMBY town. Damm shame.

 

[SCNJ]

SCNJ
Sorry I did not get back sooner. Somerville is landlocked so they will never qualify for Open Space funding yet they pay part of their property tax bill every year toward that fund. I convinced the Freeholders to give us some money when the State allowed Open Space funds allocated toward recreational facilities. That got us $1 million. Then stadium naming rights got us $500 k + the Somerset Hospital, Immaculata, Pop Warner and our Hall of Fame committee got us another $400k. Other big hitters gave us another $400 k and smaller donations got us to the top. Not bad for an old 80 year old cout!

That’s pretty impressive. I don’t really have the connections to pull something like that off but have helped facilitate various fundraisers to bring in 4-5 figure numbers for certain sports programs but nothing close to 6 never mind 7.

 

[wngarbarini]

SCNJ
It was a lot of fun and happy the kids that go through there have the opportunity to practice and play on a first class facility. The BOE name the 3rd field, s new synthetic field named after me which shocked me since I always thought that happened after you died. At the time 7 years ago I thought they knew something I did not know!

 

[Harleyr1]

SCNJ
It was a lot of fun and happy the kids that go through there have the opportunity to practice and play on a first class facility. The BOE name the 3rd field, s new synthetic field named after me which shocked me since I always thought that happened after you died. At the time 7 years ago I thought they knew something I did not know!

That’s actually on my bucket list ..to get a chance to walk on WNG field ...did it on MetLife field once so just waiting for the opportunity to do WNG field before I die

 

[wngarbarini]

We will make that happen Harley. You are my man!