2026 Sectional Wrestling Tournament Predictions - Group 3
Group 3 has a blend of established contenders and programs looking to break through their sectional brackets into deeper postseason runs. Across the four sections, several brackets feature defined favorites alongside clusters of teams capable of pushing the pace and capitalizing on the right matchups. As a result, Group 3 projects as a group where finals pairings may vary by section, but execution and lineup management will be key factors throughout.
Central
Central Group 3 has one program positioned as the favorite at the top of the bracket, but the group immediately behind them is tightly packed. Three additional teams appear to be on similar ground, creating a section where multiple paths to the finals are realistic and an upset run is well within reach.
Brick Memorial comes in atop the Central bracket as the #1 seed. Brick Memorial holds a 13-8 record, which is slightly misleading due to their strength of schedule. 5 of their 8 losses came by way of Top 20 ranked programs. Their experience against tough programs has prepared the Mustangs to lock in and use that to their advantage to propel them to a potential sectional championship.
Robbinsville has had a solid season thus far, compiling a 17-9 record. Many of their losses were close and were decided by one match, falling to tough programs like Ocean Township and Immaculata. They also hold a tight win over fellow Central sectional team, Matawan. The Ravens stood firm in their local competition, going 5-1 in the CVC - Valley division.
#3 seeded Matawan battled their way through a seasoned Shore Conference, totaling a 14-10 record. Matawan let a few matches slip away which hurt their overall record, however they do hold a victory over Brick Township, who would have to make it to the finals to see each other again.
Hopewell Valley is an interesting #4 seed because they hold the best record in the tournament at 18-3. They dominated the CVC, going 6-0 in divisional action, and even hold a win over the #2 seeded Robbinsville. It seems they did not receive the luck of the draw, as some argue they should be the #1 or at the very least #2 seed. Instead of having a lighter path to the finals, they will have to go through the #1 seed in the semifinals if they win against Brick Township.
Prediction: Brick Memorial over Robbinsville
South
South Group 3 has one program that has separated itself at the top of the bracket, positioning them as the team to beat. That said, several other squads in the section have put together strong seasons of their own and have the lineup pieces to stay competitive in a dual format. While the favorite stands out on paper, the depth behind them suggests this section may not be as straightforward as it first appears.
Seneca enters the tournament as the #1 seed with an impressive 20-3 record. Led by #4 ranked HWT, Patrick Degnan, the Golden Eagles have put together a very solid season. Seneca remained as one of the best teams in all of south Jersey throughout the season, going 4-1 in the Olympic conference and taking out teams like Lenape and Rancocas Valley along the way.
Second seeded Delsea is the team to beat in this bracket. With a 17-3 record, Delsea has had a gauntlet of the schedule, coming out victorious against multiple Top 20 programs. Delsea currently sits at #9 in the state rankings due to their ability to defeat top programs like Lower Cape May, Howell, and St. Augustine. The Crusaders have a tough lineup from top to bottom, most notably 4 wrestlers who are ranked in the state; Adam Froehlich, Amari Vann, Anthony DePaul, and Sal Marchese. As one of the best teams in the state, it will be tough for any team in this bracket to get past Delsea without true battle.
#3 seeded Lacey boasts a 17-4 record, an impressive feat considering their strength of schedule. The Lions picked up wins over Point Boro, Ocean Twp, and Delran to name a few. They are led by 2x state medalist and current #2 ranked 113lb wrestler, Killian Coluccio. With a star at the helm and a good supporting cast, Lacey looks to make some noise in the South Group 3 bracket.
Prediction: Delsea over Seneca
North 1
North 1 Group 3 features a mix of programs capable of making postseason noise, but two teams have distinguished themselves as the frontrunners entering sectionals. With multiple competitive lineups in the field, the path to the finals may not be clean, yet this section ultimately shapes up around how those two top teams handle their matchups and manage key swing bouts.
The top seeded River Dell almost put together a perfect season at 20-1, their only loss coming from the #5 seed in this tournament, Paramus. Other than the singular stain on their record, River Dell has been dominating the Big North Conference all season, and looks to take that momentum into the sectional tournament.
Ramapo, the #2 seed, has been looking dangerous as of late. They hold an 18-3 record, and have wins over well respected programs like Hanover Park, Middletown South, and Bridgewater-Raritan to prove their worthy of such a record. The Panthers seemed primed to make a true run at taking the sectional title back to Ramapo.
Prediction: Ramapo over River Dell