St. Joseph Stuns No. 1 Delbarton to Capture Non-Public A Championship

by NJ Athletics February 16, 2025

coverage by: Antonio Morales/photo by: Marco Morales

For the second time in three years, St. Joseph (Montvale) pulled off one of the biggest upsets in New Jersey wrestling, taking down No. 1 Delbarton 30-26 in the Non-Public A State Final. In a match filled with momentum swings, key wins at 120, 132, 175, 215, and 106 pounds helped push the Green Knights over the top, securing their first state title since 2022.

One of the night’s biggest moments came at 132 pounds, where Vincent Paino took on returning state champion Ryan DeGeorge in what was projected to be a six-point swing for Delbarton. Instead, Paino battled his way to a thrilling 5-3 win in the ultimate tiebreaker, stunning the Delbarton crowd and swinging the momentum firmly in St. Joe’s favor.

"It's a great feeling (defeating number 1), it's something to be proud of and something we have been working for. The work that no one sees is what matters most...it's kill or be killed, we move forward and keep hunting"

As the match continued, Delbaton racked up 17 points in the middle weights with a pin from Jayden James (150) , a tech fall from Trevor Jones (157) and a forefit at 165 in which Alessio Peretin picks up the free win.

Trailing 23-13 after Delbarton’s mid-match run, St. Joe’s needed bonus points—and they got them from their upper weights.

Ryan Burton (175) put on a dominant performance, securing a 20-5 technical fall over Jesse DeNegri to close the gap.
Anthony Harris (215) delivered in a massive way, pinning Elbrus Majagah in 3:09 to push St. Joe’s ahead 24-26, their first lead since early in the match.

With St. Joe’s clinging to a 27-26 lead heading into the final bout at 106 pounds, it all came down to JoJo Burke. In a back-and-forth battle, Burke secured an 8-6 decision over PJ Terranova, officially locking up the Non-Public A title for the Green Knights.

"I never thought this would've come down to me but at the end of the day I had to win either way... we work on the mats, rely on our training and go as hard a possible"

Taking down New Jersey’s top-ranked team in the state final is no small feat, and St. Joe’s proved they belonged at the top. From Paino’s match-defining win to the clutch performances of Burton and Harris, the Green Knights delivered when it mattered most.

With their 14-3 record and a Non-Public A championship secured, St. Joseph (Mont.) has reclaimed its spot as one of New Jersey’s premier wrestling programs—and they don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.