Wrestling: After each enjoyed excellent seasons last winter, could Lower and Middle be even better in ‘25-26?

Posted: December 12th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

It was a dream season for local high school wrestling last winter.

Lower Cape May and Middle Township faced off in the South Jersey Group II title match, with Middle winning on criteria after a tie.

The scenes in Lower Cape May’s gym were sensational for that championship match. It was a massive celebration of local high school wrestling.

There’s no reason to think both Lower and Middle won’t be among the top teams in South Jersey again, not just in Group II but overall as well.

The following is a look at each of the area’s two high school wrestling programs, with the new season set to begin Saturday:

LOWER CAPE MAY

When you think of the wrestling program at Lower Cape May Regional High School in its current form, the first name that comes to mind is Chase Hansen.

One of the most decorated wrestlers in program history, Hansen enters his senior year as a three-time Region 8 champion and a three-time state place winner. With a career record of 131-5, he’s only 10 wins away from breaking the program record held by current head coach Billy Damiana. Hansen won 43 matches last season.

There’s no doubt Hansen is regarded as one of the top wrestlers in the state, regardless of weight class.

Hansen, who moves to 144 pounds this season, leads what is arguably one of the most loaded Caper Tiger lineups in program history. There’s enough talent that people around the program don’t just have their sights set on a South Jersey championship. Some are thinking this could be the season that Lower has a legitimate chance at its first state title. It would be a sweet encore after last season’s disappointment of losing to Middle Township on criteria in the sectional title match.

In addition to Hansen, Lower features eight other returning wrestlers who won at least 22 matches a season ago. They include seniors Danny Byrne (157 pounds; 26-12 last season), Dom Marrero (138; 24-12) and John Hearon (Hwt.; 22-9); juniors Dave Douglass (190; 33-7), Bryce Paley (120; 24-9), Billy Whitney (150; 23-12) and Gabe Tosto (165; 25-9); and sophomore Shane Morrell (175; 25-16).

Byrne, Marrero, Douglass, Paley and Morrell were each region qualifiers last winter.

Another returnee with solid experience is senior Caden Britton (215; 15-19).

In addition to the returning wrestlers, Lower’s lineup is bolstered by some extremely talented newcomers. 

One is sophomore transfer Tristan Rosemeyer (113), a region champion and state qualifier who went 36-7 as a freshman last season at 106 pounds at Williamstown. Three of his victories came at Boardwalk Hall.

The others are freshmen Abraham Carabello (106), Ryan Morgan (126) and Eli Glover (132).

As a team, Lower is certainly shooting to win at least a South Jersey championship. And once the individual championship season rolls around in mid to late February, the Caper Tigers should have numerous wrestlers in the mix to compete for district and region championships and places in the state tournament.

Lower is scheduled to open the season at a tournament at Vineland High School Saturday. The team’s first first dual match is Wednesday at home against Absegami.

Damiana is in his ninth season as the team’s head coach.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

Middle Township is coming off a historic season. The Panthers won their first-ever South Jersey championship, claiming the Group II sectional on criteria over rival Lower Cape May.

Middle lost quite a few outstanding wrestlers from that group to graduation, most notably region champion Max Adelizzi, who went 40-5 last season and finished his career as the program’s all-time wins leader with 120. State qualifier Shaun Watkins (36-6 last season) and Maurice Matthews (35-5) also graduated.

But there is still a lot of returning talent for a team that went 20-4 in dual matches last season. The 20 wins set a program record for most victories in a season.

Leading the way is Calvin Parke, a state qualifier at 106 pounds who went 37-7 last winter. The senior returns to the same weight class.

Another returning 30-match winner is junior Tyler King (150 pounds), who went 35-7 and was a Region 8 qualifier a season ago.

Other returnees who surpassed the 20-victory threshold last winter include junior R.J. Attenborough (165 pounds; 28-10 last season), junior R.J. Garden (138; 27-11), senior Noah Nagle (175; 22-13), junior Ben Banks (120; 22-16) and senior Dontae Kelly (132; 21-12). Attenborough, Nagle, Garden and Banks were all region qualifiers last season, while Kelly was a region qualifier in 2024.

Others with experience expected to take a step forward include juniors Connor Hagan (190; 13-16) and Jerry Booth (144; 11-15).

Middle’s depth gets a boost from a pair of transfers in sophomore Landon Shivers (113), who won 13 matches as a freshman at Lower Cape May last season, and sophomore Colin Prockson (157), a region qualifier as a freshman at Millville last season.

Less experienced wrestlers expected to play major roles include senior Mike Layer (126), freshman Robert Hodges (215) and senior Nate McCrone (Hwt.).

The Panthers should again compete for the South Jersey title and have numerous wrestlers with legitimate chances to win district and region titles.

Middle is set to open the season at a tournament at Vineland High School Saturday. Its first dual match is Wednesday at Mainland.

Matt Wolf, who won his 200th career dual match as head coach last winter, enters his 18th season as head coach.

Returning region qualifiers (from left) Noah Nagle, Ben Banks, Calvin Parke, Tyler King and R.J. Attenborough lead Middle Township into the new season.