The Ville, The Brook and Wayne Hicks

Bound Brook and Somerville were tied for the lead for most state champions in Somerset County at 15 for about 55 minutes Sunday afternoon.

Bound Brook freshman 189-pounder Andrew Campolattano and Bergen Catholic's Jon Becker were the first to wrestle Sunday at the NJSIAA Wrestling Tournament since a random draw was used for the first time.

Campolattano won 4-2 to deliver BBHS its 15th state champ, but about an hour later, Somerville senior Jim Kirchner won the 125-pound title in overtime with a thrilling 14-12 overtime win over Washington Township junior Anthony Curcio.

That gave Somerville its 16th state champion and first since Wayne Hicks won at 115 pounds in 1962. Hicks was a two-time state champ, having won at 106 in 1961.


For those looking for ironies -- Kirchner's mother, Paulette, is a Bound Brook High graduate, his uncle, Jim Lopa, wrestled for the Crusaders and Anthony Curcio is the name of a former Bound Brook mayor.