A closer look at the area's best

Here is a look at the first-team All-South Jersey wrestlers:

Sean Boylan, Holy Spirit.

The freshman burst onto the South Jersey scene with an impressive 39-3 record and a second-place finish at states. He collected District 32 and Region 8 titles. Boylan knocked off defending Region 8 champion Eric Dunnet in the final en route to the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award.

Dan Hughes, Delran.

The senior rattled off a 39-3 record en route to his second straight District 26 and Region 7 titles. Hughes earned his 100th career victory in his final action at states. He had to forfeit his last match because of injury, but placed fourth. One of the key components of a record-setting 27-1 Bears squad.

Jose Matos, St. Augustine.

Matos enjoyed a breakout season in his senior year, compiling an impressive 40-4 mark. Matos pinned his way to a District 32 title and carried the momentum to a Region 8 crown. At states, he finished sixth. Matos was a big-point producer for the 24-3 Hermits, who won the Region 7/8 Duals and advanced to the South Jersey Non-Public A championship. Matos finished with a career record of 112-31.

Anthony Luma, Egg Harbor Township.

The sophomore flexed his muscles to another sensational season. He successfully defended his District 32 and Region 8 titles. Luma won his first 33 matches before losing to eventual state champion Joe Trause, of Bergen Catholic in the state quarterfinal round. Luma boasts an eye-popping 72-3 career mark.

Ricky Bailey, Palmyra.

The senior etched his name into the school's history books, becoming the Panthers' all-time win leader with 137 career victories. Bailey went 39-6 in one of the area's most competitive weight classes. After a frustrating 3-2 loss to Cherokee's Kyle Packer in the District 27 final, he came back to capture his second Region 7 title with a thrilling 8-6 overtime win against Delran's Andrew Carthan. He was also a two-time district champion.

Anthony Baldasaro, Delsea.

Baldasaro joined Holy Spirit's Sean Boylan as the elite of a solid freshman class in South Jersey wrestling. With great technique and brute strength, Baldasaro rolled to District 31 and Region 8 titles and finished fourth in the state. He finished with a 39-5 mark - the most wins by a freshman in Delsea history. Baldasaro's style is reminiscent of another Crusader wrestler, Don Fisch, who was Delsea's last state champion, in 2002.

Scott Wear, Clayton.

The senior established the standard for future Clippers grapplers. Wear finished with a school-record 108 career wins and was the first Clayton wrestler to win a Region 8 title. A two-time District 29 champion, Wear helped Clayton to 16 wins and a postseason berth.

Jackson Brady, Camden Catholic.

The sophomore broke into the Irish starting lineup this season and made the most of his opportunity. Brady started his season with a bang, defeating a three-time state champion at the season-opening St. Edwards' Elite 8 Tournament. He finished with a 38-8 record, which included a District 28 title. After finishing third at Region 7, Brady caught fire at states. He placed fifth, including a victory over Region 7 champ Preston Keiffer, of Eastern.

Dustin Deckard, Pennsville.

The junior maintained focus through a difficult year, which included a transfer from Camden Catholic back to his home town of Pennsville. He responded with a 34-4 record and third district title. Deckard didn't surrender a single point in three regional matches en route to his first title. He finished fourth in states and raised his career record to 99-19.

Ken Wilkerson, Cherokee.

The senior finished his scholastic career in dominating fashion, accumulating a 35-5 mark including his first District 26 and Region 7 titles. At regions, Wilkerson earned a 7-4 victory over two-time district champ Geoff Bauma, of Northern Burlington. Wilkerson became the fifth wrestler in Chiefs history to notch 100 career wins, including teammate Kyle Packer, who set a Burlington County record with 147 wins. Wilkerson finished with a 112-34 career mark.

Anthony Trongone, Camden Catholic.

The South Jersey wrestler of the year, the senior finished with a school-record 40-2 mark this season and 108 career wins. (See story above.)

Mac Mancuso, Holy Spirit.

The sophomore became his school's first state champion, beating Belvidere's Tyler Smith, 7-1, in the final. He matched his 35-3 record from a year ago and captured his second straight District 32 and Region 8 titles. His only three losses of the season came at the nationally renowned Beast of the East Tournament in December. Mancuso is one of South Jersey's brightest stars on the wrestling scene.

Alex Silvestro, Paulsboro.

The senior became the 24th state champion in the storied history of the Red Raider program. A four-time District 29 champion, Silvestro captured his elusive Region 8 title with a 16-1 technical fall over Highland's Mike Daniels in the final. His 42-1 mark ties him with Demitrius Hester for most wins in a season. Silvestro's 136-15 career record ranks third on the all-time Paulsboro list behind Tom Curl (141 wins) and Matt Suter (138).

Demitrius Hester, Paulsboro.

The senior accumulated a 42-1 record en route to his fourth District 29 title and second Region 8 title. After being upset in the state pre-quarterfinal round, Hester regrouped and wrestled back to third place. Hester finished with a 135-13 career record and will be remembered as one of the best in a long line of dominating heavyweights at Paulsboro.

- Tom McGurk