Quinn Kinner, Billy Janzer, Lucas Revano win New Jersey state wrestling titles

Quinn Kinner finished his senior season with neither a mark on his record nor a scratch on his face.

The Kingsway wrestler was unbeatable. Apparently, he was untouchable, too.

"I like my face," Kinner said with a smile after finishing one of the most dominant seasons in recent South Jersey history by winning his second straight state title on Sunday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Delsea senior Billy Janzer won his second consecutive state title and Camden Catholic junior Lucas Revano also captured a state crown during the final day of the long season under the vaulted ceiling in the big arena off the boardwalk.

"Oh My God – I'm a state champion," Revano said of his thoughts when the buzzer sounded on his 4-3 victory over his sometime-training partner, Kyle Slendorn of Howell, in the 132-pound championship bout. "I did the unthinkable."

Revano was losing, 3-2, with less than 18 seconds remaining in the bout when he scored a reversal to grab the lead at 4-3.

"I was trying not to think about the last 18 seconds," Revano said. "I knew anything could happen, and I had to keep wrestling.

"I heard the buzzer and I couldn't believe it. It was amazing.

"It feels great now, and it's going to feel even better tomorrow, because I don't think it's completely sunk in yet."

Revano lives in Belmar, a seaside community in Ocean County. He travels a little more than an hour every day to Cherry Hill to attend Camden Catholic.

Revano and Slendorn often wrestle together at the Triumph Wrestling Club in Ocean Township.

"We work out together all the time," Revano said. "But this was different. This was a state final."

Janzer's victory was déjà vu for the muscular athlete. He won the 170-pound state title in 2017 and the 182-pound state title on Sunday in the same way, with an escape in overtime.

"It was exactly the same," Janzer said of his 3-2 victory over previously undefeated Josh McKenzie of Bergen Catholic.

Janzer said he knew when he won the toss that he would win the state title. He said he knew there was no way McKenzie could ride him in the ultimate tiebreaker in the third overtime.

"He actually wasn't good on bottom when he first got here," Delsea coach Greg Sawyer said of Janzer. "But now, nobody can ride him."

Janzer finished the season with a 33-0 record. He also was 135-7 in his career, joining Donnie Fisch, Joey Alexander and Bryan Dobzanski as Delsea wrestlers with two state titles.

"That's what I wanted, to be a two-time state champ and be mentioned with those guys," said Janzer, a Rutgers recruit.

Janzer and Revano both looked the part of battle-hardened wrestlers at the end of the grinding season, with cuts and bruises on their faces, with badges of honor from the physical demands of the sport. Same went for most of the athletes who compete this weekend.

Kinner is different. He finished the season, and his career, without an apparent mark on his face – no gashes, no black eyes, no swollen lips.

"He's a special kid," Kingsway coach Mike Barikian said. "This is my second year, and I know he's the best wrestler I'll ever coach."

Kinner is the No. 1 wrestler in his weight class in the country, per several national wrestling websites. He also a remarkably relaxed athlete who likes to listen to oldies and dance before his bouts.

"Stevie Wonder," Kinner said of his musical choice before the last match of his high school career.

Facing another defending state champion in Ocean Township's Jake Benner, Kinner controlled the bout and cruised to an 11-2 victory. Despite the pressure of the moment, despite the caliber of the opponent, the Kingsway athlete never seem rushed, flustered or in danger.

It was a typical victory, smooth and efficient, with minimal fuss and zero muss. It just happened to be in the state finals, in the last bout of his career.

Kinner was unscathed on the mat this season, and unmarked by his 44 battles, all of which ended in victory.

But he had to admit his feelings were hurt by the realization that his career was over.

"It's a little bittersweet," said Kinner, an Ohio State recruit who finished 169-6 in his career. "To know this was my last high school match. I'm just glad I was able to go out the way I went out."

182: Biilly Janzer, Delsea, d. Josh McKenzie, Bergen Catholic, 3-2 (OT); 195: Jacob Cardenas, Bergen Catholic, d. Sam Wustefeld, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 10-2; 220: Peter Acciardi, Don Bosco Prep, d. Liridon Leka, Montville, 3-1; 285: Lewis Fernandes, Voorhees, pin Kody Wood, Pennsville, 3:00; 106: Joey Olivieri, Hanover Park d. Dean Peterson, St. John Vianney, 6-3; 113: Anthony Clark, Delbarton, d. Sam Alverez, St. Joseph Montvale, 3-2; 120: Robert Howard, Bergen Catholic, d.  Mitchell Polito, East Brunswick, 3-2; 126: Patrick Glory, Delbarton, d. Joe Heilmann, South Plainfield, 7-0; 132: Lucas Revano, Camden Catholic, d. Kyle Slendorn, Howell, 4-3; 138: Quinn Kinner, Kingsway, d. Jake Benner, Ocean Twp.,  11-2; 145: Ricky Cabanillas, DePaul, d. Nick Bennett, Delsea, 5-2; 152: Cole Corrigan, Toms River South, d. Brian Meyer, Phillipsburg, 5-4; 160: Shane Griffith, Bergen Catholic, d. Robert Kanniard, Wall, 6-1; 170: Mike O'Malley, Hasbrouck Heights, d. Chris Foca, Bergen Catholic, 7-2.