NJSIAA announces new alignment for district/region wrestling for 2024-25 season

There will be even more changes on the way for high school wrestling in the Garden State this winter.

The NJSIAA released the district/region alignment for the 2024-25 in an email sent to athletic directors on Thursday.

In the email, the state organization said they don't anticipate any changes to the new alignment, but the NJSIAA does reserve the right to "make changes as necessary in order to secure host sites for either the districts or regions."

The state is expected to adopt several rule changes for the 2024-25 season, including a three-point takedown, which were approved the National Federation of High School Schools Association Wrestling Rules Committee last month.

The biggest changes for South Jersey involve two perennial powerhouses: Kingsway and Paulsboro, which move to Region 7 and 8, respectively.

Another significant change: Christian Brothers Academy moves from Region 7 back to Region 6.

Region 7 remains loaded with two-time state Group 5 champions Southern and defending state Non-Public B champs St. John Vianney.

The district tournament at 32 sites across New Jersey will take place on Feb. 22. The eight regional tournaments are slated for Feb. 28-March 1. The state tournament will be wrestled from March 6-8 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

The sites for the two South Jersey regions - Regions 7 and 8 - have yet to be determined. Districts 25-28 will wrestle in Region 7 while Districts 29-32 will convene in Region 8.

Here is the breakdown of the districts:

District 25

At Collingswood:

Teams: Audubon, Camden, Collingswood, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township, Paul VI, Pennsauken, St. John Vianney, Sterling, West Deptford.

District 26

At Lacey Township:

Teams: Barnegat, Central Regional, Donovan Catholic, Lacey Township, Manchester, Pinelands, Southern, Toms River East, Toms River North, Toms River South.

District 27

At Cinnaminson:

Teams: BCIT, Cinnaminson, Delran, Gloucester, Kingsway, Moorestown, Palmyra, Rancocas Valley, Red Bank Catholic, Willingboro.

District 28

At Cherokee:

Teams: Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Cherry Hill West, Gloucester Catholic, Haddonfield, Lenape, Maple Shade, Pemberton, Seneca, Shawnee.

District 29

At Absegami:

Teams: Absegami, Atlantic City, Camden Catholic, Egg Harbor Township, Holy Spirit, Lower Cape May, Mainland, Middle Township, Oakcrest, Ocean City.

District 30

At Delsea:

Teams: Buena, Cedar Creek, Delsea, Gateway/Woodbury, Millville, Pennsville, Schalick/Cumberland, Vineland, Woodstown.

District 31

At Eastern:

Teams: Eastern, Hammonton, Highland/Triton, Overbrook, St. Joseph, Timber Creek, Washington Township, Williamstown, Winslow Township.

District 32

At Paulsboro/Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Co.:

Teams: Clayton/Glassboro, Clearview, Deptford, Lindenwold, Paulsboro, Penns Grove, Pitman, St. Augustine, Salem.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.