Haines Hopatcong Wrestling's New Wins Leader—And He Ain't Done

Hopatcong's wrestling program has a new all-time wins leader. And he's not done. Not even close.

Senior Dan Haines broke Gabe Ramos' career record of 133 wins last Saturday at West Morris High School, beating Mount Olive's Nick Mauro, 8-0, at 135 pounds.

Haines (136-19) said he never saw the milestone coming as a freshman. But he admitted thinking he might have a chance after notching his 100th win as a junior, something Ramos didn't accomplish until his senior year.

"It's amazing, I guess," Haines said Thursday. "There have been so many other good wrestlers that were there. Jaime Lijo. Justin Lijo. (Jim) Barringer. Gabe. Zach (Rey). That's incredible to me. I would never think that."

Ramos is wrestling at Division I Ohio University. He said he didn't know Haines broke his record until days later.

"I knew he was about to break it, but didn't know it was broken yet," Ramos, a 2008 graduate, said via e-mail. "I'm glad that Dan broke it of all people. He's a real good kid and his family actually helped me a lot in the sport of wrestling. So I'm real proud of him."

Haines hasn't just been a compiler for Hopatcong. He's won big matches, having taken three district titles and a regional crown. He's also been a state place winner.

Nonetheless, Haines march to the top of Hopatcong's wins list has been consistent. He went 36-9 as a freshman 103-pounder. Then he went 35-5 as a sophomore and 35-4 as a junior. And after Thursday's win over Butler, Haines (30-1) is poised to make another run at states.

Chiefs head coach Eric Fajerman said Haines has resiliency to spare.

"Even if he's not wrestling his best, he finds a way to pull out a win," he said.

Haines, whose only loss this season came to Timber Creek's Brandon Keller at the NJ All-Star Invitational, said he's made a career out of his neutral game.

"I'm good on bottom," he said. "I can get out. On top I can ride. So neutral is where I have to score the points and assure myself that I'm going to win. And I usually do get most of the takedowns and I feel real good on my feet most of the time."

Ramos said Haines' success has been more than technique.

"He's a hardworking great kid," Ramos said. "So hardworking that I'm sure that beating my wins record was the last thing on his mind. He's the kind of kid who is passionate in trying to win states.

"It's really what they say, man: Records are meant to be broken."