Wrestling preview: North Hunterdon at Phillipsburg

What: North Hunterdon Lions at Phillipsburg Stateliners.

Where: The Pit at Phillipsburg High School.

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Skyland Delaware Division.

Records: North Hunterdon 9-0; Phillipsburg 3-2.

Coaches: Dave Post (16-8, second season); Tim Flynn (35-16, third season).

Series history: Phillipsburg leads 44-8-1 dating to 1961, including last year's 40-21 win on the road, and six postseason meetings. North Hunterdon's last victory was 36-21 at home on Jan. 6, 2007. The Lions' other wins came in the Group 3 final (1982, '84 and '93), and dual meets in 1961, '62, '65 and '75. The schools tied, 22-22, at The Pit in 1964.

Note: North Hunterdon wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Jr. Matt Moncourtois (11-4) vs. Fr. Steve Friedman (9-6).

113 -- Fr. Ryan Pomrinca (14-0) vs. Jr. Zach Fisher (13-5).

120 -- So. Eric Martin (7-8) vs. Jr. Andrew Kaluzny (2-5).

126 -- Sr. Matt Wilson (8-6) vs. Fr. Max Elling (6-4).

132 -- So. Mike Ciavarro (12-3) vs. Fr. Jim Schuitema (12-5).

138 -- Fr. Michael Sicola (4-5) vs. So. Trevor Woolf (3-5) or Jr. Anthony Johnson (1-1).

145 -- Sr. Matt Doscher (8-7) vs. So. Jake Kocsis (5-5).

152 -- Sr. Beau Vrancken (15-0) or Jr. Brandon Loftus (7-8) vs. Sr. V.J. Delmonico (10-7).

160 -- Vrancken or Loftus vs. Sr. Joe Moyer (6-7).

170 -- Sr. Joe Ragsdale (11-4) vs. Sr. Devin Grade (6-6).

182 -- Jr. Liam Korbul (13-2) vs. Sr. Shaun Maloy (6-6).

195 -- Jr. Dan Pepe (13-2) vs. Sr. Derek Pierson (2-5).

220 -- Jr. Brad Straight (2-6) vs. Sr. Brandon Hull (11-3).

285 -- So. Anthony Bugyi (1-6) vs. Sr. Anthony Pare (12-3).

Breakdown: This is always a fun match. Flynn and assistant coach Jason Hawk are former P'burg wrestlers going up against their alma mater in The Pit. And the two tough competitors will have more fun by getting a W in this one. Problem for the visitors is getting bonus points where they are favored. Straight up, North gets the nod at 106, 113, 132, 152 or 60 (Vrancken), 170, 182 and 195. That's seven and really 132 isn't a given between Ciavarro-Schuitema. My guess is that North tries to get Ciavarro at 138 to try and split there. Lions can neutralize P'burg's upper weights but are heavy, heavy underdogs at 220 and 285. 'Liners also favored at 120, 126, 132 or 38 (wherever Ciavarro isn't), 152 or 60 (wherever Vrancken isn't). I have 145 (Doscher-Kocsis) as a tossup. I think 106, 113, 120, 126 and 145 could all be entertaining. North needs four of those to win in my opinion. Easier said than done in the raucous Pit.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 30-22.