Thursday, January 19, 2012

Wrestling preview: Phillipsburg at Warren Hills

What: Phillipsburg Stateliners at Warren Hills Blue Streaks.

Where: Warren Hills Regional High School, Washington Twp.

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Skyland (non-divisional).

Records: Phillipsburg 6-2; Warren Hills 10-2.

Coaches: Dave Post (19-8, second season); Jarrett Hosbach (87-70, seventh season).

Series history: Phillipsburg leads 50-14 dating to 1948, including last year's 49-12 win at The Pit. The Stateliners have won 25 straight since falling twice to Warren Hills during the 1989-90 season. The Blue Streaks haven't won in this series since their 34-30 victory at home in the 1990 North 2, Group 3 sectional final -- the only loss any P'burg team has suffered in the sectional playoffs. The Streaks also won, 32-31, in a regular-season tilt at The Pit that magical 19-0 season in which they finished No. 1 in New Jersey.

Note: Phillipsburg wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Fr. Steve Friedman (12-9) vs. Fr. Max Nauta (16-2).

113 -- Jr. Zach Fisher (16-7) vs. So. Tai Adetula (17-2).

120 -- Jr. Andrew Kaluzny (7-6) vs. Sr. Chris Greenwald (13-2).

126 -- Fr. Max Elling (11-6) vs. Jr. Joe Kratochvil (10-8).

132 -- Fr. Jimmy Schuitema (15-5) vs. Sr. KC Wanamaker (13-5).

138 -- Jr. Anthony Johnson (5-3) vs. Jr. Kevin Bundschuh (4-4).

145 -- So. Jake Kocsis (11-6) vs. So. Nate Detrick (9-3).

152 -- Sr. V.J. Delmonico (14-8) vs. Sr. Brandon Cruse (8-7).

160 -- Sr. Joe Moyer (10-10) vs. So. Ryan Ostir (5-6).

170 -- Sr. Devin Grade (10-8) vs. Jr. Xavier Adetula (8-8).

182 -- Sr. Shaun Maloy (10-9) vs. Sr. Ryker Kern (9-5).

195 -- Sr. Derek Pierson (7-6) vs. So. Ryan Witner (7-11).

220 -- Sr. Brandon Hull (17-3) vs. Sr. Dan Smith (15-2).

285 -- Sr. Anthony Pare (18-3) vs. Fr. Andrew Pacheco (7-2).

Breakdown: This one has the makings of a classic with two former Stateliner wrestlers as opposing coaches. I don't expect either team to do a whole lot of juggling, if any, and there are a lot of bouts that could go either way. Five potential rematches from Saturday's HWS Tournament include: Friedman-Nauta (4-0 Nauta); Elling-Kratochvil (9-4 Elling); Maloy-Kern (3-2 Kern); Pierson-Witner (3-2 Pierson); Hull-Smith (1-0 Hull). It's hard-pressed to rate Warren Hills a solid favorite at any weight other than 106. I originally thought the hosts had an edge at 120, but Kaluzny upset Delaware Valley's Matt Gilmore on Wednesday. P'burg gets the nod at 126, 138 slightly, 152, 160, 170 slightly, 195 slightly, 220 and 285. That's eight potential wins. Tossups to me are 113, 120, 132, 145 and 182. Hills likely needs them all and it still might not be enough. Series history says P'burg finds a way to win more of the close ones.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 31-17.

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