Wrestling preview: Phillipsburg at Kittatinny

What: Phillipsburg Stateliners at Kittatinny Cougars.

Where: Kittatinny Regional High School, Hampton, N.J.

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

TV: Service Electric Cable (Sparta) Channel 10.

Conference: Independent.

Records: Phillipsburg 10-3, Kittatinny 13-3.

Coaches: Dave Post (23-9, second season); John Gill (462-144-5, 32nd season).

Series history: Phillipsburg leads 10-6 dating to 1994, including a 34-21 win at The Pit in 2011. Kittatinny prevailed, 41-34, at home in 2010. The Cougars won four in a row from 2003-06 and have won five of the nine meetings since '03. 'Liners won the first five meetings by wide margins and were victorious in four of the last five matchups, including three straight from 2007-09.

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

106 -- Fr. Steve Friedman (14-12) vs. So. Christian Silva (14-11).

113 -- Jr. Zach Fisher (20-8) vs. Sr. James Elphick (8-0) or So. Nick West (6-8).

120 -- Jr. Andrew Kaluzny (10-8) vs. Jr. Dave Popek (16-9) or Elphick.

126 -- Fr. Max Elling (14-8) vs. So. Kevin Jelinek (3-4) or Popek.

132 -- Fr. Jim Schuitema (18-7) vs. Fr. Tom Murphy (15-11).

138 -- Jr. Anthony Johnson (8-5) vs. So. Nick Romyns (20-5).

145 -- So. Jake Kocsis (14-8) vs. Fr. Brandon Olsen (10-15).

152 -- Sr. V.J. Delmonico (18-9) vs. Sr. Clarke Moynihan (23-2).

160 -- Sr. Joe Moyer (13-12) vs. So. Kieran Gerrity (21-4).

170 -- Sr. Devin Grade (13-10) vs. Jr. Jake Brook (16-9).

182 -- Sr. Shaun Maloy (14-10) or Sr. Matt Silva (3-4) vs. So. Garrett Armstrong (15-8) or So. Dylan Wunder (21-4).

195 -- Sr. Derek Pierson (8-6) or Maloy vs. Armstrong or Wunder.

220 -- Sr. Brandon Hull (22-3) vs. Sr. Jake Drelich (16-9).

285 -- Sr. Anthony Pare (21-4) or Jr. Jarrett Williams (2-0) vs. So. Tom Smith (8-12).

Breakdown: This is one of the best rivalries in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area with lots of mutual respect on both sides. I don't see P'burg needing to make any lineup moves, leaving Kittatinny to possibly do some juggling in order to pull off the upset. Straight up, 'Liners are favored at 106, 126, 145, 220 and 285. Cougars have the edge at 138, 152, 160, 170 and 182 (Wunder). Tossups are 113, 120, 132 and 195. Popek beat Kaluzny, 3-2, at HWS, but Kaluzny is a much different wrestler now. Kocsis pinned Olsen at HWS for fifth place and Moynihan defeated Delmonico, 6-1, in the semifinals. My feeling is that Kaluzny reverses that loss and Kittatinny runs Murphy and Romyns up a weight to try and secure 138 and 145, provided it gets the flip. Cougars also would like a Wunder-Maloy matchup at 182. No matter how you slice it, I don't see Kittatinny getting many, if any, bonus-point wins. P'burg has the potential in four weight classes for more than a regular decision. That's the difference.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 31-21.