Wrestling: Sectional finals breakdown, picks

Here'a closer look at the sectional finals involving teams from the Open Mike area. All matches will be contested on Friday at 7 p.m. Winners advance to Sunday's Group championships at Toms River North High School.

North 1, Group 2

2-West Essex (10-6).at 1-High Point (15-5)

Wrestlers to watch: WE, Jr. Mike Marotti (21-6, D1, R3), 126; Jr. Carlo Zazzara (20-6, D1, R2), 132; Sr. Anthony Pompei (24-3, D1), 138; Sr. Dominic Valeriani (13-1, D3, R4), 285; HP, Fr. Dom Gallo (14-9), 106; Sr. John Torppey (16-9, D1), 113; Fr. Mike Derin (24-2), 120; Fr. Jason Gaccione (20-4), 132-138; So. Kyle Stoll (21-5), 182.

Sectional titles: West Essex 4 (1982, '84, '10, '11); High Point 21 (1984, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '94, '95, '96, '97, '01, '02, '03, '05, '06, '07, '08, '10, '11).

Breakdown: High Point is a heavy favorite in this one after a 41-13 pasting of Jefferson in the semifinals. The Wildcats will be favored in all but four weights, but may not have senior 138-pounder Jason Snider for the remainder of the season. He was absent from the lineup on Wednesday and is status is unknown. 'Cats have potential for big bonus points at 106, 113, 120 and 170. Next stop for the Sussex County crew is Toms River and the Group 2 semifinals.

Prediction: High Point, 43-15.

North 1, Group 1

2-Kittatinny (15-4) at 1-Emerson-Park Ridge (19-3)

Wrestlers to watch: K, Sr. James Elphick (10-1, D4-Pa.), 113; Fr. Tom Murphy (15-14), 132; So. Nick Romyns (22-6, D2), 138; Sr. Clarke Moynihan (25-3, D2, R2), 152; So. Kieran Gerrity (22-6, D3), 160; So. Dylan Wunder (23-5), 182-195; EP, Sr. Steven Schneider (30-0, D1, R3, S8), 132; Sr. James DiGregorio (27-2, D2), 138; Sr. Nick Maselli (25-4, D1, R2), 145-152; Sr. Andrew Vecchione (23-5, D1, R3), 152-160; Sr. Dylan Menze (22-5, D3), 170; So. Robbie Maggiulli (26-3, D3), 195.

Sectional titles: Kittatinny 16 (1991, '93, '94, '95, '96, '98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '11); Emerson-Park Ridge 8 (1980, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '01, '03).

Breakdown: Should be a good one. Emerson-Park Ridge gets a bump being the host after traveling to Kittatinny for last year's semifinal -- a 40-22 win for the Cougars. Kittatinny is making its 13th straight finals appearance and is gunning for the program's 11th sectional crown in 13 years -- losing to Newton in the 2009 and 2010 finals. You can't go by scores since it's all about the matchups but here's a few common opponents: Wayne Valley -- beat Emerson-Park Ridge, 36-32, on Feb. 1 and lost to Kittatinny, 32-26, on Dec. 23. Toms River South -- beat Emerson-Park Ridge, 29-26, on Jan. 28 and lost to Kittatinny, 34-32, on Feb. 3. I see at least seven tossups at 106, 120, 138, 160, 170, 195 and 285. Kittatinny favored at 113, 152 and 220. Emerson at 126, 132, 145 and 182. I give the Cougars four of the tosses and bonus at 113, 152 and 220. Bonus for the hosts at 126 and 145. Tough for either team to move in the middle weights, so this should be mostly straight up. It's tight for sure, but Kittatinny is more battle tested.

Prediction: Kittatinny, 28-25.

North 2, Group 4
2-Watchung Hills (17-3) at 1-Phillipsburg (13-3)

Wrestlers to watch: WH, So. Alex Pollera (22-7, D3), 106; So. Mike Magaldo (27-1, D2, R2, S2), 120; Fr. Alex Murray (16-4), 126; Jr. Matt Coppola (20-11, D2, R4), 132; Sr. Michael DiVito (26-1, D2), 145; Jr. Mike Carroccia (26-3), 160; Sr. Alex Fornelos (22-8), 170; P, Jr. Zach Fisher (22-9), 113; Fr. Jim Schuitema (20-8), 132; Sr. V.J. Delmonico (20-10, D3); Sr. Joe Moyer (15-13, D1), 160; Sr. Brandon Hull (25-3, D1, R2, S8), 220; Sr. Anthony Pare (24-4, D2), 285.

Sectional titles: Watchung Hills 0; Phillipsburg 31 (1980, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11).

Breakdown: Phillipsburg leads the all-time series, 19-0, dating to 1996, including a 52-15 drubbing on Jan. 25 en route to the Skyland Conference Delaware Division title. 'Liners won all 19 by an average margin of 38 points. This is the third postseason meeting -- P'burg won 48-25 in the 2005 North 2, Group 4 semis and 33-23 in the 2006 sectional final. Needless to say it would be next to impossible to make up a 37-point differential, so the Stateliners rate as heavy favorites for a 32nd sectional title in 33 attempts. P'burg lost its only championship match, 34-30, to Warren Hills in 1990. Watchung, which has never won a sectional title, lost 10 bouts in the last meeting. Both teams split one-point decisions -- Moyer over Carroccia, 6-5, and Fornelos over Matt Silva, 4-3, at 182. Max Elling and Schuitema earned surprising pins the last time at 126 and 132, respectively. Look for Watchung to save a few points in this one, but the end result stays the same.

Prediction: P'burg, 43-14.

North 2, Group 3

2-Warren Hills (14-4) at 1-South Plainfield (28-2)

Wrestlers to watch: WH, Fr. Max Nauta (21-3), 106; So. Tai Adetula (21-3), 113; Sr. Chris Greenwald (17-4, D4), 120; Sr. KC Wanamaker (18-6), 132; Sr. Dan Smith (20-3, D3), 220; SP, So. Ray Jazikoff (25-5, D2), 113; Jr. Troy Heilmann (28-3, D1, R1, S2), 120; Jr. Anthony Ashnault (31-0, D1, R1, S1), 126; Jr. Scott DelVecchio (31-0, D1, R3), 132; Sr. Tyler Hunt (31-0, D1, R2, S4), 138); Jr. Corey Stasenko (31-0, D1, R3), 145; Jr. Dylan Painton (26-4, D1), 152.

Sectional titles: Warren Hills 4 (1982, '90, '97, '07); South Plainfield 9 (1997, '98, '00, '01, '05, '06, '07, '10, '11).

Breakdown: Warren Hills is playing the role of David against South Plainfield's Goliath. Blue Streaks will be hard-pressed to win four bouts as the matchups don't favor most of their best wrestlers -- but then again most teams don't against coach Kevin McCann's juggernaught group from 113-152. Even the reserves on this team are pretty good. Good bouts at 106, 113 and possibly 220. I give the visitors an edge at 220 and 285 but that's about it. Tigers are too good and take the next step toward a second Group 3 crown in three years.

Prediction: South Plainfield, 44-15.

North 2, Group 1

3-Belvidere (14-9) at 1-Hanover Park (11-5)

Wrestlers to watch: B, Sr. Dylan Thorsen (30-1, D1, R3), 132; Sr. Nathan Dow (27-3, D2), 160, Jr. Evan Bray (27-3, D3), 182; Jr. J.B. Lawson (26-4, D4), 220; Jr. Ryan Appleby (26-5), 285; HP, Fr. Anthony Cefolo (24-3), 106; So. Joseph Zecca (18-6), 120; Jr. Genaro Cuccolo (21-6, D2), 126; Sr. Kyle Robertson (17-7, D3), 138; Sr. Dan Glinko (20-4, D2), 170.

Sectional titles: Hanover Park 5 (1997, '98, '02, '04, '05); Belvidere 4 (1996, '99, '00, '01).

Breakdown: Bonus points should be plentiful for both teams. Unfortunately, the loss of 126-pounder Jesse Thorsen eliminates a potential move the County Seaters could use to spring an upset. Belvidere favored at 132, 160, 182, 195, 220 and 285. Hanover Park has the edge at 106, 113, 120, 126, 138, 152 and 170. I think with some juggling that Belvidere takes 145, but the Hornets have a little too much firepower.

Prediction: Hanover Park, 37-30.

Central, Group 2

2-Raritan (14-6) at 1-Delaware Valley (13-3)

Wrestlers to watch: Fr. Dylan Seidenberg (18-6), 106; Sr. Matthew Lindo (22-3, D2), 113; Jr. Anthony Scarcella (14-8, D3), 120; Sr. Nick Liguori (15-3, D1, R3, S4), 126; Jr. Vincent Masi (9-4, D2), 126; Jr. Jason Bohal (16-3, D2, R4), 132; Sr. Devin Holmes (15-9), 138; So. Kyle Lynch (18-7), 152; Sr. Victor Iannello (16-9), 195; Sr. Nick Rice (17-8), 220; DV, Jr. Matt Gilmore (17-7, D4), 120; Jr. Mike Pongracz (26-0, D1, R1, S8), 126; Sr. Derek Zehnbauer (25-1, D2, R3), 138; So. Kody Eichlin (18-7, D4), 152; Sr. Will Van Doren (21-3, D2, R3), 170-195; Sr. Forrest Wooden (19-3), 285.

Sectional titles: Raritan 1 (2004); Delaware Valley 14 (1983, '84, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, '93, '94, '99, '01, '02, '05, '06).

Breakdown: One of the best sectional rivalries is renewed when the Green Machine comes to Alexandria Township for the sixth time in the postseason since 2003. Del Val leads, 5-3, in the all-time series, including a 42-19 win in the 2006 final -- the Terriers' 14th and last championship -- and a 32-27 win in the '05 title match under former coach Brent Conly. Rockets stunned the Terriers, 28-26, in the '07 semifinals. Del Val coach Andy Fitz, who won four sectional titles as a wrestler, is 2-4 overall as a coach in sectional matches after Wednesday's 45-19 waxing of Point Pleasant Boro. Raritan would like the flip to control matchups at 126 and 138. If it does, the teams could trade sixes at 126 and 132 and 138 and 145. Rockets are favorites at 106, 113, 132 (Liguori), 145, 182, 195 and 220, while Terriers have the edge at 120, 126, 138, 170 and 285. Tossup at 152 (Lynch-Eichlin) and 160. I think Raritan gets bonus points at five weights and that should be enough for a second sectional crown.

Prediction: Raritan, 38-30.