Here's a closer look at all of the sectional semifinals involving teams from the Open Mike area. All matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. Winners advance to Friday's championship round.
North 1 Group 2
Jefferson at High Point
Wrestlers to watch: J, So. Bryan Damon (21-2), 106; So. Matt Tripodi (20-5), 113; Jr. Pat Ferguson (16-8, D4), 132; Sr. Ryan Higgins (22-3, D3), 138; Fr. Luke Bohn (23-3), 145; Sr. Nick Monteverdi (13-4), 152; HP, Fr. Dom Gallo (14-8), 106; Sr. John Torppey (15-9, D1), 113; Fr. Mike Derin (23-2), 120; Fr. Jason Gaccione (19-4), 132-138; Sr. Jason Snider (2-1, D3), 132-138; So. Kyle Stoll (20-5), 182.
Sectional titles: Jefferson 7 (1991, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '00); 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 defeated Jefferson, 40-19, on Dec. 21. Wildcats won nine bouts, including a 2-0 by Gaccione over Ferguson. Both teams have lost wrestlers for the season since. Falcons just don't have enough firepower to close the gap and I have a hunch the 'Cats reverse one of those losses from last time.
Prediction: High Point, 46-15.
Lenape Valley at West Essex
Wrestlers to watch: LV, Fr. Peter Lipari (26-2), 106; Fr. Glenn Haines (26-3), 120; Jr. Matt Benvenuto (26-4, D1), 126; Sr. Andrew LaBell (25-6, D3); WE, Jr. Mike Marotti (21-5, D1, R3), 126; Jr. Carlo Zazzara (19-6, D1, R2), 132; Sr. Anthony Pompei (23-3, D1), 138; Sr. Dominic Valeriani (12-1), 285.
Sectional titles: Lenape Valley 4 (1985, '98, '99, '09); West Essex 4 (1982, '84, '10, '11).
Breakdown: This one should be pretty close. Both teams lost by almost identical scores to Kittatinny -- Lenape Valley, 47-20, and West Essex, 47-19. Patriots should dominate down low. Benvenuto vs. Marotti would be a featured bout, but I have a feeling that West Essex, which has an advantage in the middle weights, bumps its lineup for more favorable matchups.
Prediction: West Essex, 33-29.
North 1 Group 1
Pequannock at Kittatinny
Wrestlers to watch: P, Sr. Chaz Coppa (31-1, D2, R4), 120; Jr. Harrison Gardner (5-0), 126; Sr. R.J. DeGeorge (28-1, D1, R2), 132; Sr. Tyler VanDyke (28-3, D1), 145; Sr. Keith Lemengello (27-3, D1) 160; Jr. Luke Foukas (22-5, D3), 182; Sr. Mike Spencer (31-0, D1), 285; K, Sr. James Elphick (9-1, D4-Pa.), 113; Fr. Tom Murphy (15-13), 132; So. Nick Romyns (21-6, D2), 138; Sr. Clarke Moynihan (24-3, D2, R2), 152; So. Kieran Gerrity (22-5, D3), 160; So. Dylan Wunder (22-5), 182-195.
Sectional titles: Pequannock 5 (1984, '95, '01, '03, '05); Kittatinny 16 (1991, '93, '94, '95, '96, '98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '11).
Breakdown: Rematch of last year's final won by Kittatinny, 36-27. Cougars also prevailed, 38-24, when the two teams met in a dual meet last week on Feb. 1. Big news here is that former Blair Academy wrestler, junior Harrison Gardner, transferred back to Pequannock. He was not in the lineup last week and Kittatinny earned a decision at 126. Figure his presence to be a probable seven-point swing in this one.
Prediction: Kittatinny, 35-26.
North 2 Group 4
North Hunterdon at Phillipsburg
Wrestlers to watch: NH, Jr. Matt Moncourtois (23-8, D3), 106; Fr. Ryan Pomrinca (29-1), 113; So. Mike Ciavarro (23-6), 132-138; Sr. Beau Vrancken (24-1, D2, R1), 152-160; Sr. Joe Ragsdale (25-6, D2), 170, Jr. Liam Korbul (28-2, D3), 182; Jr. Dan Pepe (26-5), 195; P, Jr. Zach Fisher (22-8), 113; Fr. Jim Schuitema (19-8), 132; Sr. V.J. Delmonico (19-10, D3); Sr. Joe Moyer (15-12, D1), 160; Sr. Brandon Hull (24-3, D1, R2, S8), 220; Sr. Anthony Pare (23-4, D2), 285.
Sectional titles: North Hunterdon 13 (1980, '82, '84, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '99, '00, '02, '03, '09); 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, 45-8-1, dating to 1961, including a 33-25 win at The Pit on Jan. 11. This is the seventh postseason meeting and first since P'burg's 48-6 blowout in the 2008 North 2, Group 4 final. The Lions won three meetings in the Group 3 final (1982, '84, '93). Lions have done well this season, but this is a bad matchup and the 'Liners are red-hot right now.
Prediction: P'burg, 36-21.
North 2 Group 3
JFK-Iselin at Warren Hills
Wrestlers to watch: JFK, So. Carl Buttitta (25-3, D1, R3), 106-113; Jr. Collin Farley (25-5, D2), 120-126; Jr. Tom Farley (24-6, D2), 145; Sr. Nick Hart (25-4, D1), 152; Jr. Brandon Simon (25-3, D2), 160; Sr. Ryan Aston (24-4, D3), 195; WH, Fr. Max Nauta (21-2), 106; So. Tai Adetula (20-3), 113; Sr. Chris Greenwald (17-3, D4), 120; Sr. KC Wanamaker (17-6), 132; Sr. Dan Smith (19-3, D3), 220.
Sectional titles: JFK-Iselin 0; Warren Hills 4 (1982, '90, '97, '07).
Breakdown: Interesting matchup here as Warren Hills gets back on the mat for the first time in over a week after being shut down with skin disease issues. The Blue Streaks better come to wrestle as the visitors feature a number of quality wrestlers. JFK gave a good account in a 36-31 loss to North Hunterdon on Dec. 30. Bonus points will be there for the taking and Warren Hills needs to capitalize.
Prediction: Warren Hills, 36-21.
North 2 Group 2
Governor Livingston at Voorhees
Wrestlers to watch: GL, Jr. Jon Mele (25-4, D1), 113; Sr. Ryne Morrison (25-4, D3), 120; So. Ryan Hoy (21-6), 132; Jr. Shane Haddad (24-3, D1), 160; Sr. Zach Heissler (23-5, D3), 170; Sr. Tony Manganiello (14-2, D3), 285; V, So. Thomas Bieshke (21-9), 113; Sr. Walter Gonsiewski (19-7), 126; Sr. Ronnie Honickel (28-2, D1, R1), 145; Sr. Steven Baker (20-10, D3), 152; Jr. Jadaen Bernstein (29-1, D1, R1, S2), 160; Jr. Nicholas Ruggiero (23-7), 182.
Sectional titles: Governor Livingston 2 (1980, '81); Voorhees 14 (1980, '81, '82, '83, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '95, '96, '98, '04).
Breakdown: Voorhees, amazingly, has won five sectional titles in the last 20 years after winning nine in the span of 10 years from 1980-89 under former coach Bob Hall. His son, Eric, a star wrestler for the Vikes, is now at the helm and guided the program to a record-tying 22 dual meet wins this season. Now, we find out if the Hunterdon County school is battle tested enough for a title run. If the visitors can control some matchups, particularly 160, they can make it a bit closer, but the Vikes roll in this one.
Prediction: Voorhees, 41-25.
North 2 Group 1
Belvidere at Caldwell
Wrestlers to watch: B, Sr. Dylan Thorsen (29-1, D1, R3), 132; Sr. Nathan Dow (26-3, D2), 160, Jr. Evan Bray (26-3, D3), 182; Jr. J.B. Lawson (25-4, D4), 220; Jr. Ryan Appleby (25-5), 285; C, So. Nick Russomanno (20-10), 106; Jr. Mike Dalla Riva (20-7, D1), 113; Sr. Joey Schlomann (17-10, D4), 120; Sr. Vincent Deleva (14-10, D3), 132; Sr. Nick Rodgers (19-10, D3), 138; So. Ray Iodice (15-12, D3), 138; So. Joseph Galioto (17-7), 182.
Sectional titles: Belvidere 4 (1996, '99, '00, '01); Caldwell 4 (1983, '85, '86, '90).
Breakdown: The loss of junior 126-pounder Jesse Thorsen (22-7), who dislocated his elbow on Monday, is big for Belvidere -- a potential 12-point swing. His brother, Dylan, became the school's all-time wins leader with his 123rd victory in the final bout to seal a 35-33 win over Whippany Park. Dow is sitting on 96 wins coming into this one. Caldwell is strong where the County Seaters are used to giving up points, so Belvidere should have enough to reach the final.
Prediction: Belvidere, 36-28.
Central Group 2
Point Pleasant Boro at Delaware Valley
Wrestlers to watch: PP, Jr. Ryan Harter (24-2, D1), 113; So. Ryan Budzek (24-3, D2), 120-126; Fr. Daniel Nobbs (22-3), 120-126; Sr. Brandon Cusack (18-7), 160; Sr. Andrew Matter (21-4, D3), 220; DV, Jr. Matt Gilmore (17-6, D4), 120; Jr. Mike Pongracz (25-0, D1, R1, S8), 126; Sr. Derek Zehnbauer (24-1, D2, R3), 138; So. Kody Eichlin (17-7, D4), 152; Sr. Will Van Doren (20-3, D2, R3), 170-195; Sr. Forrest Wooden (18-3), 285.
Sectional titles: Point Pleasant Boro 1 (2007); Delaware Valley 14 (1983, '84, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, '93, '94, '99, '01, '02, '05, '06).
Breakdown: It's been awhile since Del Val won a sectional title -- six years -- and the storied Hunterdon County program is long overdue. Terriers coach Andy Fitz won four as a wrestler under his father, Vince, who built Del Val into a state power before retiring after Andy's senior season (1989-90). "We're going to be a tough out," Fitz said of this year's team in the sections. First thing's first, as Point Pleasant Boro stands in the way of a trip to the title match, where another showdown with Raritan -- which beat the Terriers in the 2007 semifinals and 2004 sectional final -- likely awaits. Del Val won't blow any team out and this one, depending on matchups, could be tight. Budzek-Gilmore at 120 is a feature bout.
Prediction: Delaware Valley 34-26.
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