Thursday, January 24, 2013

Wrestling: Easton at Phillipsburg preview, lineups


What: Easton Red Rovers at Phillipsburg Stateliners.

Where: The Pit at Phillipsburg High School.

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Independent.

Records: Easton 11-0; Phillipsburg 7-1.

Coaches: Steve Powell (480-104-3, 29th season); Dave Post (36-10, third season).

Series history: Easton leads 61-14 dating to 1948, including last year's 39-15 win at Shawnee Middle School. Phillipsburg, which has won just twice since 1998, last prevailed 30-21 at The Pit in 2009. Rovers have won eight of the last nine meetings (an average margin of 27 points) since the annual match shifted back to home-and-home format for the 2003-04 season. Previously, Lafayette College's Kirby Sports Center served as host for 15 years from 1989 to 2003. Powell is 25-3 all-time vs. P'burg.

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

106 -- So. Anthony Roche (2-4) or Fr. Casin Corallo (4-7) vs. Fr. Brandon Paetzell (17-5).

113 -- Fr. Evan Fidelibus (19-5) vs. Sr. Zach Fisher (16-6).

120 -- Jr. Anthony Parisi (9-2) or Fr. Jacob Montes (3-1) vs. So. Steve Friedman (14-9).

126 -- Fr. Jimmy Saylor (12-1) vs. So. Corey Zinsmeister (15-8).

132 -- Sr. Robbie Rizzolino (19-2) vs. Sr. Anthony Johnson (5-2).

138 -- Jr. Kyle Baker (15-6) vs. So. Max Elling (13-8).

145 -- Sr. Kyler Kilpatrick (15-4) vs. Sr. Andrew Kaluzny (15-8).

152 -- Sr. Dyvon Gibson (17-4) vs. So. Jimmy Schuitema (17-3).

160 -- Sr. Evan DiSora (21-2) vs. Jr. Jake Kocsis (16-5).

170 -- Sr. Willie Alford (12-7) vs. Jr. Broderick Bupivi (13-9).

182 -- Sr. Tyler Greene (18-3) or Jr. Jagger Miller (14-8) vs. So. Joe Maso (5-4).

195 -- Greene or Miller vs. So. Coleton Hart (0-4).

220 -- So. Mike Catalano (8-10) vs. So. Tim Hinkle (10-10).

285 -- So. Tom Austin (4-2) or So. Scott Betts (2-6) vs. Sr. Jarrett Williams (18-5).

Breakdown: Always an intense scene when these longtime rivals go at it. Both teams defeated Franklin (Easton 59-10, P'burg 57-14) and Northampton, Pa. (Easton 50-15, P'burg 45-20). The 76th meeting should be a good one in the lively Pit. Easton rates as the favorite in at least seven bouts (120, 126, 132, 138, 160, 182, 195) while P'burg has the edge in three (106, 152 and 285). I'd say 152 is not a given for the 'Liners as that one should be close. Baker-Elling should be fun as well at 138. Let's call 113, 145, 170 and 220 tossups. Stateliners will need all of them, plus a few wins where they're an underdog, to pull off the upset. P'burg has the chance for bonus points at 106 and 285, but will be hard-pressed for more than that in other wins. Easton looking for bonus up top at 182 and 195. I see Easton winning at least three of the tossups to make it four straight in the series.

Prediction: Easton, 36-18.

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