Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Wrestling: Warren Hills at Phillipsburg preview

What: Warren Hills Blue Streaks at Phillipsburg Stateliners.

Where: The Pit at Phillipsburg High School.

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Skyland Raritan Division.

Records: Warren Hills 9-2 overall, 2-0 division; Phillipsburg 5-0, 2-0.

Coaches: Jarrett Hosbach (100-76, eighth season); Dave Post (34-9, third season).

Series history: Phillipsburg leads 51-14 dating to 1948, including last year's 50-7 win in Washington. The Stateliners have won 26 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 for P'burg in the sectionals. The Streaks also won, 32-31, in a regular-season tilt at The Pit on Jan. 13, 1990.

Note: Warren Hills wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses. (Records do not include Wednesday's matches for both teams).

106 -- So. Austin Pidoto (10-6) vs. Fr. Brandon Paetzell (15-5).

113 -- So. Max Nauta (12-4) vs. Sr. Zach Fisher (14-5).

120 -- Jr. Tai Adetula (10-4) vs. So. Steve Friedman (11-9).

126 -- Sr. Joe Kratochvil (16-1) vs. So. Corey Zinsmeister (14-6).

132 -- Jr. Justin Pidoto (1-4) vs. Sr. Anthony Johnson (3-1).

138 -- Sr. Kevin Bundschuh (14-5) or Sr. Tom Rush (3-14) vs. So. Max Elling (11-7).

145 -- Bundschuh or Rush vs. Sr. Andrew Kaluzny (13-7).

152 -- Jr. Evan Butka (12-8) or Fr. Anthony Roessner (1-4) vs. So. Jimmy Schuitema (14-3).

160 -- Sr. Xavier Adetula (3-3) or Butka vs. Jr. Jake Kocsis (13-5).

170 -- Jr. Ryan Ostir (12-9) vs. Jr. Broderick Bupivi (12-7).

182 -- Jr. Steve Cleaver (10-8) vs. So. Joe Maso (4-2).

195 -- Jr. Ryan Witner (9-6) vs. Sr. Kyle Kinney (10-6).

220 -- Sr. Tyler Bridygham (7-7) vs. So. Tim Hinkle (9-8).

285 -- So. Andrew Pacheco (15-4) vs. Sr. Jarrett Williams (16-4).

Breakdown: This one has all the making of a classic. I see at least seven bouts as tossups -- 120, 126, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285. A few of those will be rematches from Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex (Kratochvil d. Zinsmeister, 5-4; Cleaver d. Maso, 6-4; Kinney d. Witner, 2-1 OT; Pacheco d. Williams, 12-10 UTB. In addition, Nauta md. Fisher, 16-2, and Schuitema d. Butka, 7-0. I think the Blue Streaks need most if those, since the 'Liners will be heavy favorites for bonus points at several weights. The upper weight bouts are crucial to Warren Hills' hopes of ending its nearly 23-year drought in the series, and it may need all five from 170 on up. Warren Hills favored at 113 after Nauta's dominating effort on Saturday but really nowhere else, though a Bundschuh-Elling matchup should be really enticing. P'burg gets the nod at 106, 132, 138, 145, 152 and 160. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine P'burg reversing one of those HWS losses this time in what should be a raucous Pit. Some of these close ones are so tough to call. I have to think -- based on may years of experience -- that P'burg benefits from being at home.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 32-20.

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