Wrestling: Kittatinny '2nd to none' against Newton

NEWTON -- One second. That was essentially the difference in Kittatinny's thrilling 35-33 come-from-behind victory over Newton in the 49th edition of this crosstown rivalry and key NJAC Freedom Division clash on Thursday night at a packed Henry Boresch Memorial Gym.

In the pivotal bout at 160 pounds, Kittatinny senior Gian Knippenberg was awarded a controversial escape at the buzzer in the ultimate tiebreaker against Melkart Abou-Jaoude for a 4-3 win that helped the Cougars snap their two-match skid in the series. Knippenberg, who had escaped with just one tick left on the clock in the second tiebreaker, successfully went to the well again by hitting a Granby roll in the ultimate session.

Kittatinny (4-4, 1-1 division), ranked No. 8 in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area by Open Mike and now 32-17 all-time against Newton (6-7, 2-1) in a series dating to 1976, trailed by 18 points (27-9) heading into 160, but that victory was the spark it needed with the Cougars' capable upper weights still to come. Sophomore Ty Eldred added a technical fall win at 285 pounds that set up sophomore Shane Nelson's match-sealing pin in the final bout at 106.

Newton suffered its first loss to Kittatinny since 2016.

"I was pretty confident [about getting out on bottom]," said Knippenberg, who opted to start in the defensive position despite appearing to have run out of steam prior to the second tiebreaker. "I hit those in practice all the time. I felt [it was there] and I went for it."

Gary Kessel, a veteran referee who is well respected in wrestling circles in New Jersey and across the country, hesitated for a split-second before awarding the decisive point. Newton coach Eric Bollette pleaded his case that there was no control -- the wrestlers were head-to-head on their feet as Abou-Jaoude appeared to still have a front headlock -- as mat judge Gary Szucs and Kessel discussed the call. It stood, and four bouts later, Bollette was still hot about that outcome as he voiced his displeasure from the bench.

"The call didn't go our way," said Bollette, who's now 6-16 career against his alma mater and former coach John Gill. "I thought it was not [an escape]. Both kids wrestled hard."

That loss at 160 proved even more damaging for No. 10 Newton, when senior Julian Sibblies scored a wild 13-11 decision over Robert Bruce, an HWS champion who led 5-2 after one period, at 195. Both wrestlers took turns on their back in a bout that would have clinched the match for the Braves had they been able to hold on three bouts earlier.

"We didn't count on Robert losing," said Gill, now 32-12 overall against Newton in his 40 seasons at the helm. "I really wanted this one. They got us the past two years and it was nice to put this one together. I know Eric will be agonizing over [the call at 160]. That buzzer was ringing."

Eldred (12-6), who only weighs around 217, has been a pleasant surprise in his first varsity season. Leading, 2-0, after one period against Isaiah Wilkins, who had 32 pounds and about a foot in height advantage, Eldred racked up seven takedowns over the next two periods to earn the tech following another key pin by junior Jackson Crawn at 220.

"He had a great JV year [as a freshman], and his only loss was at the Newton JV Tournament [held annually on Super Bowl Sunday]," Gill said. "We knew he was a quality kid. He's tough to beat because he's tough to score on. I'm really proud of him. Knippenberg was a hero and Eldred was a hero."

It was a real family affair in this one as Kittatinny sophomore Steven Dalling delivered a clutch 6-2 win over Nick Costa at 152 -- with Dalling's father, Steve, a Cougars icon and two-time champion, in attendance.

On the Newton side, all three Sibblies brothers -- freshman Thaylor and sophomore Takeo in addition to senior Julian -- won on their father's 49th birthday. Ted Sibblies, now an assistant coach, was the Braves' last state finalist in 1989.

"The Sibblies had a great night," Bollette said. "Julian came fighting back against a county champ. I thought we had to get eight wins [it was a seven-seven split] and figured we had to get close to 37 points to win tonight. We just came up a little short."

KITTATINNY 35, NEWTON 33
113 -- Fr. Anthony Ferrari (6-10), K, p. Jr. Aden Sathuthiti (0-9), 1:08.
120 -- Jr. Nathan Fitt (21-2), N, p. Fr. Chris Casale (4-8), 4:48.
126 -- Jr. Danny Cleary (13-9), N, p. Fr. Andrew Knutelsky (5-9), 5:43.
132 -- Fr. Thaylor Sibblies (11-9), N, d. Jr. Connor Hanna (1-8), 6-3.
138 -- So. Takeo Sibblies (1-0), N, p. Fr. Ryan VanKirk (0-1), :52.
145 -- Jr. JoJo Lotruglio (19-4), N, p. Jr. Craig Molfetto (4-9), :50.
152 -- So. Steven Dalling (10-7), K, d. Jr. Nick Costa (10-12), 6-2.
160 -- Sr. Gian Knippenberg (6-10), K, d. So. Melkart Abou-Jaoude (7-11), 4-3 UTB.
170 -- Sr. Trevor Aughenbaugh (12-4), N, d. So. Evan Raposo (3-12), 8-4.
182 -- So. Brycen Mafaro (14-3), K, p. Fr. Brody Guerra (3-6), 1:21.
195 -- Sr. Julian Sibblies (18-5), N, d. Sr. Robert Bruce (13-5), 13-11.
220 -- Jr. Jackson Crawn (16-1), K, p. Jr. Jabari Oxley (6-13), 2:46.
285 -- So. Ty Eldred (12-6), K, tf. Sr. Isaiah Wilkins (3-13), 20-5, 5:50.
106 -- So. Shane Nelson (16-1), K, p. Sr. Valerio Sanchez (3-12), 1:00.
Records -- Kittatinny 4-4, 1-1; Newton 6-7, 2-1.
Officials -- Gary Kessel and Gary Szucs.