Wrestling: North Hunterdon at Phillipsburg preview

What: North Hunterdon Lions at Phillipsburg Stateliners.

Where: Phillipsburg High School, Lopatcong Township.

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Live feed: Stateliner Sports (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/stateliner-sports)

Conference: Skyland Raritan Division.

Records: North Hunterdon 8-0, 2-0; Phillipsburg 4-0, 0-0.

State rankings: (New Jersey Writers): North Hunterdon No. 5; Phillipsburg No. 12.

Area rankings: (Open Mike): North Hunterdon No. 1; Phillipsburg No. 3.

Coaches: Chris Hrunka (44-8, third season, 0-4 vs. P'burg); Dave Post (151-23, 10th season, 13-0 vs. NH).

Series history: Phillipsburg owns a 56-8-1 edge dating to 1961, including a 7-3 mark in postseason meetings. The Stateliners have won 17 in a row, including a 28-19 victory in the North 2, Group 4 final on Feb. 8, 2019, and a 30-24 win during the regular season on Jan. 16, 2019. North's last victory in the series was 36-21 at home on Jan. 6, 2007 -- ending a 15-match losing skid in the series. The Lions' other wins came in the Group 3 finals (1982, '84 and '93), and regular-season dual meets in 1961, '62, '65 and '75.

Note: North Hunterdon wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Fr. Logan Wadle (16-2) vs. So. Sean Stasiulaitis (5-8).

113 -- So. Nick DeLorenzo (9-7) vs. So. James Day (15-5).

120 -- Jr. Frank DiEsso (14-3) vs. So. Hakeem Ransdell (5-8).

126 -- Fr. Daniel Delusant (7-7) vs. Jr. Logan Maczko (9-4).

132 -- Jr. Connor Quinn (12-4) or Jr. Connor McGeary (3-5) vs. So. Joey Innamorato (12-5).

138 -- Sr. Drew Doscher (10-3) vs. Jr. Jason Tino (11-9).

145 -- Sr. Evan Klimas (14-2) vs. Sr. Jared Kukor (7-8).

152 -- Sr. Kyle Anderson (9-4) vs. So. Matt D'Onofrio (8-9).

160 -- So. William Cole (10-4) vs. So. Nate Zastowny (16-4) or Sr. Denny Perez (7-7).

170 -- Jr. James Holder (13-3) vs. Perez or Zastowny.

182 -- Sr. Nate Fossett (14-2) or Fr. Alex Uryniak (11-3) vs. Sr. Jacob Wicks (13-7) or So. David Pierson (11-7).

195 -- So. Kyle Schultz (5-3) vs. Pierson or Wicks.

220 -- Sr. Ian Gaburo (12-1) vs. Jr. Gage Horvath (12-6).

285 -- So. Liam Akers (15-1) vs. Sr. Cody Cruts (12-5).

P'burg has won or shared 22 division titles since 1995-96.

Breakdown: The 66th meeting is arguably the most anticipated match in our area this season -- dating to March when we took an early look at this one. Even better is that we may get to see it again next month as most expect a another rematch in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final. The teams went head-to-head five times during Saturday's HWS Tournament (DiEsso d. Ransdell, 8-4; Maczko md. Daniel Delusant, 10-0; Klimas d. Kukor, 7-3; Wicks d. Uryniak, 7-3; Gaburo d. Horvath, 3-1) -- with North winning three of those matchups. Figuring that there will be minimal opportunities for bonus points, North should have the edge in a 7-7 split, meaning P'burg will need at least eight bouts to win this one. Straight up, North is favored at 106, 120, 132, 145, 152, 170, 182 and 285, while P'burg has the edge at 113, 126, 160, 195 (if it's Wicks vs. Uryniak). Let's rate 138 and 220 as tossups, even though Gaburo, who needed a last-second takedown to win their HWS semifinal matchup, 3-1, is 2-0 career vs. Horvath, including a 5-2 decision in the regular-season dual in 2019. Interestingly, Horvath and Schultz split a pair of sudden-victory decisions last season. Both teams could make some moves on the scale -- with the two-pound allowance in effect for the rest of the season -- or the coaches may opt to save something for down the road. Given that DiEsso is 3-0 all-time against Maczko, P'burg would gamble with him down at 120 and Ransdell at 126 to try and win both. The 'Liners may be better off leaving the lineup as is with a chance to win 126, 132 and possibly 138, as Tino beat Doscher, 5-3 in sudden-victory OT, in 2018, though Quinn scored a 17-6 major over Innamorato in the sectional final in 2019. Dropping Perez to 160 and moving Zastowny to 170 is certainly a way to go as well. P'burg needs to control the matchups at 182 and 195 to get Wicks on Uryniak. Pierson scored an 8-6 win over Holder in last season's sectional final, while Fossett beat Wicks twice a year ago. I think no matter how you slice it, North is just too balanced and is wrestling extremely well right now. P'burg would need to win at least two weights where it's the underdog, and really needs that bout at 220 to have a chance to extend its streak in the series. So much depends on matchups. There are probably five weights where North, which would clinch at least a share of the division title with a win, rates as a prohibitive favorite. I've got it as much as a 13-point differential and as few as eight. In any case, you can expect a great crowd for what should be an exciting dual.

Prediction: North Hunterdon, 31-21.