Wrestling: Warren Hills at North Hunterdon preview

What: Warren Hills Blue Streaks at North Hunterdon Lions.

Where: North Hunterdon Regional High School, Clinton Township.

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m. (Tri-meet includes: North Hunterdon vs. Montgomery, 4 p.m., followed by Warren Hills vs. Montgomery).

Conference: Skyland cross-divisional.

Records: Warren Hills 10-3; North Hunterdon 9-0.

State rankings: (New Jersey Writers): North Hunterdon, No. 4.

Area rankings: (Open Mike): Warren Hills, No. 7; North Hunterdon, No. 1.

Coaches: Dave Sbriscia (26-7, second season, 0-1 vs. NH); Chris Hrunka (45-8, third season, 2-0 vs. WH).

Series history: North Hunterdon owns a 39-22 edge overall dating to 1957, when Warren Hills was known as Washington High School, and has won three in a row, including a 40-18 victory last season on Jan. 25, 2019. Warren Hills, which has dropped seven of the previous eight meetings and is 10-29 in the series since 1979, has not beaten the Lions since a 28-27 win in 2016. The schools have split a pair of postseason matchups -- Warren Hills scoring a 42-27 win in the 1997 Group 3 final and North earning a 40-26 victory in the 2005 North 2, Group 3 sectional semifinals. Since 1997, the Streaks have gone 4-17 in the series -- winning in 2004, '06, '10 and '16. Teams did not meet in 1985, '96 and 2012.

Note: Warren Hills wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Fr. Kevin Riedinger (5-14) vs. Fr. Logan Wadle (17-2).

113 -- Fr. Shawn Redfield (12-10) vs. So. Nick DeLorenzo (9-7).

120 -- Sr. Greg Slivka (14-5) vs. Jr. Frank DiEsso (15-3).

126 -- So. Jared Lee (15-8) vs. Fr. Daniel Delusant (7-8).

132 -- Sr. Logan Nauta (16-5) vs. Jr. Connor Quinn (12-5).

138 -- Sr. Geir Nemeth (15-6) vs. Sr. Drew Doscher (11-3).

145 -- Jr. Reese Manfredi (3-8) vs. Sr. Evan Klimas (15-2).

152 -- So. Stephen Malia (18-4) vs. Sr. Kyle Anderson (9-5).

160 -- So. Owen Frizzell (16-5) vs. So. William Cole (11-4).

170 -- Sr. Nick Hildebrant (8-5) vs. Jr. James Holder (13-4).

182 -- Jr. Brandon Riggs (3-13) vs. Sr. Nate Fossett (15-2) or Fr. Alex Uryniak (12-3).

195 -- So. Michael Galka (8-6) vs. So. Kyle Schultz (5-3).

220 -- Jr. Logan Polcari (10-7) vs. Sr. Ian Gaburo (13-1).

285 -- So. Tyler McCatharn (18-3) vs. So. Liam Akers (15-2).

North can clinch the division title vs. Montgomery.

Breakdown: In the opener, North Hunterdon looks to clinch the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with a win over Montgomery. ... The series with Warren Hills reunites former teammates and district champions for the Blue Streaks -- Sbriscia (2005-06) and Hrunka ('07). ... The teams have gone head-to-head nine times this season between the John Goles Invitational and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex tournaments (DeLorenzo d. Redfield, 5-3; Lee p. Delusant; Quinn d. Nauta, 8-3 and 7-3; Doscher d. Nemeth, 6-5; Frizzell p. Cole; Holder p. Hildabrant; Akers d. McCatharn, 2-1) -- with North winning seven of those
matchups. ... I don't think we're going to see much, if any, juggling on both sides for this one. North rates as the favorite at 106, 120, 132, 145, 170, 182, 195 and 220. Warren Hills has the edge at 126, 152 and 160. Let's call 113, 138 and 285 tossups, though the Lions won close decisions at all three earlier this season. The bout at 120 could also be interesting, though DiEsso is 2-0 all-time against Slivka dating to last season. The Streaks would likely need all three (I think they get two) to go their way to make this close, but bonus points will be hard to come by, while North, which wins nine bouts, should have opportunities there in at least five weights. The problem, as is the case for most of North's opponents, is dealing with the Lions' balance and formidable upper weights. Warren Hills will be the underdog at several weights where it counts on getting wins in most matches.

Prediction: North Hunterdon, 39-21.