Wrestling: Delaware Valley at Kittatinny preview

What: Delaware Valley Terriers at Kittatinny Cougars.

Where: Kittatinny Regional High School, Hampton Twp.

When: Saturday (times approximate after 10 a.m.): 

Round 1, 10 a.m.

Kittatinny vs. Morris Knolls

Delaware Valley vs. West Morris

Round 2, 11:30 a.m.

Kittatinny vs. Delaware Valley

West Morris vs. Morris Knolls

Round 3, 1 p.m.

Kittatinny vs. West Morris

Morris Knolls vs. Delaware Valley

Records: Delaware Valley 4-1 (W-Bridgewater-Raritan, 74-0; W-Hopewell Valley, 49-9; L-Mount Olive, 38-21; W-Bernards, 52-15; W-Voorhees, 57-10); Kittatinny 8-0 (W-Hackettstown, 57-16; W-Kinnelon, 57-21; W-Ramapo, 57-24; W-West Milford, 57-21; W-Hanover Park, 46-30; W-Morris Hills, 60-18; W-North Warren, 70-12; W-Boonton, 66-11).

Conference: Independent.

Area rankings (Open Mike): Kittatinny No. 6; Delaware Valley No. 7.

Coaches: Andy Fitz (235-88, 15th season (2-4 vs. Kitt); John Gill (614-195-5, 42nd season (10-6 vs. DV).

Series history: Kittatinny owns a 10-6 edge dating to 1992. Cougars, who won eight of the previous 10 meetings, dropped a 39-28 decision in the latest matchup on Jan. 18, 2020. Del Val, which has won two of the previous three in the series, hasn't logged consecutive victories since winning three straight from 1992-94. The teams have met five times in the postseason, including four straight wins for Kittatinny in the Group 2 finals (2001, '02, '05 and '06). The series began in the old Del Val Duals, with the Terriers winning the first three matchups, a pair of semifinal wins and a 31-28 victory in the 1994 Group 2 consolation match.

Probable lineups (Delaware Valley wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses):

106 -- Jr. Owen Kucharski (10-3) vs. Open.

113 -- So. Jake Taylor (8-3) vs. So. Dylan Zupkay (2-7) or So. Liliana Zaku-Ramos (3-0).

120 -- Fr. Jaden Perez (9-2) or Sr. Robert Groogan (4-1) vs. Jr. Emily Popek (3-4) or Zaku-Ramos or Zupkay.

126 -- Fr. Jackson Bush (10-5) vs. Sr. Shane Nelson (13-2).

132 -- Sr. Sam Kirkpatrick (10-3) vs. Jr. Chris Casale (11-3).

138 -- So. Russell Prouty (4-3) or So. Jared Leeds (3-6) vs. Sr. Avery Yeager (3-2) or Jr. Anthony Ferrari (9-5).

144 -- So. Ben Levy (9-5) vs. So. Reece Smith (11-3).

150 -- Jr. Brayden Schneider (5-5) or Sr. Jaden Corbin (1-5) vs. So. Bryce Coesfeld (14-4).

157 -- Jr. Chris Colasurdo (8-3) vs. Sr. Steven Dalling (12-3).

165 -- Sr. Noah Sheeley (12-3) vs. Fr. Ethan Dalling (8-7).

175 -- So. Anderson Olcott (5-5) vs. So. Tucker Lockburner (6-3).

190 -- Sr. Matt Schneider (10-5) or Sr. Trevor Bowen (8-5) vs. Sr. Tyler Holste (10-4).

215 -- Bowen or Schneider or Sr. Tim Torrey (7-5) vs. Sr. Jay Martin (11-3) or Sr. Ty Eldred (14-2).

285 -- So. Kyle Cooke (3-3) or Torrey vs. Eldred or Martin.

Breakdown: The middle match of a quad and potential Group 1 final preview should be a nail-biter no matter how you slice it. Paulsboro rates the favorite in South Jersey so the significance to winning this one likely puts Kittatinny (North 1) or Del Val (Central Jersey) in the opposite bracket as the No. 1 seed come February. These teams are evenly matched on paper despite Del Val being a huge favorite down low at 106, 113 and 120, where Kittatinny is expected to struggle all season. That's because 138, 165 and 175 are all crucial bouts. Up top, things could get interesting as well as the Terriers have flexibility. Schneider pinned Holste in 1:37 when they matched up in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament quarterfinals, where the Terriers went 2-1 in head-to-head

John Gill is 10-6 all time vs. Del Val.

matchups. Bowen scored a 5-4 victory over Martin, while Eldred decked Torrey in 54 seconds. Eldred would be favored against Bowen, and give Martin, a first-year wrestler, the edge at 285. Schneider-Eldred rates as a tossup. "He's been very good," Gill said of the 6-foot-6 Martin. "He just lacks experience. He's athletic, big and hard to wrestle." If Holste stays off his back, the hosts could be in good shape, provided they come through as expected at 126, 132, 150 and 157. Both teams have enjoyed their share of dual blowouts, with the Cougars averaging 59 points in their eight wins, while Del Val averaged 51 in its five duals, which included a 38-21 loss to Group 4 title contender Mount Olive. It will be interesting to see how Kittatinny handles its first big test of the season as Friday's match against High Point, which is on a COVID pause, was rescheduled for Wednesday in Wantage. The Cougars could win five of six from 126-157, plus 215 and 285 and one another (eight wins) and it may not be enough with bonus-point opportunities seemingly hard to come by (126 and 150 are in play for bonus) and what may be an 18-point deficit down low. If Del Val comes through at 165 and 175 it likely will be enough to win. The Terriers could take six bouts total and still come out on top. I think the visitors get seven wins and enough bonus. This will be a nice dress rehearsal for February, when a title should be on the line. Both Fitz and Gill may not show all of their cards in this one, though Del Val seems better suited to make a lineup move, perhaps at 132, but that also could give the Cougars a few more points in doing so. On a side note, West Morris, which has issued forfeits in four to five weight classes this season, is a wild card in this quad and both teams can't overlook the Wolfpack's strength down low and in the middle. 

Prediction: Delaware Valley, 33-29.