Safe to say that things got a whole lot more intriguing in regards to Group 4 and the fast approaching sectional tournaments slated to begin on Feb. 10.
That's largely due to North Hunterdon's
stunning 34-24 win over Phillipsburg on Wednesday night in a Skyland Conference cross-divisional clash in Clinton Township. The other four public school battles for state titles don't figure to offer as much drama -- with Southern (Group 5), Delsea (Group 3), Rumson-Fair Haven (Group 2) and Delaware Valley (Group 1) rating as prohibitive favorites all season long.
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| P'burg has won an HWS-best 23 state titles |
As it stands, Phillipsburg (11-3), which was ranked No. 11 in the
New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 statewide poll, has some serious work to do in order to have the chance for a rematch against North (10-6) in just over two weeks. Coach Tim Longacre's team, which yielded an average of 39.3 team points in its three losses this season, is housed in the North 1, Group 4 section, along with No. 12 Mount Olive (11-3) and reigning Group 4 champion Ridge (13-4).
"We benefitted by the [sectional] realignment," said North coach Dave Bell, whose team is looking like the No. 1 seed in North 2. "[P'burg is with] Mount Olive and Ridge. We have to get past [unbeaten and state-ranked] Middletown North and Watchung Hills. It's not going to be an easy go, either. They're not going to lay down for us.
"If we get through [our section] and [P'burg gets] through, odds are we'll see them again."
Phillipsburg has won 41 sectional titles -- second only to Paulsboro's state-leading 43 -- and has made the finals in all 44 tournaments held to date (no team events were contested during the 2021 season due to the pandemic). The 'Liners will be the top seed in North 1, while Mount Olive (No. 2) and Ridge (No. 3) figure to meet in a rematch of last year's state title match in the sectional semis.
P'burg scored a 32-30 win over Mount Olive on Dec. 21, though the Marauders, who have to feel great about their chances for the program's first win over the 'Liners, were without two starters that day. P'burg also logged a 36-23 victory against Ridge on Jan. 4.
Here are some thoughts and observances from North Hunterdon's big win on Wednesday:
You gotta believe
North Hunterdon's rugged schedule seems to have the Lions peeking at the right time. They certainly looked like the more determined and inspired team against Phillipsburg, which only converted seven takedowns in 12 of the 14 bouts not involving senior stars Gavin Hawk (165) and Luke Geleta (144), who combined for 10 in their victories.
North can point to three key victories -- 157, 215 and 106 -- that made the upset possible. None were bigger than sophomore Andrew DeSimone's 12-7 stunner over Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex champion Kevin Buonocore in the evening's sixth bout at 215.
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| North is seeking the program's 18th sectional title |
"It's a belief in ourselves," DeSimone (7-12) said of the team's mindset heading into a rivalry that North has prevailed in just 12 of the 72 meetings (including one tie) dating to 1961. "Coach Bell always says we can wrestle with anybody. It wasn't a doubt [about whether we could beat] P'burg. We believe in ourselves that we can do it. We felt like we belong. It feels great."
North sophomore Kieran Raley's 7-2 victory over Phillipsburg state qualifier Owen Garriques in the second-to-last bout at 138 pounds was also a candidate for most surprising result, but Bell figured his wrestler was on the brink of producing what is likely Raley's biggest win to date.
"Kieran Raley was due for a big one," Bell said. "Kieran has wrestled the best kid on every team we've wrestled. I kept telling him, 'Your day is coming.' It showed tonight."
What is stalling?
Even the most ardent supporters and watchers of wrestling are as confused as the next by what seems to constitute stalling in today's sport. Case in point was near the end of regulation in the pivotal 106-pound bout as North sophomore Cayden Wadle received a tying stall point that set the stage for an 8-5 win in sudden-victory overtime against freshman Zack Swingle.
What made it even more puzzling was that both warnings came in the final 10 seconds, the latter while Swingle was clearly defending a shot as his momentum carried him off the mat. In all, a staggering 17 stall calls were issued in the entire dual meet -- but 11 came in the first five bouts. Why? It's clear the officials were going out of their way to set an early tone as part of the recent edict handed down by the referees association for more stalling calls.
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| P'burg is 233-43-2 all-time vs. Hunterdon-Warren teams |
"The only stall calls that I object to -- I understand now, I've gotten used to being driven out -- but some times when there's action on the side [the opponent] takes a shot and you have to defend yourself there's nothing to do but sprawl," Bell said. "It's not that you want to go out [of bounds]. It didn't hurt us, we managed to get past it. Sometimes it helped us."
How about we scrap the rotating officials for duals and let one serve merely as the mat judge. It's too inconsistent this way. Coaches and wrestlers at least need the opportunity to adjust to how one official is calling stalls. Furthermore, why can't high school refs call it like their college counterparts and issue warnings for intentionally going out of bounds or hanging on an ankle. That way you completely leave all of the subjective judgement decisions out of it.
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