Wrestling: P'burg guts out win over game Delbarton

It says something about Phillipsburg's wrestling team when it can defeat a quality opponent despite not being at peak performance. But the Stateliners had just enough to hold off a gritty Delbarton squad for a 37-30 win on Wednesday night in an independent matchup at The Pit.

P'burg (3-0) won eight bouts -- two via forfeits -- as it overcame what coach Dave Post classified as a "flat" effort. In fact, it reminded him of last year's 30-28 loss to Franklin at home in late December.

"We looked a little dull. Kind of the way we wrestled against Franklin," said Post, whose team will get right back at it on Thursday against Pennsylvania rival Northampton. "We had seven or eight guys wrestling in this environment for the first time. We tried our best to prepare them to not get overexcited during warmups. We didn't have short-term memories either. When something bad happens [in a bout] you move on."

Delbarton (1-1) entered the night shorthanded as one wrestler was missing with a concussion, while heavyweight Corben Davis missed weight -- checking in at 288.4. There was a one-pound allowance for this match so he needed to be no heavier than 286 to wrestle.

Phillipsburg sophomore 126-pounder Corey Zinsmeister got the hosts going right out of the gate with an impressive 8-0 major of Matt Davis, who recently placed eighth at the tough Beast of the East Tournament. Zinsmeister (12-5) built a 4-0 lead in the first with a takedown and two backs off a cradle, and extended his lead with a reversal late in the second period. Two more back points in the third secured the major.

"We started off really well with Zinny's match," Post said.

Delbarton grabbed the next two bouts for a 9-4 lead as state placewinner Nick Anderson mauled Tyler Petchonka at 132 before getting the pin off a pancake in 2:54. Sophomore Travis Vasquez followed with the stunner of the night as he pretty much dominated P'burg state qualifier Max Elling for a 4-0 win at 138.

But the 'Liners rallied for three straight wins as senior captain Andrew Kaluzny did a nice job in a 10-4 win over Joseph Tavoso at 145. Kaluzny (8-4), who finished fourth in Region 1 last year, nearly had a takedown in the final seconds for a major. The bout was tied 3-3 after two periods, but Kaluzny stacked his opponent for a five-point move to break things open in the third.

Jimmy Schuitema's pin at 152 and Jake Kocsis' 3-2 win over district placewinner Dan Reed stretched P'burg's lead to 16-9 through six bouts. Josef Johnson's pin at 170 pulled the Green Wave within one point, but sophomore Joe Maso got the momentum back by decking Region 3 qualifier Austin Gobbo at 182.

It was Maso's first varsity action after missing the first two weeks with a hand injury. The armbar he used to record the fall was textbook.

"He hasn't wrestled that much live. He looked good and said he felt good," Post said. "We needed [him] tonight."

Kyle Kinney (195) and Jarrett Williams (285) received forfeits around James Grogan's pin of P'burg sophomore Tim Hinkle at 220. Grogan trailed 6-5 -- he actually led 7-6 but the score was wrong at the table and according to referee Lou Riccardi despite a protest from Delbarton coach Bryan Stoll -- after letting the 'Liner go in the third. But Grogan got the takedown and pin to make it 28-21 in favor of P'burg.

Freshman Ty Agaisse's 1-0 win over P'burg's Brandon Paetzell in a battle of tough freshmen at 106 made it 34-24 before senior Zach Fisher's gutsy 12-8 win over freshman Nick Farro at 113 sealed it for P'burg.

Like many of Fisher's bouts, things turned wild in the second as the two traded points left and right. Fisher (10-4), a District 1 champ, led 6-2 at one point in the second period. Farro pulled within 9-8 in the third when he cut Fisher loose. The Stateliner captain secured the winning takedown with 15 seconds left off a great scramble and nearly giving up two.

"Our two senior captains [Kaluzny and Fisher] came through with big wins for us," Post said. "Fisher is one of those kids -- and I don't mean this in a negative way -- who just goes all out and lets it fly. He wrestles with a lot of feel. He has pretty good hips, but he has to keep guys off his legs a little better."

Post opted to uncharacteristically forfeit the final bout to Delbarton two-time state placewinner Christian Innarella, due to the fact that P'burg sophomore Steve Friedman entered with 14 matches this season.

"I hated to do that, but [Stoll] understood," Post said.

PHILLIPSBURG 37, DELBARTON 30

126 -- So. Corey Zinsmeister (12-5), P, md. Sr. Matt Davis (6-4), 8-0.
132 -- Sr. Nick Anderson (8-2), D, p. Jr. Tyler Petchonka (4-3), 2:54.
138 -- So. Travis Vasquez (6-2), D, d. So. Max Elling (7-5), 4-0.
145 -- Sr. Andrew Kaluzny (8-4), P, d. So. Joseph Tavoso (2-5), 10-4.
152 -- So. Jimmy Schuitema (10-3), P, p. Fr. Luke Anselmi (0-1), 1:04.
160 -- Jr. Jake Kocsis (8-4), P, d. Jr. Dan Reed (3-3), 3-2.
170 -- Jr. Josef Johnson (1-0), D, p. Jr. Broderick Bupivi (8-5), 1:38.
182 -- So. Joe Maso (1-0), P, p. Jr. Austin Gobbo (2-3), 2:38.
195 -- Sr. Kyle Kinney (5-5), P, forfeit.
220 -- Jr. James Grogan (2-4), D, p. So. Tim Hinkle (7-5), 4:25.
285 -- Sr. Jarrett Williams (12-3), P, forfeit.
106 -- Fr. Ty Agaisse (3-0), D, d. Fr. Brandon Paetzell (9-5), 1-0.
113 -- Sr. Zach Fisher (10-4), P, d. Fr. Nick Farro (5-3), 12-8.
120 -- Jr. Christian Innarella (9-2), D, forfeit.
Records -- Delbarton 1-1; Phillipsburg 3-0.