What: Kittatinny Cougars vs. High Point Wildcats.
Where: High Point Regional High School, Wantage Township.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
TV: Service Electric Cable (Sparta) Channel 10 (tape delay).
Conference: Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (non-division).
State rankings (New Jersey Wrestling Writers): Kittatinny No. 11; High Point No. 9.
Records: Kittatinny 10-0; High Point 6-1.
Coaches: John Gill (496-149-5, 34th season (11-21-1 vs. HP); John Gardner (274-74-2, 16th season (7-8 vs. Kitt).
Series history: High Point leads 25-12-1 dating to 1976. Kittatinny snapped a seven-match skid in the series with a 35-18 win at home last season. High Point posted a 32-21 victory on Jan. 26, 2012, to stretch its win streak to a program-best seven in this rivalry. Kittatinny's previous last win was, 39-18, on Jan. 22, 2005, to cap a program-best seven-match win streak. Neither program has won eight in a row in this series. High Point had won 62 straight conference matches dating to that loss in 2005 and 52 in a row against county foes.
Note: Kittatinny wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.
106 -- So. Taylor Molfetto (13-8) vs. Fr. Chase Babus (7-11).
113 -- Fr. Kasey Hotz (13-8) vs. Sr. Michael Garrity (4-12).
120 -- So. Nick Klinger (20-3) vs. Jr. Dom Gallo (15-3).
126 -- Sr. Christian Silva (13-8) vs. Fr. Garrett Fenlon (0-8).
132 -- So. Austin Scrivani (17-4) or Jr. Christian Blanton (1-1) vs. Jr. Mike Derin (16-6).
138 -- Sr. Nick West (6-11) vs. Jr. Ryan Cullen (8-6).
145 -- Jr. Trevor Schutte (0-3) or Sr. Matt Zupkay (1-3) or Sr. Brian Reznik (0-1) vs. Jr. Jason Gaccione (16-4) or Sr. Chris Auer (11-8).
152 -- Sr. Nick Romyns (8-3) vs. Gaccione or Auer.
160 -- Sr. Tyler Parkyn (5-9) vs. Sr. Tommy Hooker (12-8).
170 -- Sr. Kieran Gerrity (19-3) vs. Sr. Colby Brands (8-11).
182 -- Sr. Dylan Wunder (16-6) vs. Sr. Antonio Porraspita (13-7).
195 -- Sr. Garrett Armstrong (19-3) or Jr. Peter Block (1-0) vs. Sr. Kyle Stoll (17-5).
220 -- Sr. Andrew Simpson (17-5) vs. Sr. Bobby McDonnell (14-8).
285 -- Sr. Tom Smith (16-5) vs. Sr. Gunny Wassong (7-4).
Breakdown: It's our area's version of the Hatfields vs. McCoys. The backyard brawl for it all and one of the best rivalry matchups in the state. This promises to be a good one. Kittatinny would like to control matchups at 152 and 195, with Romyns vs. Auer and moving Armstrong to 220 in order to face McDonnell, who lost three meetings in their series last season. Romyns and Gaccione split last year in the district and region final, where Gaccione avenged the loss. Cougars may need that matchup depending on where the match starts and the score at the time. Straight up, the visitors will be favored at 106, 126, 152, 170, 182. High Point gets the nod at 120, 132, 138, 145, 160, 195, 220 and 285. I think 113 is a tossup, but leaning toward the visitors. High Point went 3-1 in head-to-head matchups at HWS -- Stoll d. Armstrong, 5-1; McDonnell p. Simpson and Wassong d. Smith, 4-0. Wunder p. Porraspita in the other matchup. The 120-pound bout with Gallo-Klinger would be a good one and it's darn near a tossup. Kittatinny will also try to get Scrivani away from Derin in order to try and split 132 and 138. In my opinion, the flip is big for the visitors in this one. I like the 'Cats' chances for bonus points in a lot of spots. In my mind, Cougars need to get Scrivani at 138 vs. Cullen and Armstrong at 220. Then, either win 120 or have Romyns knock off Gaccione to pull it off. But keep in mind they could be giving up big points elsewhere whenever they try to juggle. Can the 'Cats, who gave up five pins to P'burg, stay off their backs in spots here? With Jared Kobis in there -- he's targeting the following weekend for his return -- I'd feel a lot more confident about making a pick in this one. I could see a 30-30 tie with Kittatinny winning eight bouts just as easy, but something tells me that High Point finds a way to atone for last Saturday's defeat.
Prediction: High Point, 33-27.
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