What: High Point Wildcats at Warren Hills Blue Streaks.
Where: Warren Hills Regional High School, Washington Township.
When: Saturday, noon.
Conference: Independent.
Records: High Point 11-2; Warren Hills 8-7.
State rankings (New Jersey Wrestling Writers): High Point No. 17.
Coaches: John Gardner (317-95-2, 19th season, 3-2 vs. WH); Jarrett Hosbach (150-120, 12th season, 2-3 vs. HP).
Series history: High Point leads 11-10 dating to 1976, but Warren Hills has won the last two meetings -- 47-21 at home in 2015 and 36-25 in the quad at Wantage in '16. The 'Cats won in 2013 and '14, in addition to a 58-9 win in 2007. The only other meeting in the last 20 years resulted in a 41-27 win for Warren Hills in the 1997 Group 3 semifinals at North Hunterdon en route to the program's second state championship. There were 15 meetings from 1976-93, including the Blue Streaks' 27-20 win in the 1990 Group 3 final at Voorhees.
Note: High Point wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.
106 -- So. Brandon LaRue (18-2) vs. Fr. Greg Slivka (6-13).
113 -- So. Devin Flannery (14-1) vs. Fr. Logan Nauta (8-8).
120 -- Jr. Maverick Liebl (11-4) vs. Jr. Kyle Wulff (16-6).
126 -- Fr. Billy Talmadge (11-7) vs. So. Chris Ostir (6-6) or Jr. Codey O'Rourke (4-5).
132 -- Jr. RJ Brevot (4-4) or Sr. Derek Sarapuchiello (2-4) vs. Sr. Matt Valli (19-3).
138 -- Jr. Shane Kobis (13-5) or Jr. Trey Osborn (9-8) vs. Sr. Zach Nauta (19-2) or Jr. Pedro Cruz (4-14).
145 -- Osborn or Kobis vs. Jr. Cameron Nauta (3-6).
152 -- Sr. Trevor Kocher (6-7) vs. Sr. Rashon Wade Taylor (11-10).
160 -- Sr. Aric Wingle (15-5) vs. Sr. Ryan Beckler (8-8).
170 -- So. Grayson Sabo (5-7) vs. Jr. Jarod Ostir (17-5).
182 -- Sr. Matthew McDonnell (8-9) vs. So. Nick Galka (16-7).
195 -- Jr. Hunter Flores (10-4) or So. Andrew Lewis (2-5) vs. Sr. Henry Garcia (1-2).
220 -- Sr. Cliff Rutter (10-3) vs. Sr. Brody Oberly (9-7).
285 -- Jr. Thomas Hubmaster (10-6) vs. Sr. Taylan Zafis (16-7).
Breakdown: This will be the middle matchup in Saturday's quad, which includes Cranford and Paramus, and it could be a real dandy. Warren Hills has enjoyed the upper hand in this series of late with back-to-back wins in 2015 and '16, and the Blue Streaks always seem to present a problem for the 'Cats, perhaps it's a style thing. Straight up, High Point is favored at 106, 113, 126, 145 (Kobis vs. C. Nauta), 160 and 195. Warren Hills has the edge at 132, 138, 152, 170, 182 and 285. Let's call 120 and 220 tossups, even though Oberly beat Rutter, 2-1, last season. You have to think that Gardner plays it straight up top, as Zafis pinned Rutter last season, and the 220-pound bout could swing this dual. The matchup at 120 is another to watch as Wulff edged Liebl, 3-2 in OT, in last year's matchup. The 'Cats will need to move Kobis away from Z. Nauta, who won both of their meetings last year -- 6-3 and 4-1 -- or run the risk of losing 138 and 145. Wingle and Wade-Taylor split two meetings last year, both 5-3 decisions. Another potential rematch is at 182, where Galka beat McDonnell, 6-2, last season. Streaks also have the option of bumping up from 160-195 and would be favored at four of those last five weights. In any case, the hosts will need to keep the damage to a minimum down low and pick up bonus points in a few spots where they are heavy favorites. 'Cats will likely need both tossups to win, plus bonus down low. This looks like a 7-7 split, but a few bouts are really tough to call. It's just a hunch, but I'm sensing an upset.
Prediction: Warren Hills, 32-29.
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