Due to weather, all semifinal matchups involving Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area teams were moved to Thursday, with the exception of Wednesday's Central Jersey, Group 2 showdown between Delaware Valley and Raritan.
Winners advance to Friday's championship matches.
North 1, Group 2
4-Westwood (17-5) at 1-High Point (20-1)
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| High Point celebrates its sectional title in 2017. |
Sectional titles: Westwood 1 (2002). High Point 25 (1984, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '94, '95, '96, '97, 2001, '02, '03, '05, '06, '07, '08, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '17).
Breakdown: High Point -- seeking a Sussex County record 26th section title -- posted a 36-22 win over Westwood in the 2017 semifinals. This could be a similar outcome. The problem for Westwood, which beat Kittatinny twice this season including a 34-31 victory in Monday's quarterfinals, is that where it's good, High Point is a little bit better in many spots. Key bouts are 126, 145, 195, 220 and 285. Furman handed M. Liebl a 2-0 loss in last year's matchup. A common opponent for both teams is Pascack Hills, which dropped a 60-9 decision to Westwood on Jan. 24 and lost to the 'Cats, 63-9, on Monday. Coach John Gardner's team is more battle tested and that will be the difference in those tossups. If this one is decided by a wider margin, it will favor the 'Cats, who could win 9-10 bouts.
Prediction: High Point, 34-20.
North 1, Group 2
3-Jefferson (18-4) at 2-Newton (16-5)
Wrestlers to watch: J, Fr. Austin Jack (20-11) 113; Jr. Mason Godfrey (19-11, D2, R2-2016) 138; Jr. Mike Jack (23-8) 145; Jr. Robert Ferucci (22-9, D1) 152; Sr. Rob Ortense (25-4, D2) 160; Sr. Shane Connolly (28-3, D2, R6) 170-182; Jr. Justin Randzio (9-6, D3, R4) 195; Sr. Jake Carnevale (23-8) 285. N, Fr. Nathan Fitt (18-10) 106; Fr. JoJo Lotruglio (18-12) 120; Jr. Matthew Rosa (21-10) 126; Jr. Wyatt McCarthy (28-2, D1, R3) 152; Sr. Jonathon Borgognoni (28-2, D1, R5) 160; Sr. Joseph DeLuca (22-9, D2, R6) 182; Jr. Luke Fischer (27-3, D2) 195.
Sectional titles: Jefferson 7 (1991, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, 2000). Newton 2 (2009, '10).
Breakdown: These longtime rivals did not meet during the regular season, while Jefferson, which reached the sectional final last year, scored a 34-26 win in the last meeting on Jan. 12, 2017. This is an intriguing matchup as both have some firepower in the upper weights. The 132-pound bout with Newton's Michael Freda and Jefferson's Ryan Tripodi is crucial, mainly for the Falcons who could win seven bouts if they get this one. Freda scored a 5-4 decision over Godfrey last season. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson makes a move at 160 with Ortense, who was pinned by Borgognoni a year ago, but Connolly pinned Nick Brigante at 170 so coach Matt Moscatello may try to save points at 160 and go for bonus at 170. Jefferson is dangerous with home-run moves, so Newton needs to be weary of that early and late in bouts. Strength of schedule favors the Braves, who have been battle tested.
Prediction: Newton, 35-24.
North 2, Group 4
3-North Hunterdon (16-4) at 2-Phillipsburg (13-2)
Wrestlers to watch: NH, Jr. Connor Robinson (24-4, D2, R6) 106; Fr. Frank Diesso (18-7) 113; Sr. Andrew Gapas (27-1, D1, R4, S8) 138; Jr. Michael Wilson (25-4, D2) 145; Sr. Tucker Kirchberger (25-6, D1) 152; Sr. William Hughes (17-4, D1) 160; So. Nathaniel Fossett (22-8) 182. P, Sr. Cullen Day (22-7, D1, R2), 113; Jr. Travis Jones (27-4, D1, R4) 120; Jr. Kyle Tino (15-8, D2) 132; Jr. Cody Harrison (23-2, D1, R3, S8), 138; Sr. Brian Meyer (25-2, D1, R1, S3), 152; Sr. Lance Wissing (28-3) 170.
Sectional titles: North Hunterdon 14 (1980, '82, '84, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '99, 2000, '02, '03, '09, '15). Phillipsburg 36 (1980, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '14, '15, '16, '17).
Breakdown: Phillipsburg rolled to a 68-6 victory over Colonia, while North Hunterdon cruised to a 57-6 win over Kearny in the sectional quarterfinals. This will be the second meeting of the season as the Stateliners earned a 41-15 win over the Lions at home on Jan. 24. Interestingly, P'burg posted a 41-17 win in the regular-season matchup before North turned the tables with a 32-31 victory in the 1982 Group 3 final. The 'Liners own a 53-8-1 edge in the all-time series, including eight postseason meetings -- the last a 46-17 win for P'burg in the 2013 North 2, Group 4 semifinals. North's last win was 36-21 at home on Jan. 6, 2007. The Lions' other wins came in the Group 3 final (1982, '84 and '93), and dual meets in 1961, '62, '65 and '75. The flip, which P'burg won the last time, is absolutely huge for North in the rematch. The Lions would like to get Gapas on Harrison at 138 -- Harrison went 145 the last time and beat Wilson, 5-0 -- and get Kirchberger away from Meyer. If so, this one should be a lot closer. The status of North's Lorenzo Becerril (13-10 at 220-285) also is unknown after he was injured in a match on Saturday.
Prediction: P'burg, 39-18 (34-21 if North wins flip).
North 2, Group 3
3-Warren Hills (7-12) at 2-Voorhees (20-8)
Wrestlers to watch: WH, So. Greg Slivka (13-13) 113; Sr. Codey O'Rourke (20-5) 126; Sr. Kyle Wulff (21-8, D2, R6) 132; Jr. Chris Ostir (15-13, D3) 145; Sr. Jarod Ostir (21-1, D1, R2) 182; Jr. Nick Galka (19-3, D1, R5) 195; Jr. Duro Ajayi (16-11) 285. V, Sr. Colby Koshinski (20-11, D1, R6) 113; Jr. Aidan Taylor (22-9, D1, R4) 120; Jr. Hunter Rinehart (20-8, D2) 126; Sr. Scott Fernandes (28-3, D2, R4) 195; Jr. Lewis Fernandes (29-0, D2, R2) 220-285; Jr. Sam Huff (25-6, D1) 220-285.
Sectional titles: Warren Hills 5 (1982, '90, '97, '98, 2007). Voorhees 16 (1980, '81, '82, '83, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '95, '96, '98, 2004, '13, '15).
Breakdown: Warren Hills enters as the underdog, but the Blue Streaks gave the Vikings quite a scare in a 36-31 loss on Jan. 24. In fact, the Streaks won seven of the nine contested bouts in a match that featured five forfeits (one by Voorhees). Slivka hit a lateral drop for a last-second upset of Koshinski in a very entertaining opening bout that will be a key rematch, while O'Rourke followed with a 15-4 major of Rinehart as the Streaks ran the table from 126-160. Although neither Fernandes wrestled the last time, the Streaks were also without J. Ostir and Galka. I don't think it will matter in the rematch as the Vikes won at 195 and 220 the first time, but Ostir's return is likely a 12-point swing. Ajayi knocked off Huff at 285, but expect Huff to go 220 in this one and Lewis Fernandes to go 285. Scott Fernandes vs. Galka is another key matchup, which Hills would need, along with 113 to score the upset. Voorhees could also look to save points by running Taylor and Rinehart up with a forfeit likely coming at 120.
Prediction: Voorhees, 36-27.
Central Jersey, Group 2
5-Delaware Valley (9-11) at 1-Raritan (24-2)
Wrestlers to watch: R, Sr. Robert Taddeo (19-12, D1, R6), 113; Sr. Russell Benson (29-2, D1, R1), 132; Sr. AJ Erven (25-5, D4), 138; Sr. Christian Sookdeo (24-7), 145; Jr. Anthony Aquilano (25-6, D2) 160; Jr. George Burdick (28-3, D2, R5), 182; Jr. Justin Acevedo (25-6, D3) 195; Sr. Ethan Wolf (29-2, D1, R5), 220. DV, So. AJ DeRosa (25-6, D2, R2), 120; Fr. Gage Crater (21-10), 126.
Sectional titles: Delaware Valley 17 (1983, '84, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, '93, '94, '99, 2001, '02, '05, '06, '15, '16, '17). Raritan 2 (2004, '12).
Breakdown: This is one of the best postseason rivalries in all of New Jersey, as the teams tee it up for the 15th time overall and the 12th meeting in the sectionals. Del Val, which holds an 9-5 edge in the series, broke its title drought with a 31-30 win in the 2015 final, the program's first championship since 2006, and followed that up with sectional final wins in 2016 (30-29) and '17 (36-23). It's been a tough injury-filled season for Terriers coach Andy Fitz, who is 12-7 in sectional matches, including 3-4 in the finals, after the program won its first Group 2 title since 1999 a year ago. This will be the first postseason home match in the series for Raritan, which rates a heavy favorite, after six of the past seven meetings were decided by four points or fewer. The key bouts in this one are 106, 113, 120, 160 and 170. Otherwise, Del Val is really up against it through the middle and upper weights that lean heavily toward the Rockets, who are simply too balanced and too deep.
Prediction: Raritan, 39-21.
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