Wrestling: Kittatinny at High Point preview, lineups

What: Kittatinny Cougars at High Point Wildcats.

Where: High Point Regional High School, Wantage Twp.

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Records: Kittatinny 0-0; High Point 0-0.

Conference: Northwest Jersey Athletic Freedom Division.

Rankings (Open Mike area): Kittatinny No. 9; High Point No. 4.

Coaches: John Gill (564-180-5, 39th season (13-23-1 vs. HP); John Gardner (346-100-2, 21st season (9-10 vs. Kitt).

Series history: High Point owns a 27-14-1 edge dating to 1976, but has won just two of the previous five matchups. Kittatinny, which has won two in a row in this series, posted a 36-25 win at home in the last matchup two seasons ago, as the teams did not meet last season for the first time -- and for just the second during the regular season -- in series history. The 'Cats last came out on top with a 32-31 win in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals in 2015 -- the first postseason match between the longtime rivals. Kittatinny snapped a seven-match skid in the series with a 35-18 win at home in 2013. Prior to that stretch, the Cougars won seven straight from 1999-2005.

Probable lineups (Kittatinny wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses):

106 -- Fr.  Shane Nelson (2-1) vs. Fr. Clayton Utter (3-0).

113 -- Open vs. Jr. Devon Liebl (3-0).

120 -- Sr. Mike Nelson (1-2) vs. Sr. Devin Flannery (2-0).

126 -- So. Patrick Franco (2-1) vs. Sr. Brandon LaRue (3-0).

132 -- Sr. Nile Mattar (1-2) vs. So. Josh Gervey (2-1).

138 -- Sr. Derek Molfetto (1-2) vs. Jr. Billy Talmadge (3-0).

145 -- Sr. Brian Hanna (2-1) vs. Sr. Nick Auer (1-2).

152 -- Jr. Kyle Raposo (0-2) vs. So. Alex Buchwald (4-1).

160 -- Jr. Gian Knippenberg (0-3) vs. Fr. Brian Soldano (3-0).

170 -- Sr. Blake Dippel (1-2) vs. Jr. PJ Soldano (3-1).

182 -- Sr. Zach Mafaro (0-0) or Jr. Austin Smith (0-1) vs. Sr. Jonathan Morris (2-1).

195 -- Jr. Robert Bruce (3-1) or Z. Mafaro vs. Sr. Grayson Sabo (0-0).

220 -- So. Jackson Crawn (2-1) vs. Sr. Andrew Lewis (0-0).

285 -- Fr. Brycen Mafaro (2-1) vs. So. Chris Hendershot (0-2).

Breakdown: Good to see these teams squaring off again after last season's hiccup in the series. This one doesn't figure to be a nail-biter, but it does have conference implications in the new-look NJAC Freedom Division, which also includes Newton. Kittatinny had been housed in the Colonial Division for several seasons, and that was a big part of why a match with High Point did not come off in 2017-18. Cougars are a bit shorthanded with no one at 113 pounds and junior Jacob Mafaro (220) not officially with the team. The 'Cats rate as heavy favorites behind a strong set of lower weights, and they'll be favored from 106 through 138 (except 132, which we'll call a tossup) and from 152 to 170, as well as 182 or 195, wherever Z. Mafaro doesn't go. That's nine weights, with a strong potential for bonus points in at least six. Kittatinny gets the nod at 145, 220 (slight edge), 285 and whichever weight Z. Mafaro goes, though he didn't compete in the Caldwell Tournament on Saturday. Even at full strength, the Cougars would be hard pressed to keep this close as the 'Cats simply have too much down low.

Prediction: High Point, 43-16.