Wrestling: Phillipsburg at Newton preview, lineups

What: Phillipsburg Stateliners at Newton Braves.

Where: Newton High School.

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

Conference: Independent.

Records: Phillipsburg 1-0; Newton 2-0.

Rankings (Open Mike): Phillipsburg No. 3; Newton No. 5.

Coaches: Dave Post (130-20, ninth season, 1-0 vs. Newton); Eric Bollette (226-180-1, 18th season, 1-4 vs. P'burg).

Series history: Newton owns an 8-7-1 edge dating to 1947 -- including its last win in the series, 37-21 at home on Dec. 30, 2009 -- and is among just a few NJSIAA schools with a series advantage vs. Phillipsburg, which rallied for a 38-29 win at home last season. The Stateliners scored a 67-3 win in 2004 at Newton, while their other most recent victories came as part of a tri-meet with Roxbury -- 38-23 in 2007 and 41-18 in '08. Teams wrestled nine times from 1947-56 (Braves went 7-1-1 in that span) before the series briefly resumed in 1986 and '87.

Probable lineups: Phillipsburg wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Fr. James Day (6-2) vs. So. Nathan Fitt (3-1).

113 -- So. Logan Maczko (3-2) vs. So. Danny Cleary (2-2).

120 -- Fr. Joey Innamorato (2-2) vs. So. Nick Costa (1-1).

126 -- Sr. Bryce Parenti (4-2) vs. So. JoJo Lotruglio (3-2).

132 -- Sr. Travis Jones (4-1) vs. Sr. Matthew Rosa (4-1).

138 -- Sr. Luke Hardin (2-2) vs. Sr. Michael Freda (4-1).

145 -- Sr. Kyle Tino (4-3) vs. Jr. Damian Gummerson (0-3) or Jr. Ryan Sosa (0-0).

152 -- Sr. Cody Harrison (6-1) vs. Sr. Wyatt McCarthy (4-0) or Jr. Trevor Aughenbaugh (1-2).

160 -- Sr. TJ Abode (2-2) vs. Aughenbaugh or McCarthy.

170 -- Fr. David Pierson (3-2) vs. Sr. Nick Brigante (4-1).

182 -- Jr. Jacob Wicks (3-2) vs. Sr. Matt Somers (3-2).

195 -- Sr. Austin Roth (3-2) vs. Sr. Ryan Kaiser (2-3).

220 -- So. Gage Horvath (6-3) vs. Sr. Luke Fischer (4-0).

285 -- Jr. Cody Cruts (2-2) vs. So. Jacob Tonking (1-1).

Braves honor McCarthy's 100th win. (Kelsey Pittenger)

Breakdown: Two of the state's oldest and most storied programs are set to go at it again after an entertaining dual last season. Newton leads New Jersey with 82 individual state champions, the last being current assistant coach Andy Iliff (1986-87), and was founded under legendary coach Henry Boresch. Assistant coach Ted Sibblies is the school's last state finalist (130 pounds in 1989). P'burg, which has won five straight Group 4 titles and opened its season with a 68-0 win over Hillsborough on Wednesday. Both teams should go straight up in this one as Newton is locked in at 132 and 138. The 'Liners have the edge at 113, 120, 132, 145, 160, 195 and 285, while the Braves are favored at 106, 126, 138, 170 and 220. That leaves 152 and 182 as tossups, but it would not be shocking to see P'burg win one or both matchups down low as the underdog. Harrison (fourth at 138) against McCarthy (seventh at 145), who recorded his 100th win last Saturday, is a marquee bout between returning state medal winners. P'burg has a good a chance for bonus points in at least three, maybe four weights, while Newton, which likely needs both tossups to get to seven wins and have a shot at pulling off the upset, will likely settle for decisions where it's favored. That should ultimately be the difference.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 31-21.