Wrestling: Newton at Kittatinny preview, lineups

What: Newton Braves at Kittatinny Cougars.

Where: Kittatinny Regional High School, Hampton Twp.

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Northwest Jersey Athletic Freedom Division.

Records: Newton 4-3 overall; 2-0 division; Kittatinny 7-4, 0-1.

Coaches: Eric Bollette (228-183-1, 18th season, 5-15 vs. Kittatinny); John Gill (571-184-5, 39th season, 30-11 vs. Newton).

Area rankings (Open Mike): Newton No. 6; Kittatinny No. 8.

Series history: Kittatinny owns a 31-16 edge, including five postseason meetings, in a series dating to 1976. Newton snapped a six-match skid with a 33-25 victory at home last season on Jan. 26, 2018. The Braves haven't won two in a row in the series since a four-match streak during their sectional title runs in 2009 and '10. The teams didn't meet in 2017 (weather) for the first time in series history.

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

106 -- So. Nathan Fitt (10-1) vs. Fr. Shane Nelson (10-7).

113 -- So. Danny Cleary (6-7) vs. Open.

120 -- So. JoJo Lotruglio (9-5) or So. Nick Costa (2-5) vs. Sr. Mike Nelson (8-3).

126 -- Costa or Lotruglio vs. So. Patrick Franco (9-6) or Fr. Steve Dalling (2-3).

132 -- Sr. Matthew Rosa (9-5) vs. Sr. Nile Mattar (10-7).

138 -- Sr. Michael Freda (9-4) vs. Sr. Derek Molfetto (7-8).

145 -- Jr. Julian Sibblies (3-5) vs. Sr. Brian Hanna (14-2).

152 -- Sr. Wyatt McCarthy (11-1) or Jr. Trevor Aughenbaugh (3-9) vs. Jr. Gian Knippenberg (10-7) .

160 -- Aughenbaugh or McCarthy vs. Knippenberg or Open.

170 -- Sr. Nick Brigante (9-4) vs. Sr. Blake Dippel (6-10).

182 -- Sr. Matt Somers (5-8) vs. Sr. Zach Mafaro (13-1) or Jr. Robert Bruce (10-6).

195 -- Sr. Ryan Kaiser (6-7) vs. Bruce or Mafaro.

220 -- Sr. Luke Fischer (12-0) vs. So. Jackson Crawn (15-2) or Jr. Jacob Mafaro (5-0).

285 -- Open vs. J. Mafaro or Crawn or Fr. Brycen Mafaro (5-5).

Breakdown: This one has a little something for everyone -- big crosstown rivalry, teacher vs. student, as Bollette wrestled for Kittatinny in the early 1990s and was a state placewinner under Gill. Newton, which has won just five times since its six-match winning streak ended in 1990, is the favorite in this one. We could see as many as three forfeits, which is disappointing, as Kittatinny has no one at 113 and 160, while Newton is minus a heavyweight. Straight up, the Braves are favored at 106, 113, 120 or 126 with Lotruglio, 132, 138, 152, 160, 170 and 220. Cougars get the nod at 120 or 126, 145, 152

Newton looks to gain sole possession of first place in the division.

or 160 wherever McCarthy isn't if it wins the flip, 182, 195 and 285. Kittatinny will be looking to get Knippenberg against Aughenbaugh, but will need the flip to do so, otherwise it could lose at 152 and 160. Moving the lineup from 138 on up to cover 152 or 160 isn't an option with McCarthy at 152, but the Cougars can maneuver a bit up top and potentially save a few points by sending out Jacob Mafaro against Fischer. However, the hosts need an upset, probably two, as well as keeping the bonus points to a minimum in order to have any shot at winning the dual. Newton has the potential for more than regular decisions in five bouts and has a little too much firepower.

Prediction: Newton, 35-25 (41-22 with the flip).