Wrestling: Warren Hills at Phillipsburg preview

What: Warren Hills Blue Streaks at Phillipsburg Stateliners.

Where: Phillipsburg High School, Lopatcong Township.

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Skyland cross-divisional.

TV/radio: Statelinersports.com

Records: Warren Hills 5-0; Phillipsburg 2-0.

Area rankings (Open Mike): Warren Hills No. 7; Phillipsburg No. 3.

Coaches: Dave Sbriscia (5-0, first season); Dave Post (131-20, ninth season, 8-0 vs. WH).

Series history: Phillipsburg leads 58-14 dating to 1948, including last year's 53-14 victory on Jan. 22, 2018, in Washington. The Stateliners have won 32 straight since falling twice to Warren Hills during the 1989-90 season. The Blue Streaks haven't won in this series since their 34-30 victory at home in the 1990 North 2, Group 3 sectional final -- one of only two losses for P'burg in sectional history (the other against Hunterdon Central in 2013). The Streaks also won, 32-31, in a regular-season clash at The Pit on Jan. 13, 1990.

Note: Warren Hills wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Fr. Jared Lee (7-3) vs. Fr. James Day (11-5).

113 -- Fr. Noah DiNapoli (8-3) vs. So. Logan Maczko (7-5).

120 -- Jr. Greg Slivka (8-2) vs. Fr. Joey Innamorato (3-4).

126 -- Fr. Stephen Malia (5-2) vs. Sr. Bryce Parenti (10-5).

132 -- Jr. Nick Gorab (5-7) vs. Sr. Travis Jones (8-2) or So. Jason Tino (0-0).

138 -- Jr. Logan Nauta (7-5) vs. Sr. Luke Hardin (2-5) or Jones.

145 -- Sr. Chris Ostir (8-3) vs. Sr. Kyle Tino (8-6).

152 -- Jr. Geir Nemeth (5-6) vs. Sr. Cody Harrison (7-1).

160 -- Jr. Nick Hildebrant (6-3) vs. Sr. TJ Abode (6-5).

170 -- Fr. Michael Galka (2-5) vs. Fr. David Pierson (4-5).

182 -- Fr. Tyler McCatharn (6-4) vs. Jr. Jacob Wicks (6-4).

195 -- So. Logan Polcari (5-5) vs. Sr. Austin Roth (7-4).

220 -- Sr. Nick Galka (8-2) vs. So. Gage Horvath (6-6).

285 -- Sr. Duro Ajayi (10-1) vs. Jr. Cody Cruts (4-5).

Breakdown: The 73rd meeting of this series does not factor into the divisional standings with P'burg in the Raritan Divison and Warren Hills now in the Valley Division. The Stateliners, who will enjoy competing in their home gym for four dual meets and the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament

P'burg will host the HWS Tournament on Jan. 12.

the next two weeks, figure to have the upper hand again in this one as they're favored at nine weights straight up -- 106, 113, 126, 132, 145, 152, 170, 182 and 195. Give the Streaks an edge at 120, 138, 220 and 285. We'll call 160 a tossup. It would not be surprising to see P'burg win at 120 and 285, and possibly 138, if Post chooses to bump Jones to try to get 132 and 138. Best case for Warren Hills would be to win five bouts with an outside shot at six to make it an 18-point spread, while P'burg is a solid bet to win at least eight. The heavyweight matchup should be interesting as Cruts scored a 7-5 decision over Ajayi to cap a 48-6 victory for P'burg in the Pin Cancer matchup last July, while Jones decked Nauta in a battle between dangerous mat wrestlers. The 'Liners also figure to win the bonus-point battle by a wide margin. Another factor is that P'burg has been battle tested early this season, while this is a step up in competition for Warren Hills.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 40-16.