Wrestling: 3 sectional finals to watch (HWS)

Here's a closer look at three of the more intriguing sectional finals involving teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. Winners advance to the Group championships on Sunday at Toms River North.

North 2, Group 4

2-North Hunterdon (20-2) at 1-Phillipsburg (16-2)

North eyes its first win over P'burg since 2007. 

Wrestlers to watch: NH, So. Frank Diesso (26-5, D2, R4) 113; Sr. Connor Robinson (24-7, D2, R6) 120; Jr. Drew Doscher (20-10, D3) 132; Jr. Evan Klimas (21-8, D3, R6) 138; Sr. Michael Wilson (29-2, D1) 160; Jr. Nathaniel Fossett (19-3, D3) 170; So. James Holder (22-8) 182; Jr. Ian Gaburo (20-6) 195-220. P, Fr. James Day (23-9) 106; So. Logan Maczko (24-8, D1) 113; Sr. Travis Jones (27-3, D1, R1, S7) 126-132; Sr. Kyle Tino (23-9, D1, R2) 138-145; Sr. Cody Harrison (26-2, D1, R1, S4), 152-160; Sr. Austin Roth (24-5, D1, R5) 182-195.

Sectional titles: North Hunterdon 14 (1980, '82, '84, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '99, 2000, '02, '03, '09, '15. Phillipsburg 37 (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, '18).

Breakdown: Phillipsburg, which is seeking its sixth straight sectional and Group 4 state titles, has a different yet very familiar opponent this time around after ousting Middletown North in the three previous title matches -- 45-16 in 2016, 36-27 in '17 and 32-30 in '18. North Hunterdon earned the honors this season as coach Chris Hrunka's team rolled to a 55-12 win over Middletown North in Wednesday's semifinals, while P'burg cruised to a 41-16 victory over Cranford. The 'Liners, who are 37-2 all-time in section finals, beat the Lions, 30-24, on Jan. 16. Now, North does have some past history when it comes to avenging regular-seasn losses in this series -- posting wins over P'burg in the Group 3 final in 1982 and '84 at neutral sites, and '93 in a barnburner at The Pit. However, the 'Liners have since won six straight postseason meetings -- all at home -- including a 35-16 win in last year's sectional semis, and they own a 55-8-1 edge in the overall series. Can North, which has lost the last 16 meetings in the series, make up that six-point difference from January? Well, the Lions won the flip and opted to bump the lineup from 132 through 195. But pins by Harrison and Roth were the difference as senior Bryce Parenti sealed it with a last-second takedown and a 3-1 win over North's Connor Quinn in the final bout at 126. Hrunka may opt to go with a more conventional lineup this time. Tino has been at 138 since, but he may be at 145 for the rematch. Jones will weigh-in at 126 and Roth at 182 as they haven been doing. The key bouts are 113 (Diesso d. Maczko, 5-2, getting a late takedown in a tight bout), 126 (Parenti vs. Quinn), 138 (Tino vs. Klimas) and 152 or 160 (Abode d. Anderson, 5-4 on the strength of an early five-point move). North needs to hold serve where it won last time and get a few more bonus points, plus find a way to reverse one of the losses and perhaps get the flip to control the matchups at 182 and 195. A 7-7 split favors P'burg (think it has five in the bank no matter the matchup) because North will be hard-pressed to get bonus points. I also have the feeling the 'Liners reverse one of the losses from the first meeting. This has the potential to be a classic and the winner should win Group 4 on Sunday.

Prediction: P'burg, 28-23.

North 1, Group 2

2-Newton (14-6) at 1-High Point (14-2)

High Point faces a stiff test in its bid to repeat in G2.

Wrestlers to watch: N, So. Nathan Fitt (25-2, D4) 106; So. JoJo Lotruglio (21-9, D2) 126; Sr. Matt Rosa (19-7, D3) 132; Sr. Michael Freda (19-10, D3, R5) 138; Sr. Wyatt McCarthy (27-2, D1, R1, S7) 145-152; Sr. Luke Fischer (29-0, D2, R2) 220. HP, Fr. Clayton Utter (25-5) 106; Jr. Devon Liebl (22-7, D2, R6) 113; Sr. Devin Flannery (24-6, D3, R2-2017) 120; So. Josh Gervey (21-4) 126-132; Sr. Brandon LaRue (13-2, D1, R4, S6) 138-145; Jr. Billy Talmadge (28-3, D1, R3), 138-145; Fr. Brian Soldano (29-2) 160.

Sectional titles: Newton 2 (2009, '10). High Point 26 (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, '18).

Breakdown: Newton already gained a measure of satisfaction after ousting the team that derailed this finals meeting a year ago with a 49-18 semifinal win over Jefferson (which upset the Braves, 30-28, in last year's semis). But the Braves won't be satisfied just getting to the program's first title match since 2010. The biggest mystery all week is whether LaRue (elbow injury) will return to High Point's lineup. It's seemingly more doubtful that he's back at all this season, and that certainly helps Newton, which is looking to avenge a 39-27 loss to the 'Cats in the NJAC Freedom Division title match on Jan. 22. Without LaRue, coach John Gardner will have to get a little creative down low, where he will look to get sophomore Nick Douma (2-0) against Nick Costa (7-13) at 120 and run Flannery to 126 to match up with Lotruglio, who will also weigh-in at 120. Another big bout is 106, as Fitt handed Utter a 6-4 loss with a late reversal in a wildly entertaining bout in the first meeting. Look for Gervey and Talmadge to bump up a weight to try and get bonus at 145, where High Point gave up six last time. The 'Cats will also make a few moves up top. Newton can make this a lot tighter this time around, but it will need a few upsets to pull off a victory.

Prediction: High Point, 36-27.

Central Jersey, Group 5

2-Manalapan (22-4) at 1-Hunterdon Central (21-1)

Wrestlers to watch: M, Jr. Hunter Konstantoulas (23-5) 126; Sr. Kareem Ghiada (19-4, D2, R6) 132; Sr. Alex Baran (32-0, D1, R2) 138; Sr. Paul Santomarco (26-6, D1, R6) 152-160; Jr. Matt Benedetti (29-3, D1, R3) 160-170; Jr. Dylan Waller (21-9) 170-182; So. Gavin Claro (24-6) 195-220; Jr. Matt Kovacs (19-6) 285. HC, So. Brett Ungar (28-0, D1, R1, S6) 106; Fr. Nick Canonica (17-8) 113; So. Colton Washleski (25-4, D2, R4) 120; Sr. Jack Bauer (24-5, D1, R2) 126; Fr. Tanner Peake (27-2) 132; Jr. Anthony Romaniello (18-10, D2) 138; Sr. Pasquale Vizzoni (18-2, D1, R3) 145; Sr. Vincent Romaniello (25-5, D2, R2) 152; So. Norman Cella (20-4, D4) 160; Sr. Kyle Barrett (19-8) 182; Sr. Ryan Joyce (19-8, D4) 285.

Sectional titles: Manalapan 3 (1986, '91, '92). Hunterdon Central 21 (1980, '81, '82, '83, '84, '87, '88, '89, '93, '94, '95, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '03, '10, '11, '13, '15, '17).

Breakdown: This is another one of those matchups that would have been pegged for a blowout to start the season. But Hunterdon Central is a little thinner in the ranks due to injuries and coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team will likely be without Cella (knee injury), senior 170-pounder Dan Furmato (shoulder injury) and Barrett for this one. Still, the Red Devils have enough talent to pull this one off and make a run in Group 5 against either Howell or Southern (South Jersey final) on Sunday. Down low is where they need to do damage as the favorites at 106 through 132. Up top is where it gets a little dicey as Manalapan will be favored from 160 on up, except 285 which leans toward Central. Should the Braves win a few in the middle, things could get really tight. But Central has wrestled a much tougher schedule and has the benefit of being home, which is a tough environment for teams unfamiliar to the Field House.

Prediction: Hunterdon Central, 31-21.