Wrestling: Phillipsburg sets schedule for 2019-20

Phillipsburg coach Dave Post confirmed on Wednesday that his team's schedule for 2019-20, which includes 16 single dual meets, is complete.

P'burg celebrated its 38th sectional title in 2019.

The Stateliners, who finished 18-3 this past season and won their sixth straight North 2, Group 4 sectional title (the program's 38th championship overall), will open next season at the 32nd annual Dvorak Tournament at Harlem High School in Rockford, Ill.

Due to a later start date in New Jersey next season on Dec. 21, P'burg was unable to return to the King of the Mountain Tournament in Pennsylvania, which is slated for Dec. 14-15.

"I think it is the closest thing in the country to King of the Mountain -- 32-team tournament," Post said. "The top teams are really tough, but the remainder will give our kids a chance to win some matches."

Nationally ranked Montini Catholic and Mount Carmel of Illinois, along with LaSalle of Ohio, were the top three finishers in last year's Dvorak field. Montini Catholic was the champion -- outscoring 2017 winner LaSalle 280.5 to 256.5.

In another interesting twist, this will be the latest that Phillipsburg opens the home portion of its schedule -- not including hosting the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament on Jan. 11. The 'Liners won't wrestle a home dual meet until Jan. 15 against North Hunterdon in what may be a preview of the sectional final for a second straight season. The last time P'burg opened that late in a season at home was a 46-21 win over Bloomfield on Jan. 9, 2003.

Along with its mandated four dual meets against Skyland Conference Raritan Division opponents, Phillipsburg, which is 147-23 overall in Post's nine seasons, will face High Point, Newton, Raritan, Kittatinny, Hanover Park, Southern and Ocean Township in independent matchups. Three of those teams appeared in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 25 poll for 2018-19, as well as Hunterdon Central, which will host P'burg on Jan. 8, 2020 in what's become one of the season's most anticipated matchups, especially in our area.

High Point, the Group 2 runner-up last season, figures to be a contender for its second title in three seasons after falling short against South Plainfield in February. P'burg owns an 18-1 edge all time against the 'Cats, including a 30-27 victory in their last matchup in Wantage. High Point's lone victory was 30-22 on Jan. 31, 2009, at The Pit.

The Newton-P'burg series now stands at 9-9-1 after the Braves dropped a 38-29 decision on the road two seasons ago and a took a 45-12 loss at home on Dec. 22, 2018. P'burg is 271-54-3 against HWS teams in its 73-year history.

P'burg, which returns seven starters, including one state qualifier in Logan Maczko (33-11), a district and region champion as a sophomore, will square off against Ocean Township in its final dual meet of the regular season on Feb. 8. The 'Liners, who are 46-16 all time vs. Shore Conference schools, will also look to avenge a 32-16 loss to Group 5 champion Southern on Jan. 25.

Here's the full schedule for 2019-20:

Dec. 21-22 -- at Dvorak Tournament (Rockford, Ill.)
Dec. 28-29 -- at Bethlehem (Pa.) Holiday Classic (Liberty High School)
Jan. 2 -- at Raritan
Jan. 4 -- at Monroe Township
Jan. 8 -- at Hunterdon Central
Jan. 9 -- at Kittatinny
Jan. 11 -- Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Phillipsburg
Jan. 15 -- North Hunterdon
Jan. 16 -- at Warren Hills
Jan. 18 -- High Point
Jan. 22 -- Ridge
Jan. 23 -- at Easton (Pa.)
Jan. 25 -- Southern
Jan. 29 -- at Hanover Park
Jan. 30 -- Hillsborough
Feb. 1 -- Newton
Feb. 5 -- at Montgomery
Feb. 6 -- Delaware Valley
Feb. 8 -- Ocean Township
Feb. 10 -- Sectional first round
Feb. 12 -- Sectional semifinals
Feb. 14 -- Sectional finals
Feb. 16 -- Group championships at Toms River North
Feb. 22 -- District 13 Tournament at Phillipsburg
Feb. 26, 28-29 -- Region 4 Tournament at Union
March 5-7 -- State Tournament at Atlantic City

Notes: Bold indicates Skyland Conference Raritan Division matches.