Wrestling: North goes big in win over P'burg

Those North Hunterdon upper weights sure know how to deliver the clutch.

Senior James Holder's stunning pin at 170 pounds was the catalyst for a comeback as the North won four of five up top and six of the final seven bouts to rally for a 32-23 win over Phillipsburg on Tuesday in a key Skyland Conference Raritan Division showdown on Senior Night in the Lions Den.

North has won 27 straight duals since 2020.

North Hunterdon (4-0, 3-0 division) extended its dual-match win streak to 27 dating to last season with a third consecutive victory over P'burg for the first time in series history. Coach Chris Hrunka's team was also shorthanded as senior state qualifier Frank DiEsso (126) remained out of the lineup after sustaining a preseason injury.

"This was a good win," said Hrunka, whose team was coming off a tight 36-32 win over up-and-coming Christian Brothers Academy on Saturday after blowout victories against Hillsborough and Montgomery earlier last week. "It was good to have a tough match with CBA. I think that was an advantage for us [coming into P'burg]."

Phillipsburg (3-1, 1-1) took a commanding 20-6 lead through seven bouts on the strength of sophomore Hunter Cleaver's 10-6 win over Billy Cole at 152 and junior Matt D'Onofrio's pin at 160.

But after surrendering a quick takedown, Holder reversed fellow state qualifier Nate Zastowny to his back for the fall in 43 seconds. As was the case in last season's sectional final, that matchup proved critical to the final outcome. Holder, who is heading to Kutztown in the fall, started North on its way to the North 2, Group 4 title with an 8-6 decision in the opening bout to avenge a 10-8 loss to Zastowny, a 2020 Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champion, in the regular-season dual meet.

"It wasn't necessarily unexpected," Hrunka said of the six points. "Before the match, James told us he wanted to go for the pin. We told him to just wrestle his match and don't worry if he gives up an early takedown."

Sophomore Alex Uryniak followed with a 9-4 win over promising freshman Caleb Rivera at 182 and senior Andrew Franklin pulled out a 7-6 win over David Pierson at 220 behind two third-period takedowns. Pierson led, 4-3, after two, but he seemed to run out of steam about four minutes in to the bout. Senior Gage Horvath also had his hands full in between as the state qualifier held on for a 6-3 decision over Brendan Raley at 195. Raley and Franklin were backups last season and obviously benefitted from being in a practice room filled with talent up top.

"We try to breed big men up here," Hrunka mused. "We have a really dedicated group of guys training with them [assistant coach Shawn Flesche, recent graduate Ian Gaburo, as well as former P'burg state finalist Steve Kempinski on the youth level]. Franklin was a kid just stuck behind everybody. He beat some state qualifiers last season [including Warren Hills' Tyler McCatharn]. He's been good. He just couldn't beat Gaburo last season."

Junior Liam Akers, a state medal winner at heavyweight last season, decked Jordan Kiley in 2:32 to give North its first lead, 24-23, with two bouts to go. In the last three meetings, P'burg has won just three of the 15 bouts contested from 170-285.

North sophomore Logan Wadle (106) and junior Ben Makaritis (113) finished things off with major decisions. Senior Connor McGeary, another reserve for the Lions last season, scored a 7-3 win over Sean Stasiulaitis at 132, while senior Connor Quinn posted a 5-2 decision over Jason Tino in another key bout at 138.

P'burg, which still owns a 56-11-1 edge overall in the series since 1961, will look to bounce back against Montgomery at home on Thursday before closing the week at Cranford on Saturday. Coach Dave Post's team fell short in the takedown battle, 26-23, and was minus-3 in bonus points after receiving early majors from James Day (120) and Joey Innamorato (126) to open the match.

North, which also posted back-to-back wins over P'burg at home for the first time, will next host Delaware Valley on Thursday before a road date with Bound Brook on Saturday.

NORTH HUNTERDON 32, PHILLIPSBURG 23

120 -- Jr. James Day (4-0), P, md. Jr. Nick DeLorenzo (2-2), 14-6.
126 -- Jr. Joey Innamorato (4-0), P, md. Sr. Hunter Iannozzi (1-3), 13-4.
132 -- Sr. Connor McGeary (3-1), NH, d. Jr. Sean Stasiulaitis (2-2), 7-3.
138 -- Sr. Connor Quinn (1-1), NH, d. Sr. Jason Tino (3-1), 5-2.
145 -- Sr. Logan Maczko (3-1), P, d. So. Daniel Delusant (2-2), 3-0.
152 -- So. Hunter Cleaver (4-0), P, d. Sr. William Cole (2-2), 10-6.
160 -- Jr. Matt D'Onofrio (3-1), P, p. Jr. Tucker Lewis (1-1), 3:44.
170 -- Sr. James Holder (3-0), NH, p. Jr. Nate Zastowny (1-3), :43. 
182 -- So. Alex Uryniak (3-0), NH, d. Fr. Caleb Rivera (3-1), 9-4.
195 -- Sr. Gage Horvath (4-0), P, d. So. Brendan Raley (3-1), 4-3.
220 -- Sr. Andrew Franklin (3-1), NH, d. Jr. David Pierson (3-1), 7-6.
285 -- Jr. Liam Akers (4-0), NH, p. Sr. Jordan Kiley (2-2), 2:32.
106 -- So. Logan Wadle (4-0), NH, md. Jr. Miguel Lopez (2-2), 12-1. 
113 -- Jr. Ben Makaritis (3-1), NH, md. Fr. Dawson McWilliams (1-3), 16-7.
Records -- Phillipsburg 3-1, 1-1; North Hunterdon 4-0, 3-0.
Official -- Russ Scorese.