What: Phillipsburg Stateliners at North Hunterdon Lions.
Where: Lions Den at North Hunterdon Regional High School, Clinton Township.When: Tonight, 6 p.m.
Live feed: https://youtube.com/channel/UCpk_CAUW-iLzdWkPpcTT9vg
Conference: Skyland Raritan Division.
Records: Phillipsburg 3-0, 1-0; North Hunterdon 3-0, 2-0.
Area rankings: (Open Mike): Phillipsburg No. 1; North Hunterdon No. 2.
Coaches: Dave Post (165-26, 11th season, 13-2 vs. NH); Chris Hrunka (62-8, fourth season, 2-4 vs. P'burg).
Series history: Phillipsburg owns a 56-10-1 edge dating to 1961, including a 7-4 mark in postseason meetings. North ended a 17-match skid in the series with a 30-24 victory on the road last season and followed that up with a dominating 37-12 win in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final en route to the Group 4 state title and the program's first unbeaten season. P'burg's last win in the series was a 28-19 victory in the North 2, Group 4 final on Feb. 8, 2019. The Lions' other wins came in the Group 3 finals (1982, '84 and '93), and regular-season dual meets in 1961, '62, '65, '75 and 2007.
Note: Phillipsburg wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.
106 -- Jr. Miguel Lopez (2-1) vs. So. Logan Wadle (3-0).
113 -- Fr. Dawson McWilliams (1-2) vs. Jr. Ben Makaritis (2-1).
120 -- Jr. James Day (3-0) vs. Jr. Nick DeLorenzo (2-1).
126 -- Jr. Joey Innamorato (3-0) vs. Sr. Hunter Iannozzi (1-2) or Sr. Frank DiEsso (0-0).
132 -- Jr. Sean Stasiulaitis (2-1) vs. Sr. Connor Quinn (0-1) or Sr. Connor McGeary (2-1).
138 -- Sr. Jason Tino (3-0) vs. Sr. Josh Parson (2-0).
145 -- Sr. Logan Maczko (2-1) vs. So. Daniel Delusant (2-1).
152 -- So. Hunter Cleaver (3-0) vs. Sr. William Cole (2-1) or So. Luke Fischer (0-1).
160 -- Jr. Matt D'Onofrio (2-1) vs. Sr. Ethan Akers (0-2) or Jr. Tucker Lewis (1-0).
170 -- Jr. Nate Zastowny (1-2) vs. Sr. James Holder (2-0).
182 -- Fr. Caleb Rivera (3-0) vs. So. Alex Uryniak (2-0).
195 -- Sr. Gage Horvath (3-0) vs. So. Brendan Raley (3-0).
220 -- Jr. David Pierson (3-0) vs. Sr. Andrew Franklin (3-0).
285 -- Sr. Jordan Kiley (2-1) vs. Jr. Liam Akers (3-0).
Breakdown: The 68th meeting is one of the most anticipated duals in our area this season. North Hunterdon comes in riding a 26-match winning streak dating to last season when the Lions capped the program's first unbeaten season (23-0) with a win over Kingsway in the Group 4 final. Phillipsburg, which rarely loses sectional title matches, will be out to avenge an even rarer double loss in this series.
Much like last season, the upper weights should go a long way in deciding this one. However, the 'Liners appear to have the edge there this time around. The sectional final meeting started at 170, where Holder got things rolling with an 8-6 win over Zastowny -- sparking a match-opening run of six in a row that gave North a commanding 22-0 lead. That could once again be a swing bout up top and one the hosts may need to pull off a third straight win in the series. I give P'burg the edge at 120, 138 (Tino vs. McGeary), 145, 152, 160, 195 and 220. North is favored at 106, 113, 132 (Quinn vs. Stasiulaitis), 182 and 285. That leaves 126 (Innamorato vs. DiEsso) and 170 as the tossups. DiEsso has not stepped on the mat this season, but he has weighed in as he rehabs from a minor preseason injury. I'd be shocked if he's not back for this one, and to be honest, Innamorato is a tough assignment out of the gate. P'burg should have the edge in a 7-7 split, with a few more opportunities for bonus points. This is a tough one to handicap so early into the season and no Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament to go by. North would like to get McGeary away from Tino, who lost to Quinn, 5-2, last season, to try to win 132 and 138. I keep coming back to the upper weights and P'burg, which is a tad better on paper and a little more balanced at this point in the season, making up ground there that it didn't a year ago. In any case this should be another classic.
Prediction: Phillipsburg, 31-22.
Conference: Skyland Raritan Division.
Records: Phillipsburg 3-0, 1-0; North Hunterdon 3-0, 2-0.
Area rankings: (Open Mike): Phillipsburg No. 1; North Hunterdon No. 2.
Coaches: Dave Post (165-26, 11th season, 13-2 vs. NH); Chris Hrunka (62-8, fourth season, 2-4 vs. P'burg).
Series history: Phillipsburg owns a 56-10-1 edge dating to 1961, including a 7-4 mark in postseason meetings. North ended a 17-match skid in the series with a 30-24 victory on the road last season and followed that up with a dominating 37-12 win in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final en route to the Group 4 state title and the program's first unbeaten season. P'burg's last win in the series was a 28-19 victory in the North 2, Group 4 final on Feb. 8, 2019. The Lions' other wins came in the Group 3 finals (1982, '84 and '93), and regular-season dual meets in 1961, '62, '65, '75 and 2007.
Note: Phillipsburg wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.
106 -- Jr. Miguel Lopez (2-1) vs. So. Logan Wadle (3-0).
113 -- Fr. Dawson McWilliams (1-2) vs. Jr. Ben Makaritis (2-1).
120 -- Jr. James Day (3-0) vs. Jr. Nick DeLorenzo (2-1).
126 -- Jr. Joey Innamorato (3-0) vs. Sr. Hunter Iannozzi (1-2) or Sr. Frank DiEsso (0-0).
132 -- Jr. Sean Stasiulaitis (2-1) vs. Sr. Connor Quinn (0-1) or Sr. Connor McGeary (2-1).
138 -- Sr. Jason Tino (3-0) vs. Sr. Josh Parson (2-0).
145 -- Sr. Logan Maczko (2-1) vs. So. Daniel Delusant (2-1).
152 -- So. Hunter Cleaver (3-0) vs. Sr. William Cole (2-1) or So. Luke Fischer (0-1).
160 -- Jr. Matt D'Onofrio (2-1) vs. Sr. Ethan Akers (0-2) or Jr. Tucker Lewis (1-0).
170 -- Jr. Nate Zastowny (1-2) vs. Sr. James Holder (2-0).
182 -- Fr. Caleb Rivera (3-0) vs. So. Alex Uryniak (2-0).
195 -- Sr. Gage Horvath (3-0) vs. So. Brendan Raley (3-0).
220 -- Jr. David Pierson (3-0) vs. Sr. Andrew Franklin (3-0).
285 -- Sr. Jordan Kiley (2-1) vs. Jr. Liam Akers (3-0).
Breakdown: The 68th meeting is one of the most anticipated duals in our area this season. North Hunterdon comes in riding a 26-match winning streak dating to last season when the Lions capped the program's first unbeaten season (23-0) with a win over Kingsway in the Group 4 final. Phillipsburg, which rarely loses sectional title matches, will be out to avenge an even rarer double loss in this series.
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| North celebrates its sectional title win in 2020. |
Prediction: Phillipsburg, 31-22.
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