Wrestling: Snow steals mat shows (HWS rankings)

Anyone else already sick of snow? It sure has thrown a wrench into the high school wrestling schedule around the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area as all of Friday's slate was wiped out along with Saturday's Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown. 

That annual two-day event had already been paired down to one day as Newton and Warren Hills were set to face each other as part of a five-match afternoon. 

P'burg is 7-10 all-time against Southern

The chaotic week started with Phillipsburg's scheduled home match against Southern on Wednesday being knocked off the slate. The Stateliners, ranked No. 10 in the latest New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, were rightfully concerned about the prospect of four weigh-ins this week -- with the big one against archrival Easton (Pa.) looming tonight -- after the previous week's Skyland Conference match vs. Watchung Hills at The Pit was pushed back to Monday.

Official word of the cancelation vs. No. 5 Southern came early Tuesday morning despite rumblings of this possibility swirling during last Saturday's HWS Tournament in Lopatcong Township. You have to question why this remains on the regular-season schedule as both are annually among the top schools in Group 5, having met in the 2022 semifinals (P'burg won 27-25) and the title match last season (a 41-14 win for Southern after a 41-12 victory in the regular-season matchup). 

Needless to say, P'burg needed no additional distractions heading into the Easton match, which should be a dandy (Open Mike has a win for Easton, 30-28). The 'Liners should have an edge being at home and with 14 weights (Pennsylvania has 13), but we could see some crazy stuff on the scale as it's plus-four pounds (110, etc.). There are several key tossups as well, including a pair of potential rematches from the Bethlehem Holiday Classic. 

Word is that the match will be contested on a riser, like the NCAA finals, which should create some interesting sightlines for the Stateliner faithful in the front row of the bleachers. P'burg has won four straight meetings and seven of the previous nine, but Easton owns a 64-21 advantage all-time dating to 1947. 

Tough sledding

Friday's schedule originally included a pair of Hunterdon County matchups as Delaware Valley was set to begin a brutal stretch against North Hunterdon, while Voorhees was slated to face Hunterdon Central at the Field House. 

Del Val (8-0 overall, 3-0 division), which is seeking a third straight Group 1 title, looks to inch closer toward securing the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title against Ridge (9-1, 2-0) as part of a tri-meet with Hanover Park on Saturday in Basking Ridge.

Coach Andy Fitz's team is facing a dauting five-day span next week with matches against Phillipsburg (Tuesday), Hunterdon Central (Wednesday) and Warren Hills (Saturday, Jan. 26) on tap. The Terriers have lost three straight vs. Central since a 35-32 win on Jan. 3, 2020. The North match is now set for Jan. 30, as Del Val looks to snap a six-match skid in that series with its first win since 2017.

Now, onto this week's rankings:

1. Phillipsburg (10-0) -- Stateliners opened the week with a 60-18 drubbing of Watchung Hills in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division clash on Monday at The Pit, followed by a 55-12 waxing of Hanover Park in an independent matchup on Thursday. Juniors Luke Geleta (20-1 at 144) and Gavin Hawk (20-1 at 150), who picked up career win Nos. 86 and 91, respectively, logged a pair of pins as P'burg racked up 16 in the two victories.

Up next: Easton (Pa.) at home tonight; Delaware Valley at home on Tuesday.

Central retains the victory Cup with NH for a second straight year

2. Hunterdon Central (10-1) -- Red Devils rolled to a 44-19 win over North Hunterdon in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division tilt on Wednesday in advance of a key showdown against Mount Olive, ranked No. 12 in the NJWWA Top 20, as part of a Saturday quad at the Field House. Senior Thomas Brunetti (20-0 at 190) is sitting on 79 career victories as he looks to join fellow senior Anthony Rossi (20-0 at 120) in the school's 100 wins club. Senior Ahmed Hussain (16-6 at 132) was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the match vs. North.

Up next: Mount Olive, St.. Thomas Aquinas, Sayreville at home today; at Delaware Valley on Wednesday.

3. Delaware Valley (8-0) -- Terriers cruised to a 57-11 win over Watchung Hills (winning 11 bouts) in a Skyland Conference cross-divisional matchup on Wednesday. Senior state placer Matt Roche (15-1 at 132) set the tone with technical fall in the opening bout as coach Andy Fitz's team racked up six pins and three techs. 

Up next: Hanover Park at Ridge today; at Phillipsburg on Tuesday; Hunterdon Central at home on Wednesday.

Kittatinny is 36-17 all-time vs. Newton

4. Kittatinny (12-1) -- Cougars secured the NJAC Freedom Division title with a 57-20 win over crosstown rival Newton on Wednesday -- extending its win streak to five straight against the Braves since a 37-28 loss in 2019. Legendary coach John Gill is 36-12 all-time vs. Newton and his teams have captured or shared 18 conference titles. This is the Sussex County school's first outright championship since 2018 (Colonial Division) and first in the Freedom Division since '14. Senior Bryce Coesfeld (19-3 at 175) is at 84 career wins, while junior Ethan Dalling (20-2 at 165) is two shy of 80.

Up next: at Sparta on Friday. 

5. Pope John (6-3) -- Lions opened the week by going 2-1 in a quad, scoring wins over St. Augustine Prep (36-28) and St. Benedict's Prep (55-24), while dropping a 52-24 decision to host Bergen Catholic, ranked No. 11 in the NJWWA Top 20, on Monday. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team also fell, 48-30, to No. 12 Mount Olive in an NJAC American Division clash on Wednesday before Thursday's 47-33 win over Parsippany Hills. Junior Carson Walsh (18-3 at 132), two-time state medalist and three-time HWS champion, improved to 79-13 overall.

Up next: Holy Cross at St. John Vianney today. 

6. High Point (4-4) -- Wildcats came up short in a 39-24 loss to Jefferson in a battle for second place in the NJAC Freedom Division. The loss to the Falcons (11-40 all-time vs. the 'Cats) was the program's first since 2001 and it snapped High Point's 23-match win streak in the series in which the average margin of victory was 27 points during that span. Coach John Gardner's teams are 24-4 overall vs. Jefferson, which could host a return match should both advance in the North 1, Group 2 sectional tournament in a few weeks. High Point, which was pinned in a key bout at 215 while holding a 7-1 lead, is hoping to have senior 138-pounder Ty Woods (leg injury) back soon.

Up next: North Hunterdon, West Essex at North Warren today; DePaul at home on Monday; at Morris Knolls on Tuesday.

7. Sparta (6-1) -- Spartans scored a surprisingly-close 40-32 win over Morristown in an NJAC National Division tilt on Wednesday as junior Luke Brown (8-2 at 190) and senior HWS champion Connor White (12-4 at 215) came through late with clutch pins.

Up next: Mendham, Verona at Hackettstown today; West Morris at home on Tuesday; at River Dell on Wednesday.

Hills is 56-10 all-time vs. Hackettstown (Facebook)

8. Warren Hills (7-5) -- Blue Streaks dropped their second straight dual with a 39-31 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division contest on Wednesday. Senior Josh Lee (15-2 at 144) picked up his 78th career win with a pin, while senior Paul Hamas' 4-0 decision at 285 started a run of four straight wins to close out the match.

Up next: at Hillsborough on Wednesday; Hackettstown at home on Friday.

9. North Hunterdon (4-6) -- Lions opened their week with a 44-19 loss to Hunterdon Central on Wednesday as senior Brian Wilson scored a 4-1 victory over Jacob Saus at 165 -- one of just four winners for North -- to pick up his 50th career win.

Up next: High Point, West Essex at North Warren today; Paramus Catholic at home on Friday.

10. Voorhees (4-7) -- Vikings received pins from sophomore Christian Bollette and senior Trevor Zabroski in a 57-15 loss to Ridge in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash on Wednesday. In addition to Bollette (17-5 at 120) and Zabroski (18-2 at 215), senior star Logan Wiecoreck (17-3 at 165) picked up a 4-0 win over Liam Thoma, a Region 4 qualifier last season.

Up next: Barringer, North Plainfield at Belvidere today; Bridgewater-Raritan at home on Wednesday; at River Dell on Friday.