What: Kittatinny Cougars at High Point Wildcats.
Where: High Point Regional High School, Wantage Twp.When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Conference: Northwest Jersey Athletic Freedom Division.
Records: Kittatinny 10-1, 2-0 division; High Point 4-2, 2-0.
Coaches: John Gill (647-205-5, 44th season (13-28-1 vs. HP); John Gardner (410-124-2, 26th season (13-11 vs. Kitt).
Series history: High Point, which is at 784 wins as a program, owns a 32-14-1 edge dating to 1976, including a 39-23 road win in 2023. Kittatinny, sitting on 679 victories overall, has won just four of the past 10 meetings in this series, including a 36-30 victory at home on March 25, 2021, which snapped a two-match skid. The teams did not meet during the 2017-18 season for the first time -- and for just the second during the regular season -- in series history. The 'Cats came out on top with a 32-31 win in the 2015 North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals -- the first postseason match between the longtime rivals. Kittatinny snapped a seven-match skid in the series with a 35-18 win at home in 2013. Prior to that stretch, the Cougars won seven straight from 1999-2005. The lone tie was 27-27 in 1985.
Probable lineups (Kittatinny wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses):
106 -- So. Troy Sharp (9-8) vs. So. Brady Conklin (1-1).
113 -- Fr. Callum Trilling (9-8) vs. Fr. Carter Drouin (5-5).
120 -- Fr. Dylan Tighe (7-12) vs. Sr. Carson Citro (5-2).
126 -- So. Nikolas Martinez (6-12) vs. Jr. Colton Jaust (8-6).
132 -- So. Blake Giangrasso (9-9) vs. Jr. Sean Licata (4-4).
138 -- Sr. Jacob Savage (13-6) or Sr. Dylan Zupkay (1-2) vs. Jr. Nick Clayton (8-3).
144 -- Jr. Aran Korver (3-7) or Savage vs. Jr. Michael Tidona (8-4).
150 -- Jr. Aiden McClain (12-6) vs. Jr. Jesse Huelbig (7-6) or Sr. Ty Woods (0-0).
157 -- Sr. Reece Smith (18-2) vs. So. Jayden Ruplall (6-2) or Huelbig.
165 -- Jr. Ethan Dalling (16-1) vs. Jr. Nick Marangi (1-2).
175 -- Sr. Bryce Coesfeld (15-2) or Sr. Kaleb Ogar (15-4) vs. So. Jack Kithcart (5-6).
190 -- Ogar or Coesfeld vs. Sr. Dalton Yetter (3-1) or Jr. Donald Weiss (3-7).
215 -- Sr. Tucker Lockburner (14-1) or Sr. Alex Laoudis (7-8) vs. Sr. Mason Mericle (7-4).
285 -- Laoudis or Lockburner vs. So. Gavin Mericle (7-2).
Breakdown: This is the 48th and perhaps most significant meeting between these archrivals as it's the final one featuring Gill vs. Gardner, a High Point legend and former state champion who will take over the girls program full-time in 2024-25. This one should also decide this season's NJAC Freedom Division title. Hackettstown, Morris Hills and West Morris are common opponents and wins for both teams -- Kittatinny won (59-12, 33-25 and 40-30) and High Point prevailed (50-24, 44-9 and 53-19) in those matchups ... Kittatinny had a much tougher time with Morris Hills and West Morris, but it's all about the matchups. ... If you ask Gill, who lives in High Point country, he always expects the 'Cats to be at full strength and they usually are for this one. Woods has been sidelined by a foot injury he sustained during the football season, but he's on the mend and could make his season debut, though it's unclear where he may weigh-in. It seems as if High Point is getting its lineup together, much like it did last season in time to make a run and win its second Group 2 title in three seasons (team championships were not held in 2021 due to the pandemic). Kittatinny isn't as balanced as High Point, but the Cougars are strong from 157-285, and that makes
them dangerous in most dual meets. Gill prefers to go straight up with his lineup, but look for Savage to bump away from Clayton if possible (the flip could be big here). This team also has some flexibility up top at 175 and 215. It probably won't matter much how those bouts line up, but High Point's job will be to minimize bonus points and at least get a split at 215 and 285. The 'Cats would also love to get one at 175 and 190, with Yetter vs. Ogar offering that opportunity. High Point will need to make hay from 106-150, and could potentially take seven of the eight. At 106, Sharp may be too big for Conklin, who weighs around 90 pounds, though Conklin has a youth wrestling background and is a bonus for a team that was forfeiting that weight to start the season. Straight up, give Kittatinny the edge at 106, 150, 157, 165, 175 and 215 or 285 (with Lockburner). High Point is favored at 120, 126, 138, 144 and 215 or 285 (vs. Laoudis). That leaves 113 and 132 as tossups. This match is really a tale of two halves. High Point likely needs at least six of those eight from 106-150 (and that's assuming Woods is back in the fold) and win either 215 or 285 (wherever Lockburner does not step on the mat) and get a few bonus points along the way. If Kittatinny can win say three of those from 106-150, the Cougars should be in good shape as they figure to collect more bonus points up top. This one should be a dandy and past experience tells us that the home team has a slight edge in tight ones.
Prediction: High Point, 31-24.
Series history: High Point, which is at 784 wins as a program, owns a 32-14-1 edge dating to 1976, including a 39-23 road win in 2023. Kittatinny, sitting on 679 victories overall, has won just four of the past 10 meetings in this series, including a 36-30 victory at home on March 25, 2021, which snapped a two-match skid. The teams did not meet during the 2017-18 season for the first time -- and for just the second during the regular season -- in series history. The 'Cats came out on top with a 32-31 win in the 2015 North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals -- the first postseason match between the longtime rivals. Kittatinny snapped a seven-match skid in the series with a 35-18 win at home in 2013. Prior to that stretch, the Cougars won seven straight from 1999-2005. The lone tie was 27-27 in 1985.
Probable lineups (Kittatinny wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses):
106 -- So. Troy Sharp (9-8) vs. So. Brady Conklin (1-1).
113 -- Fr. Callum Trilling (9-8) vs. Fr. Carter Drouin (5-5).
120 -- Fr. Dylan Tighe (7-12) vs. Sr. Carson Citro (5-2).
126 -- So. Nikolas Martinez (6-12) vs. Jr. Colton Jaust (8-6).
132 -- So. Blake Giangrasso (9-9) vs. Jr. Sean Licata (4-4).
138 -- Sr. Jacob Savage (13-6) or Sr. Dylan Zupkay (1-2) vs. Jr. Nick Clayton (8-3).
144 -- Jr. Aran Korver (3-7) or Savage vs. Jr. Michael Tidona (8-4).
150 -- Jr. Aiden McClain (12-6) vs. Jr. Jesse Huelbig (7-6) or Sr. Ty Woods (0-0).
157 -- Sr. Reece Smith (18-2) vs. So. Jayden Ruplall (6-2) or Huelbig.
165 -- Jr. Ethan Dalling (16-1) vs. Jr. Nick Marangi (1-2).
175 -- Sr. Bryce Coesfeld (15-2) or Sr. Kaleb Ogar (15-4) vs. So. Jack Kithcart (5-6).
190 -- Ogar or Coesfeld vs. Sr. Dalton Yetter (3-1) or Jr. Donald Weiss (3-7).
215 -- Sr. Tucker Lockburner (14-1) or Sr. Alex Laoudis (7-8) vs. Sr. Mason Mericle (7-4).
285 -- Laoudis or Lockburner vs. So. Gavin Mericle (7-2).
Breakdown: This is the 48th and perhaps most significant meeting between these archrivals as it's the final one featuring Gill vs. Gardner, a High Point legend and former state champion who will take over the girls program full-time in 2024-25. This one should also decide this season's NJAC Freedom Division title. Hackettstown, Morris Hills and West Morris are common opponents and wins for both teams -- Kittatinny won (59-12, 33-25 and 40-30) and High Point prevailed (50-24, 44-9 and 53-19) in those matchups ... Kittatinny had a much tougher time with Morris Hills and West Morris, but it's all about the matchups. ... If you ask Gill, who lives in High Point country, he always expects the 'Cats to be at full strength and they usually are for this one. Woods has been sidelined by a foot injury he sustained during the football season, but he's on the mend and could make his season debut, though it's unclear where he may weigh-in. It seems as if High Point is getting its lineup together, much like it did last season in time to make a run and win its second Group 2 title in three seasons (team championships were not held in 2021 due to the pandemic). Kittatinny isn't as balanced as High Point, but the Cougars are strong from 157-285, and that makes
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| HP has scored at least 30 points in five straight vs. Kittatinny |
Prediction: High Point, 31-24.
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