Wrestling: Better 'believe' Group 4 should be wild

Safe to say that things got a whole lot more intriguing in regards to Group 4 and the fast approaching sectional tournaments slated to begin on Feb. 10.

That's largely due to North Hunterdon's stunning 34-24 win over Phillipsburg on Wednesday night in a Skyland Conference cross-divisional clash in Clinton Township. The other four public school battles for state titles don't figure to offer as much drama -- with Southern (Group 5), Delsea (Group 3), Rumson-Fair Haven (Group 2) and Delaware Valley (Group 1) rating as prohibitive favorites all season long.

P'burg has won an HWS-best 23 state titles

As it stands, Phillipsburg (11-3), which was ranked No. 11 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 statewide poll, has some serious work to do in order to have the chance for a rematch against North (10-6) in just over two weeks. Coach Tim Longacre's team, which yielded an average of 39.3 team points in its three losses this season, is housed in the North 1, Group 4 section, along with No. 12 Mount Olive (11-3) and reigning Group 4 champion Ridge (13-4).

 

"We benefitted by the [sectional] realignment," said North coach Dave Bell, whose team is looking like the No. 1 seed in North 2. "[P'burg is with] Mount Olive and Ridge. We have to get past [unbeaten and state-ranked] Middletown North and Watchung Hills. It's not going to be an easy go, either. They're not going to lay down for us. 

"If we get through [our section] and [P'burg gets] through, odds are we'll see them again."

Phillipsburg has won 41 sectional titles -- second only to Paulsboro's state-leading 43 -- and has made the finals in all 44 tournaments held to date (no team events were contested during the 2021 season due to the pandemic). The 'Liners will be the top seed in North 1, while Mount Olive (No. 2) and Ridge (No. 3) figure to meet in a rematch of last year's state title match in the sectional semis. 

P'burg scored a 32-30 win over Mount Olive on Dec. 21, though the Marauders, who have to feel great about their chances for the program's first win over the 'Liners, were without two starters that day. P'burg also logged a 36-23 victory against Ridge on Jan. 4.

Here are some thoughts and observances from North Hunterdon's big win on Wednesday: 

You gotta believe

North Hunterdon's rugged schedule seems to have the Lions peeking at the right time. They certainly looked like the more determined and inspired team against Phillipsburg, which only converted seven takedowns in 12 of the 14 bouts not involving senior stars Gavin Hawk (165) and Luke Geleta (144), who combined for 10 in their victories.

North can point to three key victories -- 157, 215 and 106 -- that made the upset possible. None were bigger than sophomore Andrew DeSimone's 12-7 stunner over Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex champion Kevin Buonocore in the evening's sixth bout at 215.  

North is seeking the program's 18th sectional title

"It's a belief in ourselves," DeSimone (7-12) said of the team's mindset heading into a rivalry that North has prevailed in just 12 of the 72 meetings (including one tie) dating to 1961. "Coach Bell always says we can wrestle with anybody. It wasn't a doubt [about whether we could beat] P'burg. We believe in ourselves that we can do it. We felt like we belong. It feels great."

North sophomore Kieran Raley's 7-2 victory over Phillipsburg state qualifier Owen Garriques in the second-to-last bout at 138 pounds was also a candidate for most surprising result, but Bell figured his wrestler was on the brink of producing what is likely Raley's biggest win to date.

"Kieran Raley was due for a big one," Bell said. "Kieran has wrestled the best kid on every team we've wrestled. I kept telling him, 'Your day is coming.' It showed tonight."

What is stalling?

Even the most ardent supporters and watchers of wrestling are as confused as the next by what seems to constitute stalling in today's sport. Case in point was near the end of regulation in the pivotal 106-pound bout as North sophomore Cayden Wadle received a tying stall point that set the stage for an 8-5 win in sudden-victory overtime against freshman Zack Swingle. 

What made it even more puzzling was that both warnings came in the final 10 seconds, the latter while Swingle was clearly defending a shot as his momentum carried him off the mat. In all, a staggering 17 stall calls were issued in the entire dual meet -- but 11 came in the first five bouts. Why? It's clear the officials were going out of their way to set an early tone as part of the recent edict handed down by the referees association for more stalling calls.

P'burg is 233-43-2 all-time vs. Hunterdon-Warren teams

"The only stall calls that I object to -- I understand now, I've gotten used to being driven out -- but some times when there's action on the side [the opponent] takes a shot and you have to defend yourself there's nothing to do but sprawl," Bell said. "It's not that you want to go out [of bounds]. It didn't hurt us, we managed to get past it. Sometimes it helped us."

How about we scrap the rotating officials for duals and let one serve merely as the mat judge. It's too inconsistent this way. Coaches and wrestlers at least need the opportunity to adjust to how one official is calling stalls. Furthermore, why can't high school refs call it like their college counterparts and issue warnings for intentionally going out of bounds or hanging on an ankle. That way you completely leave all of the subjective judgement decisions out of it.

Wrestling: Lights-out Lions roar in win over 'Liners

CLINTON TWP. -- North Hunterdon sophomore Cayden Wadle was all about continuing the family business of beating Phillipsburg. And business has been good for the Lions in recent seasons. 

As it turned out, Wadle's clutch decision in sudden-victory overtime at 106 pounds was the swing bout in North's impressive 34-24 victory over P'burg in the 72nd meeting between Skyland Conference rivals on Wednesday night in the Lions Den.

North is now 7-25 all-time at home vs. P'burg

Wadle rallied for an 8-5 win when he spun behind freshman Zack Swingle to secure a takedown 19 seconds into OT. Two stall calls on Swingle -- the second was highly questionable as it appeared his momentum carried him off the mat while defending a shot attempt -- in the final 10 seconds of the third period knotted the bout at 5.

"He was a tough opponent," Wadle said. "[Swingle] always came out on top every time we wrestled when we were younger. I didn't even notice he had the first [stall warning]. I was kind of confused. I thought [there was just one] stall call, and I looked up and had a point on the board. I knew I had to push and give it my all in overtime." 

North Hunterdon (10-6), which snapped a three-match skid against P'burg (11-3), has won four of the last seven matchups dating to 2020. That season, the Lions knocked off the Stateliners twice (30-24 in the regular season and 37-12 in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final) en route to the program's only unbeaten campaign. 

Wadle's older brother, Logan, was a freshman on that Group 4 title team and a sophomore when North won its third in a row the following season (32-23 at home) for the first time in series history. 

Logan Wadle (2nd from right) was 109-17 at North

"He said it meant a lot to him. Beating P'burg is huge," Cayden Wadle said of Logan, a two-time state finalist and champion for North (the program's 13th overall) at 106 pounds in 2023 and currently wrestling at Lehigh University. 

"This one is big to me because I've always been watching in the stands and wanting to wrestle under the lights. Actually doing it means a lot to me."

North also delivered for veteran coach Dave Bell, who picked up his first win over P'burg in his second season with the Lions. Bell's Bergen Catholic team never got the opportunity to wrestle the 'Liners even though the programs competed separately in the former Easton-Phillipsburg Duals at Lafayette College in the early 2000s.

"It was a good night for sure," said Bell, whose ledger now stands at 393-119-1 over 27 seasons. "Beating P'burg .. they're the most storied program in the state. I've always had a great deal of respect for them and followed them for years. To step on the mat it's always an honor and to win a match is huge. In victory and loss, we wrestled our butts off."

Phillipsburg, which has now lost three of its last five dual meets, entered the contest ranked No. 11 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers statewide Top 20 poll. The Stateliners suffered their first blow in the second bout of the night at 157 pounds, when North senior Vincenzo Darrow worked Benny Mendoza for an 8-0 major decision.

"Vincenzo did great," Bell said. "He's been out awhile and back. He looked awesome, really smooth, really good tonight."

North is now 12-59-1 all-time vs. P'burg 

Bell also cited wins by senior Evan Kinney (175) and junior Owen Dandeo (190). But sophomore Anthony DeSimone firmly set the wheels for an upset in motion with his 12-7 win over Kevin Buonocore, a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champion at 215 pounds despite weighing around 190. Two third-period takedowns by DeSimone were the difference.

"I'm feeling better now and getting on a streak of winning matches," said DeSimone, who's battled the flu and a sprained ankle this season. "I'm not surprised because I put in a lot of work in the offseason. [Buonocore] was a little lighter than most 215s. I trusted myself in what I could do. I knew I could beat him.

"Coach Bell always says we can wrestle with anybody. It wasn't a doubt [about whether we could beat] P'burg. We believe in ourselves that we can do it. We felt like we belong. It feels great." 

North erased a two-point deficit through nine bouts with senior Joseph Celentano's pin of Matthew Velez at 120 pounds. Celentano, who led 6-2 after two periods, signaled for an optional start to begin the third and pancaked Velez 10 seconds in to give the Lions a 23-19 lead that they didn't relinquish.

North also finished with a 24-17 edge in takedowns, but Phillipsburg managed just seven in the 12 bouts not wrestled by Gavin Hawk (165) and Luke Geleta (144), who combined for 10. Lions senior Joshua Joubert even got one against Hawk (23-1), his school's all-time wins leader (133) and a state runner-up last season, in a spirited 24-10 loss.

"Wow, that's a great statistic," said Bell, whose team will look to secure the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with a win over Ridge at home on Friday. "We've been working a lot on our hand fighting and we've emphasized defense the whole year in positions. We're getting there."

NORTH HUNTERDON 34, PHILLIPSBURG 24

150 -- Jr. Gavin Geleta (20-4), P, p. So. Dylan McGuinness (8-12), :53.

157 -- Sr. Vincenzo Darrow (8-8), NH, md. Sr. Benny Mendoza (7-6), 8-0.
165 -- Sr. Gavin Hawk (23-1), P, md. Sr. Joshua Joubert (16-11), 24-10.
175 -- Sr. Evan Kinney (22-2), NH, d. Sr. Derek Stone (17-7), 15-11.
190 -- Jr. Owen Dandeo (14-9), NH, md. Sr. Jesus Alfaro (12-15), 14-4.
215 -- So. Andrew DeSimone (7-12), NH, d. Jr. Kevin Buonocore (12-9), 12-7.
285 -- Jr. Ben Ellis (15-10), P, p. Fr. Dajinder Dhillon (4-5), :34.
106 -- So. Cayden Wadle (20-5), NH, d. Fr. Zack Swingle (18-6), 8-5 SV.
113 -- So. Anthony Pettinelli (21-6), P, d. Fr. Owen Fol (14-12), 8-1.
120 -- Sr. Joseph Celentano (13-12), NH, p. Fr. Matthew Velez (7-16), 4:10.
126 -- Jr. Reid Buzby (19-8), NH, d. Jr. Massimo Gonzalez (20-8), 4-0.
132 -- So. Aidan Yarussi (23-4), NH, tf. Fr. Mason Hawk (1-2), 19-4, 3:44.
138 -- So. Kieran Raley (13-15), NH, d. So. Owen Garriques (17-8), 7-2.
144 -- Sr. Luke Geleta (23-1), P, tf. So. Matthew Esposito (8-8), 17-2, 4:14.

Records -- Phillipsburg 11-3; North Hunterdon 10-6.
Officials -- Rick Solofsky and Dave Marotta.

Wrestling: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex standings

(Through Tuesday's matches)

Skyland Conference
Delaware Division
		Overall	Division
Phillipsburg		(11-2)	(3-0)
Watchung Hills		(13-3)	(2-1)
Hillsborough		(8-8)	(1-2)
Hunterdon Central		(2-12)	(0-1)
Bridgewater-Raritan		(10-7)	(0-2)
Raritan Division
		Overall	Division
North Hunterdon		(9-6)	(3-0)
Delaware Valley		(12-3)	(2-1)
Ridge		(12-4)	(2-1)
Immaculata		(8-6)	(1-3)
Warren Hills		(9-8)	(0-3)
Valley Division
		Overall	Division
Montgomery		(13-4)	(3-0)
Bernards		(8-5)	(3-1)
Somerville		(3-9)	(2-1)
Franklin		(4-7)	(1-3)
Voorhees		(1-14)	(0-4)
Mountain Division
		Overall	Division
x-Manville		(14-3)	(5-0)
Bound Brook		(5-8)	(4-1)
Pingry		(5-10)	(3-2)
Belvidere		(5-7)	(2-3)
South Hunterdon		(1-9)	(1-4)
Rutgers Prep		(1-10)	(0-5)
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Freedom Division
		Overall	Division
x-High Point		(13-5)	(4-0)
Kittatinny		(9-8)	(3-1)
Hackettstown		(11-5)	(1-3)
Hopatcong-LV		(6-7)	(1-3)
Jefferson		(3-15)	(1-3)
American Division
		Overall	Division
x-Delbarton		(20-2)	(5-0)
Mount Olive		(11-3)	(4-1)
West Morris		(10-5)	(3-2)
Pope John		(8-5)	(2-3)
Morris Hills		(7-11)	(1-4)
Sparta		(4-14)	(0-5)
Colonial Division
		Overall	Division
x-Newton		(7-10)	(4-0)
Dover		(10-4)	(3-1)
Wallkill Valley		(2-9)	(2-2)
Vernon		(1-18)	(1-3)
North Warren		(0-10)	(0-4)
x-division champion

 

Wrestling: Phillipsburg at North Hunterdon preview

What: Phillipsburg Stateliners at North Hunterdon Lions.

Where: Lions Den at North Hunterdon Regional High School, Clinton Township.

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Skyland cross-division.

Records: Phillipsburg 11-2; North Hunterdon 9-6.

State rankings: (NJWWA Top 20): Phillipsburg No. 11; North Hunterdon unranked.

Area rankings: (Open Mike): Phillipsburg No. 1; North Hunterdon No. 3.

Coaches: Tim Longacre (29-3, second season, 1-0 vs. NH); Dave Bell (16-19. second season, 0-1 vs. P'burg).

Series history: Phillipsburg owns a 59-11-1 edge dating to 1961, including a 7-4 mark in postseason meetings. Stateliners have won three in a row, including a 33-29 victory at home in the last meeting on Dec. 23, 2023. North had previously won three straight for the first time in series history with a 32-23 victory at home on March 23, 2021. The Lions, who logged consecutive wins on only one other occasion in 1961-62, snapped their 17-match skid in the series with a 30-24 win on the road in 2020 and added 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 only unbeaten season. North's 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 -- Fr. Zack Swingle (18-5) vs. So. Cayden Wadle (19-5).

113 -- So. Anthony Pettinelli (20-6) vs. Fr. Owen Fol (14-11).

120 -- Fr. Matthew Velez (7-15) vs. Sr. Joseph Celentano (12-12).

126 -- Jr. Massimo Gonzalez (20-7) vs. Jr. Reid Buzby (18-8).

132 -- So. Owen Garriques (17-7) or Fr. Mason Hawk (1-1) vs. So. Aidan Yarussi (22-4).

138 -- Sr. Anthony Ashford (6-10) vs. So. Kieran Raley (12-15).

144 -- Sr. Luke Geleta (22-1) vs. So. Matthew Esposito (8-7) or Sr. Chase Perry (3-15). 

150 -- Jr. Gavin Geleta (19-4) vs. So. Dylan McGuinness (8-11) or Sr. Vincenzo Darrow (7-8).

157 -- Sr. Gavin Hawk (22-1) or Sr. Benny Mendoza (7-5) vs. Sr. Carson Young (4-8) or McGuinness or Darrow.

165 -- Mendoza or Hawk vs. Sr. Joshua Joubert (16-10).

175 -- Sr. Derek Stone (17-6) vs. Sr. Evan Kinney (21-2).

190 -- Sr. Jesus Alfaro (12-14) or Jr. Kevin Buonocore (12-8) or Sr. D'Angelo Hernandez (0-5) vs. Jr. Owen Dandeo (13-9).

215 -- Buonocore or Alfaro vs. So. Anthony DeSimone (6-12) or Fr. Dajinder Dillon (4-4).

285 -- Jr. Ben Ellis (14-10) vs. Dillon or DeSimone.

Breakdown: The 72nd meeting is one of the most anticipated duals in our area -- which has been a bit starved in recent seasons for good ones -- and features sectional frontrunners in Group 4. North, which looks like the favorite in North 2, has been plenty battle tested this season with matchups against four state-ranked teams -- Southern (55-18 loss on Dec. 18), Delsea (65-11 loss on Jan. 4), Delaware Valley (34-33 win on Jan. 8) and Rumson-Fair Haven (52-21 on Jan. 17) -- as well as a 62-12 setback against nationally-ranked Blair Academy on Saturday. ... P'burg is coming off a 47-15 shellacking of Warren Hills, which dropped a 37-23 decision to North on Jan. 3, after losing two of its previous three, including a 44-25 defeat at home to Rumson-Fair Haven on Jan. 20. Gavin Hawk became the school's all-time wins leader at 132-20 overall last time out. ... P'burg, which has had some lackluster performances in big matches, features a bit more

P'burg is 233-42-2 all-time vs. Hunterdon-Warren teams

balance than North, but the hosts ability to match up down low and some spots up top presents a problem for the visitors. But can the Lions capitalize where the 'Liners are most vulnerable? Straight up, P'burg has the edge at 113 (Pettinelli p. Fol in HWS Tournament), 144, 150, 157, 165 (Hawk vs. Joubert), 215 (with Buonocore who's been sidelined by illness) and 285. That's seven weights, if we call 106 and 175 tossups. Also look for the 'Liners to bump Garriques away from Yarussi, who scored a 13-2 win in their HWS semis matchup, to try for a split at 132 and 138 (Raley d. Ashford 9-5 in HWS) to likely save three team points and secure eight weights. North gets the edge at 120, 126 (Buzby md. Gonzalez, 9-0, in HWS semis) 132, 138 (vs. Ashford) and 190. That's only four. I'm sure the 'Liners feel pretty good about their chances of winning those three tossups and logging more bonus points in those where they rate as solid favorites. The Lions almost assuredly need all of the tossups, though you'd expect them to feel good as well about sweeping all three. My hunch is that P'burg, which has the potential to bust this wide open, gets at least two and perhaps another where North is favored. But even so, bonus points will be too much to overcome as the 'Liners could very well pull that off in six or seven weights.

Prediction: Phillipsburg, 38-22.

Wrestling: HWS clubs stay course in NJWWA Top 20

Phillipsburg ace Gavin Hawk has come a long way since a loss in his high school debut. In 151 bouts since a 13-2 setback in the opening round of the rugged King of the Mountain Tournament to start the 2021-22 season, Hawk has amassed 132 victories with 84 pins -- both program records.

Hawk (22-1), a returning state runner-up, made history in Phillipsburg's 47-15 waxing of Warren Hills on Monday night with a 38-second pin off a bar to surpass former Stateliners star Brian Meyer (131-35 from 2014-18) for first place on the storied program's all-time wins list.

"I'm so thrilled for Gavin," said sophomore Anthony Pettinelli, who scored a huge win of his own in a 5-4 upset of Warren Hills state qualifier Augie Szamreta with a third-period takedown at 113 pounds to avenge losses (a 9-1 major decision and a 16-1 technical fall) in their two previous meetings dating to last season. 

Phillipsburg (11-2), which is sitting on 1,058 wins as a program heading into Wednesday night's showdown at North Hunterdon, holds steady at No. 11 in the latest New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, released on Tuesday morning.

Delaware Valley (11-3) checks in at No. 17 for the second straight week as the other Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area representative in a topsy-turvy statewide poll that saw a major shakeup in the bottom half this week. The Terriers will be heavy favorites next month to win a Group 1 state title after a 33-25 loss to Paulsboro in last season's championship match at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.

Pope John (8-5), which owns a notable 42-36 win over Paramus Catholic on Jan. 4, but also suffered a 42-26 loss to unranked West Morris on Dec. 18, and North Hunterdon (9-6) also received votes this week.

Hawk's milestone victory -- recognized at the conclusion of the match -- was one of 10 for P'burg in a dominating effort against Warren Hills (9-8), which fell into a 24-0 hole and did not surrender a takedown until the sixth bout. Meyer was on hand to congratulate Hawk, a Princeton recruit who will be a tough out at 157 pounds this postseason, helped the Stateliner 12th graders go 5-2 on Senior Night.

Hawk and Luke Geleta have combined for 256 wins

"I wrestled with him [on the youth level] at Pohatcong ever since first, second grade," Pettinelli said. "I've known the Hawks for such a long time. We've got such a strong bond and he's helped me my whole high school career. Couldn't be more proud. He works hard and is a team player. Congrats to him."

It's not often that a wrestler turns the tables on an opponent after losing by technical fall just 16 days earlier. What was the difference for Pettinelli (20-6) in a third meeting with Szamreta, who logged two takedowns and seven back points en route to his first HWS title in the 'Liners home gym on Jan. 11? 

"I went out a little scared and didn't wrestle my match," said Pettinelli, who also shocked the house by decking Pope John state medalist Jake Holly with a cradle in the county tournament semifinals. "After the HWS [final], I was reading how [Szamreta] was saying, 'he wrestled at his pace.' I had to switch that up and make him wrestle at mine, and just make my pace and my shots. This was one of matches I had circled. Senior Night, I'll be out here in two years. You want to get all the wins you can at home.

"That was a big pin for me [against Holly who was eighth in the state at 106 in 2024] and showed that I can wrestle with anybody in the state. It was just extra confidence for me and that really helps a lot."  

North-ern lights

Delaware Valley won't get the chance to avenge a 34-33 loss to North Hunterdon at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym on Jan. 8 -- a match the Terriers probably should have won -- but coach Andy Fitz's lineup has been bolstered in recent days with junior Tristan Fawthrop (10-9) dropping to 106 and junior Julian Bednar (12-4) nailing down the starting spot at 120 pounds.

North's last win over P'burg was 32-23 at home in 2021

Phillipsburg, which owns a 59-11-1 edge against North in a series dating to 1961, has won three in a row since a three-match skid against the Lions from 2020-21, including a 37-12 loss in the 2020 North 2, Group 4 sectional final.

On paper, the 'Liners are solid favorites at seven weights and figure to produce more bonus-point wins. North, which features HWS runner-up Cayden Wadle (19-4 at 106) and state qualifiers Reid Buzby (18-7 at 126) and Aidan Yarussi (22-3 at 132) down low, was ranked in the NJWWA Top 20 earlier this season but was knocked out following a criteria loss to Ocean Township on Jan. 18.

Rumson-Fair Haven (14-1) moved up to No. 6 and claimed the role of top public school following wins over Brick Memorial (32-28 on Jan. 15), then-No. 17 ranked North Hunterdon (52-21 on Jan. 17), P'burg (44-25 on Jan. 20) and St. John Vianney (34-29 on Wednesday) in the Bulldogs' last four matches.

Here's how the rest of this week's poll shapes up:   

Rank	School	Record	Votes	Previous
1	Delbarton (8)	(20-2)	160	1
2	St. Peter's Prep	(10-1)	147	2
3	Christian Brothers Academy	(7-3)	143	3
4	St. Joseph-Montvale	(9-3)	139	5
5	Bergen Catholic	(7-2)	124	6
6	Rumson-Fair Haven	(14-1)	122	10
7	St. John Vianney	(10-4)	113	4
8	Camden Catholic	(11-0)	106	7
9	Delsea	(14-1)	93	9
10	Southern	(10-2)	91	8
11	Phillipsburg	(11-2)	79	11
12	Mount Olive	(11-3)	71	12
13	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(9-2)	63	14
14	Middletown North	(13-0)	52	15
15	Brick Memorial	(10-2)	43	18
16	Cranford	(14-3)	36	20
17	Delaware Valley	(11-3)	27	17
18	Paramus Catholic	(4-7)	19	16
19	Don Bosco Prep	(10-4)	17	13
20	Caldwell	(13-1)	12	19

Also receiving votes: Pope John (8-5) 11; St. Augustine (11-6) 9; North Hunterdon (9-6) 1. 

Voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (shoreconferencewrestling.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com), Brad Wilson (lehighvalleylive.com/The Express-Times).