Wrestling: 'Liners turn it on, claim 42nd sectional title

LOPATCONG TWP. -- The timing couldn't be better for sophomore Owen Garriques and his Phillipsburg wrestling teammates to kick into another gear. 

Garriques, admittedly a slow starter early in the season, certainly sparked his team with an electrifying win in the opening bout that set a tone for the Stateliners' impressive 31-29 victory in the North 1, Group 4 sectional final on Wednesday night at Phillipsburg High School. 

P'burg is now 42-3 all-time in sectional finals

P'burg (16-3) did exactly what it needed to in order to claim the program's fourth straight sectional championship and 42nd overall -- second only to Paulsboro (43) in the 45-year history of the postseason team tournaments -- by winning enough of the close ones, including Garriques' 5-0 win at 132 pounds, and saving crucial team points in losses. 

"I've been waiting for an effort like this," said second-year coach Tim Longacre, who's seemingly righted the ship after a brutal stretch of three losses in nine days, including a 34-24 setback at North Hunterdon on Jan. 29. "This is where we got it. This is what I've been preaching to them for months and we finally saw it come together. Super proud."

Phillipsburg will host Central Jersey champion Long Branch, while Toms River East or Toms River North travels to North Hunterdon in the Group 4 semifinals on Friday. The winners then advance to Sunday's state championship match at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena. 

Garriques (22-8), a returning state qualifier, immediately turned the tables with a 5-0 win over Matteo Eagleson, who scored a 6-0 win when they met in Phillipsburg's 32-30 win over Mount Olive as part of the Suzy Duals here on Dec. 21. The Stateliner scored a huge reversal in the second period and a key third-period takedown to cement this one.

"We're further in the season. I usually take lumps earlier in the season," Garriques said of what was the difference in the rematch after surrendering two takedowns to Eagleson in the previous matchup. "I'm starting to break through now. It just showed what two months can do.

P'burg's 23 state titles rank behind only Paulsboro (34)

"Every day in the [practice] room, we're scrapping super hard. I have full faith in my coaches and my training. I'm just confident every match."

Mount Olive (15-4), which was seeking its fifth straight sectional title and sixth overall after a Group 4 state runner-up finish last season, never seemed to fully recover from that opening-bout loss and lacked Phillipsburg's tenacity and sense of urgency. 

The Marauders fell into a 19-6 hole through five bouts and could not maximize on bonus opportunities at 165 (major vs. a pin last time), 190 (technical fall), 215 (decision vs. a major last time) and 285 (technical fall). P'burg freshman Zack Swingle also added a 1-0 decision at 106 in another bout the 'Liners really needed to have and forced Anthony Piemonte to pin in the final bout at 126 in order for Mount Olive to win (P'burg had criteria, 2-1 in pins).

"We didn't capitalize where we needed to," said Smyth, now 0-4 all-time against P'burg, including a 48-2 loss in the 2003 North 2, Group 3 sectional final at The Pit. "They did and we didn't. That was the difference in the match."

Luke Geleta (130) ranks 3rd on P'burg's wins list

Phillipsburg senior Derek Stone also got the crowd going with a takedown at the buzzer to secure a 12-3 major over Scott Coppolo, who dropped a 10-6 decision in their previous meeting at 175. It also gave P'burg a 23-10 lead at the turn, where Mount Olive held a 15-11 advantage at that point in December's matchup. 

"When he picked me up, I went for a chin whip and when I went to go, he turned me a weird way and I landed right on my neck," Stone said of being slowed for a bit in the rematch. "After I got that injury time, my neck was really hurting. I looked over and saw all my coaches staring at me. I knew I really had to push for it to get that last takedown."

Phillipsburg will take some time to celebrate this one, but the focus remains on capturing the program's 24th state championship and first since 2022.

"I'm happy, but, I'm going to be real happy once we win that state title," Stone said. "We always strive for the best here."

PHILLIPSBURG 31, MOUNT OLIVE 29

132 -- So. Owen Garriques (22-8), P, d. Sr. Matteo Eagleson (22-11), 5-0.

138 -- Sr. Brandon Beres (22-8), MO, p. Sr. Anthony Ashford (8-12), 5:02.

144 -- Sr. Luke Geleta (28-1), P, p. So. Colin Smyth (12-9), 3:39.

150 -- Jr. Gavin Geleta (24-5), P, md. So. Justin Bullock (22-9), 9-1.

157 -- Sr. Gavin Hawk (28-1), P, p. So. Noah Cantillo (0-6), :57.

165 -- Sr. Tanner Perez (21-11), MO, md. Sr. Benny Mendoza (10-7), 11-2.

175 -- Sr. Derek Stone (20-8), P, md. So. Scott Coppolo (17-13), 12-3.

190 -- Sr. Tyler Cumming (25-7), MO, tf. Jr. Kevin Buonocore (16-10), 16-1, 4:37.

215 -- So. Jared Martini (19-7), MO, d. Sr. Jesus Alfaro (15-16), 8-2.

285 -- Jr. Nicolas Gonzalez (27-3), MO, tf. Jr. Ben Ellis (18-12), 20-4, 5:15.

106 -- Fr. Zack Swingle (23-6), P, d. Fr. Kristian Beres (20-7), 1-0.

113 -- So. Anthony Pettinelli (26-6), P, tf. Jr. Jack Bacigalupo (11-17), 19-2, 4:29.

120 -- So. Shane Kostakos (14-14), MO, d. Fr. Matthew Velez (11-17), 6-0.

126 -- Jr. Anthony Piemonte (27-3), MO, d. Jr. Massimo Gonzalez (24-9), 8-4.
Note: Luke Geleta became the third P'burg wrestler to amass 130-plus career wins. 

Records -- Mount Olive 15-4; Phillipsburg 16-3.

Officials -- Frank Leitner and Anthony Zullo.