We're only one day away from perhaps the first of what could be two installments of the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area's most fiercest rivalry.
North Hunterdon will aim to log another program milestone when it travels to Phillipsburg for a huge Skyland Conference matchup at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Lopatcong Township.
North, which holds the No. 11 spot in this week's New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 released on Tuesday morning, knocked off No. 17 P'burg twice last season -- 34-24 at the Lions Den in a regular-season clash and 37-27 in the Group 4 final at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.
Phillipsburg, which is coming off a tough 46-29 loss to No. 10 Howell at The Pit on Monday, still owns a 59-13-1 edge in the overall series dating to 1961. Coach Tim Longacre's 'Liners, who recently returned to action after skin issues, are trying to navigate an always challenging schedule as the lineup features several varsity-level newcomers (six wrestlers with fewer than 20 career bouts including three freshmen). Sophomore Mason Hawk (7-2 at 144) is one to keep an eye on, while senior Gavin Geleta (10-1 at 175), who sits at 84 career victories, should be plenty motivated after a Blood Round loss in Atlantic City last season.
Howell has been tough on HWS foes this season as coach John Gagliano's Rebels handed North a 35-29 loss in the Boresch Duals semifinals on Saturday at Newton High School.
Pope John is one of the biggest movers of the week -- jumping five spots to No. 12 and rounding out the HWS contingent in the statewide poll. The Lions (4-2) scored a 35-31win over No. 14 Don Bosco Prep and suffered losses to No. 5 Camden Catholic (52-20) and No. 7 Paramus Catholic (50-22) in its own quad on Saturday in Sparta. Pope John star senior Dalton Weber (14-3 at 132 pounds), a two-time state medalist who recently became the 14th member of his school's 100-wins club, looks to become just the 11th wrestler to win at least three HWS Tournament titles on Saturday at Phillipsburg.
Duals scene
The third Catholic School Duals this past weekend at Christian Brothers Academy confirmed what most scholastic wrestling fans already knew -- Delbarton is currently the state's best team, even though it wrestled without four starters in the final, including three past state medal winners.
CBA, which defeated then No. 2 St. Joseph-Montvale, 38-28, in the semifinal before it was defeated 41-26 by Delbarton in the final, moved up to No. 2.
St. Joseph-Montvale, which is the defending Non-Public A champion, wrestled without two starters, including JoJo Burke, last year's 106-pound state champion. The Green Knights were then defeated 44-25 by St. Peter's Prep in the semifinal.
What kind of lineups some of the Non-Public teams are able to put out during much of the regular season is going to be a continuing issue NJWWA voters are going to have to sort through.
St. Peter's Prep, which entered the tournament ranked No. 6, moves up to No. 3. The Marauders also defeated then No. 5 Bergen Catholic, 30-28, in the two-day tournament.
The Catholic School Duals also resulted in some changes at the bottom of the rankings as Immaculata, Seton Hall Prep and St. Augustine -- all ranked in the first poll of the season -- suffered defeats in the event that result in all three dropping out of the rankings.
The poll will be posted each Tuesday at 5 a.m. through the dual meet season.
Also receiving votes: Immaculata (4-3) 4; Delaware Valley (8-0) 2; St. Augustine Prep (3-2) 2; Seneca (4-0) 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).
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