Wrestling: NJSIAA sectional semifinals matchups

Pairings for the sectional semifinals scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m., though some matches are being moved up to 5:30 due to the impending forecast for snow. The championship round is slated for Friday at the gym of the highest remaining seed.

All sectional winners advance to the Group championships on Sunday at Toms River North High School.

North 1

Group 4

4-Hackensack at 1-North Bergen
3-Clifton at 2-Morris Knolls

Group 3

5-Mount Olive at 1-Paramus
3-Northern Highlands at 2-Wayne Valley

Group 2

4-Jefferson at 1-High Point
3-Parsippany at 2-River Dell

Group 1

4-Lenape Valley at 1-Kittatinny
3-Emerson-Park Ridge at 2-Pequannock 

North 2

Group 4

4-Watchung Hills at 1-Phillipsburg, 5:30 p.m.
3-Hunterdon Central at 2-North Hunterdon, 5:30 p.m.

Group 3

5-Scotch Plains at 1-Roxbury
6-Mendham at 2-Warren Hills, 5:30 p.m.

Group 2

4-Cranford at 1-Hanover Park
3-Voorhees at 2-South Plainfield

Group 1

5-Cedar Grove at 1-Roselle Park
3-Caldwell at 2-Whippany Park

Central Jersey

Group 4

4-Monroe at 1-Howell
3-Jackson Memorial at 2-Brick Memorial

Group 3

5-Middletown North at 1-Ocean Township
3-Brick Township at 2-Hopewell Valley

Group 2

4-Wall at 1-Raritan
3-Long Branch at 2-Delaware Valley

Group 1

5-Manville at 1-Bound Brook
3-Burlington City at 2-Point Pleasant Beach

South Jersey

Group 4

4-Millville at 1-Southern
6-Toms River North at 2-Cherry Hill West

Group 3

4-Pennsauken at 1-Clearview
3-Toms River South at 2-Kingsway

Group 2

4-Woodstown at 1-Delsea
3-Highland at 2-West Deptford

Group 1

4-Buena at 1-Paulsboro
3-Haddonfield at 2-Collingswood

North Jersey Parochial A

4-Delbarton at 1-Bergen Catholic
3-St. Peter's Prep at 2-Don Bosco Prep

North Jersey Parochial B

4-Morris Catholic at 1-DePaul
3-Pingry at 2-Newark Academy

South Jersey Parochial A

5-Red Bank Catholic at 1-St. Augustine
3-St. John Vianney at 2-Christian Brothers Academy

South Jersey Parochial B

5-St. Joseph-Hammonton at 1-Camden Catholic
6-Bishop Eustace at 2-Holy Cross

Wrestling: New Jersey Writers Association Top 20

Rank	School	Record	Votes	Previous
1	Bergen Catholic	(21-4)	340	1
2	Bound Brook	(15-6)	313	2
3	Phillipsburg	(14-0)	308	3
4	St. Peter's Prep	(19-6)	288	4
5	Don Bosco Prep	(19-3)	280	5
6	Delbarton	(13-3)	255	6
7	Southern	(17-0)	238	7
8	Hanover Park	(16-3)	212	8
9	Howell	(26-3)	203	9
10	Brick Memorial	(14-2)	184	10
11	Paulsboro	(18-1)	177	11
12	Jackson Memorial	(16-3)	157	12
13	High Point	(13-4)	139	13
14	Kittatinny	(15-2)	118	14
15	Long Branch	(21-3)	92	15
16	Raritan	(29-3)	77	16
17	South Plainfield	(20-5)	61	17
18	St. Augustine Prep	(19-2)	52	18
19	North Hunterdon	(17-2)	31	18
20	Clearview	(20-1)	15	NR

Others receiving votes: Roselle Park 10; DePaul 7; Roxbury 7; Paramus 3; Delaware Valley 2; Morris Knolls 1.

NJWWA voting members (in alphabetical order): Donald J. Brower (MorrisCountyHSWrestling.com); Patrick Buganski (The Mat Pack); Bill Evans (South Jersey Times); Frank D'Esposito (TheShoreConference.com); Steve Falk (Asbury Park Press of Neptune and Hitting the Mats); Brian Fortner (Express-Times); Harry Frezza (Courier News of Bridgewater); Joe Hofmann (Daily Record of Parsippany); Screwy Louie Lazzari (New Jersey Wrestling Historian); John Lewis (Burlington County Times); Ron Mazzola (On the Mat); Tom McGurk (Courier Post of Cherry Hill); John O'Kane (The Press of Atlantic City); Anthony Spaulding (New Jersey Herald); Greg Tufaro (Home News Tribune of East Brunswick); Mike Weilamann (Open Mike/Mugs Media); Joe Zedalis (Trenton Times).

Wrestling: Sectional and Group championship picks

The NJSIAA sectional wrestling tournaments begin on Monday with first-round matchups at 7 p.m. Winners advance to Wednesday's semifinals and the sectional championships will be contested on Friday.

All sectional winners advance to the Group championships on Sunday at Toms River North High School.

In the Open Mike area, Phillipsburg (North 2, Group 4), High Point (North 1, Group 2) and Kittatinny (North 1, Group 1) are all No. 1 seeds and favorites to win sectional championships.

"The main reason [I came out to wrestle as a freshman] was to win a state team championship," said senior 195-pounder Garrett Armstrong, who has helped Kittatinny win three straight sectional titles. "I could care less about the individual stuff. This is the one sport [at Kittatinny] where we could get that close as a team. Hopefully, we can get back down [to Toms River] again."

Phillipsburg (14-0) is itching to avenge last year's loss in the sectional final -- just the program's second in a title match in a possible 34 finals appearances -- while attempting to claim its second Group 4 title in three years. The Stateliners are also trying to become only the fourth team in school history to finish unbeaten and first to do so since the 1969-70 squad went 13-0 in coach Thad Turner's final season. P'burg went a combined 39-0-1 in the final three of Turner's nine seasons in charge, and he left to take the Lehigh University job with the program riding a 51-match unbeaten streak.

"To finish out undefeated is huge, but the kids could care less -- their only goal is to have that [championship] parade down South Main Street [in P'burg]," said fourth-year 'Liners coach Dave Post.

Here's an analysis and predictions for all sections and Groups:

Group 4

North 1 -- North Bergen.

North 2 -- Phillipsburg.

Central -- Brick Memorial.

South -- Southern.

Notes -- Group 4 has produced some of the best matches in tournament history in recent years. Should be one great semifinal showdown with Shore Conference rivals Brick and Southern battling it out on one mat, while Phillipsburg should cruise against the North 1 champion on the adjacent mat. Advantage Stateliners as their opponents will be involved in a grinder. Don't count out Howell, which beat Brick Memorial, 28-27, to win the Shore Conference Tournament, in that loaded Central Jersey section, which also contains Jackson Memorial. A lot went right for the Rebels last time -- winning seven bouts decided by two points or fewer -- so look for the Mustangs to make a return trip here. Coach Dave Post's P'burg team rolled to a 33-15 win over Howell at The Pit on Jan. 25. 'Liners are 32-2 overall in the sectionals, losing in the 1990 North 2, Group 3 final (34-31 to Warren Hills) and the 2013 North 2, Group 4 final (30-29 to Hunterdon Central). P'burg claimed the Group 4 title -- its 17th overall including nine in Group 3 -- in 2012. Brick, which has won three of the last six G4 championships, defeated Southern, 34-27, in last year's G4 final and 34-22 in the 2012 semifinals.

Group 3

North 1 -- Paramus.

North 2 -- Warren Hills.

Central -- Brick Township.

South -- Clearview.

Notes -- Clearview is the easiest sectional pick. Paramus appears to be coming on of late as evidenced by a recent 34-31 win over Delaware Valley. Coach Steve Klass' Spartans also gave Hanover Park all it wanted in a 30-29 loss on Friday. Roxbury is looking to avenge a 31-30 loss at Warren Hills in last year's North 2 semifinals, a match the Gaels lost with the deduction of a team point. Blue Streaks, who dropped a 42-30 decision to Clearview at home on Dec. 21, are seeking their sixth sectional title and first since 2007. This season's clash between the Streaks and Gaels will likely come down to bonus points. Paramus also beat Warren Hills, 40-25, on Jan. 25. Central Jersey is a tossup between Brick Township and Hopewell Valley, which should meet in the semifinals. Either team will be favored against top-seeded Ocean Township, which is missing several starters, including state placewinner Zack Hertling (knee injury). A Paramus-Clearview final would be a dogfight, Spartans favored down low and up top, but the Pioneers could pile up the bonus points through the middle.

Group 2

North 1 -- High Point.

North 2 -- Hanover Park.

Central -- Long Branch.

South -- Delsea.

Notes -- Of the four public Groups, this one is probably the most wide open. High Point, the 2013 Group 2 champion, and Delsea are the class of those respective sections. Wildcats have won a Sussex County record 23 sectional titles (three in this section in 1984, 2012 and '13). Hanover Park-South Plainfield should be a classic matchup in the North 2 title match, while Raritan, Delaware Valley and Long Branch are all capable of winning the Central Jersey title. High Point beat Long Branch twice last season, 36-25, on Jan. 5, 2013, and 33-30 in the G2 final, while knocking off Delsea, 37-28, in a very entertaining G2 semifinal. The Green Wave, which lost eight starters from the 2012-13 squad, was bolstered this season by the addition of freshman 138-pounder Austin Cannon, who transferred in from Christian Brothers Academy in mid-January. Amazing how the Shore teams seem to catch transfers. Last season, it was the Pappayliou brothers, Nick and Chris, who arrived at Long Branch via Ocean Township. Wildcats need to be at full strength, but the good news is that sophomore 126-pounder Jared Kobis (hand injury) has been cleared to wrestle. You may also see some movement in the 'Cats' lineup.

Group 1

North 1 -- Kittatinny.

North 2 -- Roselle Park.

Central -- Bound Brook.

South -- Paulsboro.

Notes -- There's really no suspense here as Bound Brook is the prohibitive favorite to three-peat as Group 1 champion. Kittatinny, which has won eight group championships, will roll to its 19th sectional title and earn a semifinal matchup with the Crusaders, who beat the Cougars, 49-9, in a dual last season. Coach John Gill's teams have been ousted in the G1 semifinals the last two years -- 34-32 to Bound Brook in 2012 and 31-30 to Hanover Park in '13 -- and have not won a Group championship since 2008. "If I am going to lose, I'd like it to be in the finals," Gill said late last month after recording his 500th win. Paulsboro-Roselle Park will be a very interesting matchup on the other mat, but it's a battle to see which team finishes second. Red Raiders have won 29 Group 1 titles, the last in 2011.

Non-Public A

North -- Bergen Catholic.

South -- St. Augustine.

Overall winner -- Bergen Catholic, which is going for three in a row and 10 of 13 in the North A section, cements its No. 1 ranking by the New Jersey Wrestling Writers by besting a loaded field that includes state powers Delbarton, Don Bosco Prep and St. Peter's Prep, en route to a third straight Group championship. St. Augustine claims its first sectional title since 2004.

Non-Public B

North -- DePaul.

South -- Camden Catholic.

Overall winner -- DePaul makes it five straight sectional titles -- six overall -- and snaps a four-match skid against the Irish in the title match to end one of the greatest runs in Group finals history. Bouncing between A and B, Camden Catholic has won 20 straight sectional titles dating to 1994, along with 10 straight Group championships.

Wrestling: Hunt-Warren-Sussex schedule (Feb. 10-16)

Monday, Feb. 10

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA sectional preliminaries

North 1, Group 1

Cresskill at Lenape Valley

North 2, Group 4

Bridgewater at Hunterdon Central, 6 p.m.

North 2, Group 2

Brearley at Voorhees

North 2, Group 1

Cedar Grove at Belvidere

Central, Group 2

Delran at Delaware Valley


Tuesday, Feb. 11

(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)

Independent

Newton at Nutley, 7 p.m.
North Warren at Hasbrouck Heights

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Pope John at Hopatcong

Wednesday, Feb. 12

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA sectional semifinals

North 1, Group 2

Jefferson at High Point

North 1, Group 1

Lenape Valley at Kittatinny

North 2, Group 4

Watchung Hills at Phillipsburg, 5:30 p.m.
Hunterdon Central at North Hunterdon, 5:30 p.m.

North 2, Group 3

Mendham at Warren Hills, 5:30 p.m.

North 2, Group 2

Voorhees at South Plainfield

Central, Group 2

Long Branch at Delaware Valley, 5:30 p.m.

Independent

Boonton at Wallkill Valley, 6:15 p.m.
Hackettstown at Lakeland, 5:30 p.m.
North Warren at St. Mary's-Rutherford, 6 p.m.
Hopatcong at Pompton Lakes, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 13

Independent

Hackettstown at Newark Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 14

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA sectional finals

TBD

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Wallkill Valley at Vernon, 5 p.m.

Independent

Bridgewater at Voorhees


Saturday, Feb. 15

(All matches 9 a.m., unless noted)

Independent

Pope John, Governor Livingston at Mountain Lakes

Wallkill Valley at Wayne Hills, noon

Newton, Boonton, Brearley at North Warren
Rancocas Valley, North Plainfield at Hackettstown, 9:30 a.m.

Skyland Conference

Hunterdon Central at Delaware Valley (tentative, 12:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Feb. 16

NJSIAA Group championships

(At Toms River North)

Groups 1 and 4 semifinals, 10 a.m.
Groups 2 and 3 semifinals, noon
Groups 1, 4 and Parochial B finals, 3:30 p.m.
Groups 2, 3 and Parochial A finals, 6 p.m. 

Wrestling: Blue Streaks grand in finale against Central

There was more than one added bonus for Warren Hills' wrestling team in a 34-33 win over longtime rival Hunterdon Central on Friday night in a Skyland Conference clash at the Field House in Raritan Township.

For starters, the Blue Streaks (10-10) snapped a five-match skid in the series with the win on criteria -- most pins (3-2) -- as Austin Pidoto (126), Ryan Witner (220) and Andrew Pacheco came through with falls to help Warren Hills knock off Central (14-5), which owns a  40-13-1 edge in the series, for the first time since a 36-25 triumph on Dec. 20, 2006.

Warren Hills, which lost two two starters early on with season-ending injuries, also finished the regular season on a positive note. Coach Jarrett Hosbach's squad was coming off a 65-9 loss to Phillipsburg on Tuesday -- in which the Streaks gave up an astounding total of nine pins.

"This gives us a little momentum going into next week," said Hosbach, whose team is the No. 2 seed in the North 2, Group 3 section and is seeking the program's first title since 2007. "Next week starts a whole new season. We've been talking all season about how our schedule is getting us ready for the postseason."

Bonus points -- getting and not giving them up -- and the coin toss were all keys to beating Central, according to Hosbach. Things didn't go Warren Hills' way to start, as Central's Kyler Rodriguez scored a 13-8 decision over freshman Zach Nauta, who rated as the favorite in that one. Pidoto's pin gave the Streaks an early lead and Max Nauta added a technical fall win at 138.

Central had to send out at 145 and Hosbach opted to use Esco Blaylock there and move Anthony Roessner up to 152, hoping to force Central to keep two-time state runner-up Gary Dinmore at 152 and away from Ryan Ostir at 160. Roessner held on for a 4-3 win over reserve Christian Long and the Streaks sent out sophomore Shane Deemer to face Dinmore at 160. Deemer helped out by keeping the loss to a major, while Ostir lost by technical fall to Joe Scerbo at 170.

Senior Steve Cleaver earned a big 9-6 win over Central's Nestor Crespo at 182 -- getting a takedown and three backs off a cradle in the final 30 seconds -- before the pins by Witner and Pacheco at 220 and 285. Down 33-29 with one bout left, Streaks freshman Matt Valli knotted things with a 16-3 major at 113, but did exactly what he was told to do.

"We knew we only needed a major," said Hosbach, now 3-5 overall vs. Central in nine seasons. "He came close to getting a technical fall. We had a lot of sophomores going against seniors with a lot better records. We fought for points, something we've been stressing in the [practice] room. We didn't give up bonus points to [Central's] studs."

Warren Hills is idle until Wednesday when it hosts the winner of Monday's first-round match between No. 6 Mendham and No. 3 Morristown in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals. The Streaks knocked off Scotch Plains, 33-29, for their fifth and last sectional championship on Feb. 8, 2007.

Hunterdon Central, the No. 3 seed, hosts No. 6 Bridgewater on Monday in the opening round of the North 2, Group 4 sectionals. A victory would earn a rematch with No. 2 seed North Hunterdon, which beat the Red Devils, 28-27, on Jan. 7.

WARREN HILLS 34, HUNTERDON CENTRAL 33*
120 -- Jr. Kyler Rodriguez (14-10), HC, d. Fr. Zach Nauta (16-7), 13-8.
126 -- Jr. Austin Pidoto (16-12), WH, p. Jr. Hunter Orr (7-16), 1:03.
132 -- Sr. Dylan Nace (27-1), HC, md. So. Carsen Johnson (2-9), 11-0.
138 -- Jr. Max Nauta (22-5), WH, tf. Jr. Nick Taylor (14-12), 15-0.
145 -- Sr. Collin Boylan (25-2), HC, p. Sr. Esco Blaylock (6-17), 5:26.
152 -- So. Anthony Roessner (12-15), WH, d. So. Christian Long (2-4), 4-3.
160 -- Sr. Gary Dinmore (26-0), HC, md. So. Shane Deemer (9-13), 14-1.
170 -- Jr. Joe Scerbo (21-7), HC, tf. Sr. Ryan Ostir (13-11), 19-2.
182 -- Sr. Steve Cleaver (17-6), WH, d. Jr. Nestor Crespo (17-9), 9-6.
195 -- Jr. Nick Suk (17-9), HC, p. Sr. Nigel Taylor (6-12), 3:18.
220 -- Sr. Ryan Witner (18-8), WH, p. Sr. Arturo Hernandez (7-8), 1:00.
285 -- Jr. Andrew Pacheco (25-2), WH, p. Sr. Dan Hausman (17-11), :55.
106 -- Fr. Peter Nace (22-5), HC, tf. Fr. Ryan Mosher (5-20), 15-0 .
113 -- Fr. Matt Valli (20-7), WH, md. Fr. Chris Taylor (4-13), 16-3.
Records -- Warren Hills 10-10; Hunterdon Central 14-5.
Note -- Warren Hills wins on criteria No. 3 (most falls, 3-2).

Wrestling: Warren Hills at Hunterdon Central preview

What: Warren Hills Blue Streaks vs. Hunterdon Central Red Devils.

Where: Hunterdon Central Field House, Raritan Township.

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Conference: Skyland crossover.

Records: Warren Hills 9-10; Hunterdon Central 14-4.

Coaches: Jarrett Hosbach (117-92, ninth season, 2-5 vs. HC); Steve Gibble (343-117, 23rd season, 16-5 vs. WH).

Series history: Hunterdon Central leads, 40-12-1, dating to 1960, and has won five straight against Warren Hills, including a 35-24 victory in the last meeting on Feb. 1, 2013, in Washington. The scheduled match in 2011 was snowed out -- the first time in series history that these rivals did not meet. Warren Hills' last wins came back-to-back in 2006 and '07. Seven of the Streaks' wins have been recorded since 1990. Red Devils have won 13 of 15 since 1998.

Note: Warren Hills wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- Fr. Ryan Mosher (5-19) vs. Fr. Peter Nace (21-5) or Fr. Bryce Hall (3-2).

113 -- Fr. Matt Valli (19-7) vs. Fr. Chris Taylor (4-12).

120 -- Fr. Zach Nauta (16-6) vs. Jr. Kyler Rodriguez (13-10).

126 -- Jr. Austin Pidoto (15-12) vs. Jr. Hunter Orr (7-15) or So. Gabino Careaga (1-0).

132 -- So. Carsen Johnson (2-8) vs. Sr. Dylan Nace (26-1).

138 -- Jr. Max Nauta (21-5) vs. Jr. Nick Taylor (14-11).

145 -- So. Anthony Roessner (11-15) vs. Sr. Collin Boylan (24-2).

152 -- Sr. Esco Blaylock (6-16) vs. Sr. Gary Dinmore (25-0).

160 -- Sr. Ryan Ostir (13-10) or Sr. Justin Pidoto (0-4) vs. Sr. Matt Suydam (10-10).

170 -- So. Kurt Nemeth (1-4) vs. Jr. Joe Scerbo (20-7).

182 -- Sr. Steve Cleaver (16-6) vs. Jr. Nestor Crespo (17-8) or Jr. Dave Furmato (5-3).

195 -- .Sr. Nigel Taylor (6-11) vs. Jr. Nick Suk (16-9).

220 -- Sr. Ryan Witner (17-8) vs. Sr. Arturo Hernandez (7-7).

285 -- Jr. Andrew Pacheco (24-2) vs. Sr. Dan Hausman (17-10).

Breakdown: Longtime rivalry renewed at the Field House between programs whose seasons haven't gone as expected and are looking to enter posteason on a high note. Hunterdon Central spawned from its Warren County neighbor as former legendary coach Russ Riegel started the Red Devils' program in 1956. Warren Hills still licking its woulds from Tuesday's 65-9 loss to P'burg -- its worst in the series since a 67-3 loss in 2002. This one looks to be very close. Matchups are key as Central may look to bump both Nace brothers up -- Peter to 113 and Dylan to 138. The move at 106 will be predicated on whether Central believes it can win there with the light Hall (97 pounds) since Central would still be the underdog at 113. It's a move that could save three points. Straight up, Warren Hills is favored at 113, 120, 126, 138, 182, 220 and 285 (Pacheco pinned Hausman in 1:02 in the only meeting between teams at the HWS tourney). Central has the edge at 106, 132, 145, 152, 170 and 195. I'd say 160 with Ostir vs. Suydam is a toss, leaning slightly toward Hills. Streaks could insert Justin Pidoto there and bump Ostir to 170, possibly to win 160 and saving points at 170. Both teams will have shots to get plenty of bonus points, hosts could easily win at least five with bonus. Streaks will be in good shape if they win 160 and get the bonus where expected, especially up top. Central needs 160 and perhaps another where it's an underdog to pull it off, provided it can avoid pins in spots. Another option would be putting Furmato on Cleaver at 182 and bumping Crespo and Suk up a weight. Dylan Nace vs. Max Nauta would be a very interesting matchup as well. Red Devils would likely give up six at 126 by running Orr to 132, where he'd be favored, to do so. Very tough one to call. I'm thinking Streaks get a few more bonus points.

Prediction: Warren Hills, 33-32.

Wrestling: 'Cats all American; 'Liners claim Raritan

High Point's wrestling team is so focused on making a championship run next week that it barely noticed a special moment on Thursday night.

Coach John Gardner's Wildcats claimed their fifth straight Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference American Division title with a 48-19 win over Morris Hills in Wantage. High Point (12-4, 7-0 division) is now 34-0 all-time in divisional matches and has won nine straight conference titles, including the last four Sussex County Interscholastic League crowns from 2006-09. The NJAC was formed for the 2009-10 season.

"I said something after [Thursday's match] to them, 'I told them, 'Congratulations.' They don't think about any of that stuff," said Gardner, now 280-77-2 in 16 seasons and eight wins shy of matching Jeff Hull for the most coaching wins at his alma mater. "Last year it wasn't a thought because we lost to Kittatinny. This year, we beat Kittatinny [48-18 on Jan. 24] so we're champs of two divisions. And we're champs at home. That's a big deal."

Speaking of Kittatinny, the Cougars can wrap up a fourth straight Freedom Division title on Friday with a win at home against Hackettstown. Prior to the match, Kittatinny will honor coach John Gill for his 500th career victory, which came against Jefferson on Jan. 27.

High Point, which earned the No. 1 seed in the North 1, Group 2 sectional tournament, won 10 bouts to easily dispatch Morris Hills (6-8, 1-4). Seniors Chris Auer (152) and Bobby McDonnell (220) and juniors Dom Gallo (120), Mike Derin (132), Ryan Cullen (138) and Jason Gaccione all had pins for the 'Cats. Gaccione (25-4) decked Justin Pichardo in 2:19 for his 92nd career victory.

High Point travels to West Morris on Friday for an independent match in the regular-season finale. The 'Cats will host either No. 4 seed Jefferson or No. 5 Parsippany Hills in the sectional semifinals on Wednesday to begin defense of their title as the Sussex County school eyes a run at back-to-back Group 2 titles.

Sophomore 126-pounder Jared Kobis (3-1), who missed over a month with a hand injury, has been cleared to wrestle. High Point will certainly need and hopes to have the District 3 champion back in the lineup at some point next week.

Sussex County has crowned at least one sectional champion every year since 1985 -- missing just twice, 1980 and '84, in the tournament's 35-year history. High Point, which has won a county-best 23 sectional titles, has won four in a row, including the last two in North 1, Group 2.

"We've been fortunate," said Gardner, who has guided the program to 11 sectional titles after winning four as a High Point wrestler from 1987-90. "I just hope we wrestle well enough to get back [to Toms River for Group 2]. When we come to wrestle, we're as good as anybody. The kids have been through the wringer. The fans are very supportive of the kids so it's nice for them, as well as us, to be home for sectionals."

HIGH POINT 48, MORRIS HILLS 19

152 -- Sr. Chris Auer (16-11), HP, p. Fr. Joey Schiele (5-12), 5:39.
160 -- Sr. Tommy Hooker (18-11), HP, d. Sr. Steve Acevedo (20-4), 11-8.
170 -- Sr. Colby Brands (12-15), HP, d. Sr. Jaime Tehuitzil (9-5), 6-0.
182 -- Sr. Jose Delgado (17-4), MH, d. Sr. Antonio Porraspita (18-11), 4-2.
195 -- Sr. Jhevan McCollough (5-7), MH, p. Fr. Richard Kinkead (0-1), 3:26.
220 -- Sr. Bobby McDonnell (16-13), HP, p. Sr. Derrick Kritz (12-10), 1:59.
285 -- Sr. Gunny Wassong (10-5), HP, d. Sr. John Reyes (7-13), 3-0.
106 -- Fr. Chase Babus (12-15), HP, d. So. Gersson Cifuentes (2-12), 8-2.
113 -- Sr. Gene Prisco (12-8), MH, p. Fr. Aric Wingle (9-9), 1:41.
120 -- Jr. Dom Gallo (22-5), HP, p. Fr. Maxwell Halkenhauser (3-12), 1:19.
126 -- Sr. Dylan Sullivan (20-5), MH, md. So. Garrett Fenlon (0-13), 17-3.
132 -- Jr. Mike Derin (23-6), HP, p. Sr. Derek Zacatenco (2-6), 1:39.
138 -- Jr. Ryan Cullen (12-11), HP, p. Jr. Steven Martinez (2-4), 4:59.
145 -- Jr. Jason Gaccione (25-4), HP, p. So. Justin Pichardo (4-11), 2:19.
Records -- Morris Hills 6-8, 1-4; High Point 12-4, 7-0.

'Liners lock down Raritan title

Phillipsburg also took care of some championship business on Thursday, as the Stateliners rolled to a 53-9 win over Voorhees at The Pit to wrap up the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title.

P'burg (14-0, 6-0 division), which has won or shared all but one of a possible 19 division titles and is 129-3 overall in those matches since joining the conference in 1995-96, makes it a clean sweep of Hunterdon County, with additional victories over North Hunterdon (42-13), Hunterdon Central (41-18) and Delaware Valley (52-12). Coach Dave Post's 'Liners won all but two bouts against Voorhees (17-5, 3-3), including pins by Garrett Wolfinger (152), Max Elling (160) and Jake Kocsis (182).

"It's great. The good thing with our guys is how loose they are before matches," Post said. "They're so relaxed. That's why they do so well."

In a good matchup at 145, P'burg junior Jimmy Schuitema earned an 8-0 major over senior Christian Okulicz in a battle of Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex placewinners. Schuitema won the county title, while Okulicz placed third. 

Sophomore Kyle DiNapoli (113) and senior Cody Ihling (120) were the only winners for the Vikings (17-5, 3-3), who are now 0-21 all-time against the 'Liners in a series dating to 1981.

P'burg unexpectedly received the weekend off with the cancellation of Saturday's scheduled independent match at South Plainfield. Post says he was informed by his athletic director, Tom Fisher, on Thursday morning that the Tigers bailed due to a conflict involving a rescheduled conference match that had previously been snowed out. At least, that's one version of it.

"We've actually heard two different stories," Post said. "The reason we were initially given is that [South Plainfield] had a league match that could only be made up on Saturday. Which is fine. All independent contracts mandate that league matches take precedent in that case. But then we heard that they had a match [a 61-7 win over Bishop Ahr on Thursday] and one for Friday [home against Old Bridge] and nothing is on their schedule for Saturday. Last year, they begged us for a match and wanted to wrestle at The Pit."

 

South Plainfield beat P'burg for the first time last season, 39-23, at The Pit. The teams had met just twice previously in the North 2, Group 3 sectional finals. P'burg won both -- 43-18 in 2004 and 34-21 in 2009, both at The Pit.

Post said despite the circumstances, he is trying to get another two-year deal signed with South Plainfield for 2014-15 and 2015-16. His 'Liners rated as a decided favorite this season to avenge that loss a year ago.

"I don't care where we wrestle, at their place or Madison Square Garden," Post said of the venue. "What's fair is fair. They're home-grown kids like us. Some schools pop up and then disappear. [South Plainfield] is coming right back. They have one hell of a middle school team."

P'burg, the top seed in North 2, Group 4, will begin a bid for its 33rd sectional title on Wednesday by hosting the winner of Monday's first-round matchup between No. 5 Edison and No. 4 Watchung Hills. The Stateliners, 32-2 overall in sectional history, came up short a year ago in a 30-29 loss to Hunterdon Central, just the second sectional final loss ever -- both on the road -- for the Warren County school. Warren Hills beat P'burg, 34-30, in the 1990 North 2, Group 3 title match.

PHILLIPSBURG 53, VOORHEES 9

113 -- So. Kyle DiNapoli (22-4), V, d. So. Tyler Agans (8-13), 7-1.

120 -- Sr. Cody Ihling (25-3), V, p. So. Tom Brescia (0-1), 2:26.

126 -- Sr. Tylor Petchonka (12-11), P, md. Jr. Jon Blunk (7-14), 16-3.

132 -- Jr. Steve Friedman (14-11), P, tf. Sr. Charles Shea (3-7), 15-0, 4:18.

138 -- Jr. Corey Zinsmeister (19-5), P, d. Sr. Mike Muscatello (15-4), 11-6.

145 -- Jr. Jimmy Schuitema (19-4), P, md. Sr. Christian Okulicz (18-7), 8-0.

152 -- Sr. Garrett Wolfinger (10-4), P, p. Jr. Tommy Riley (10-10), 2:34.

160 -- Jr. Max Elling (25-4), P, p. Jr. Devon Thomas (12-8), 2:09.

170 -- Sr. Broderick Bupivi (20-9), P, d. Sr. Jordan Juliano (21-6), 7-1.

182 -- Sr. Jake Kocsis (27-2), P, p. Sr. Cody Kubinak (11-15), :58.

195 -- Jr. Tim Hinkle (7-7), P, d. So. Derek Howerth (11-16), 4-3 UTB.

220 -- Jr. Joe Maso (17-6), P, forfeit.

285 -- Fr. Drew Horun (17-7), P, d. Sr. Merrit Francis (10-15), 3-2.

106 -- So. Brandon Paetzell (26-1), P, md. So. Harley Sacks (18-8), 17-6.

Records -- Voorhees 17-5, 3-3; Phillipsburg 14-0, 7-0.