James Clarke | GardenStateHSWrestling.com | January 10, 2024

Heading into Wednesday nights match between the Hunterdon Central Red Devils and the home team of Phillipsburg Stateliners, you’d expect a tightly contested match between two historic teams with great wrestling reputation. However, Phillipsburg won the matchup and not only did they won, they took advantage of very single opportunity for bonus points and toss up matches as they ran away with the match, 45-13. The Stateliners won eleven out of fourteen bouts wrestled.

The evening started at 175lbs, after trading pins from both teams, the steam became boiling as the Stateliners 215lber, Nathan Smith, comes through for his team with a huge 3-1 sudden victory win. Smith got the takedown with twenty three seconds to go in the first overtime period, (one of many toss up bouts won by Phillipsburg) to give his team a 9-6 lead. John Wargo followed up with a very conservative 3-2 win over the Red Devils’, Tyler Suk. Wargo, who is battling an injury currently that he suffered at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic, got an extremely early takedown in the first period that made the biggest difference maker for the bout. 

113lber Stateliner Sophomore Massimo Gonzalez escapes with a 7-5 decision over Red Devil Senior Ryan Sherlock. Gonzalez, who lost last week to Warren Hills Freshman, Aidan Webb 6-5, knew what he needed to do and not allow himself to get in that situation of losing a big lead again.  While leading 7-2 with around a minute to go in the third period, Sherlock was able to get an escape and a takedown of his own and was near to earning himself back points of his own. But Gonzalez knew what he needed to do and secured the victory of his own. Red Devils Anthony Rossi worked extremely hard for a major decision win over promising Stateliner Freshman, Owen Garriques, 11-1. 

Phillipsburg got back on the scoreboard with a pin of their own at 126lbs from Dawson McWilliams returning from injury. At 132lbs, Stateliner Sophomore, Gavin Geleta in what was the match of the night for the Stateliners as Geleta was trailing 4-2 heading into the third period. His Red Devils opponent, Ahmed Hussain was doing he could to ride out Geleta, but was called for his first stall warning of the match in the top position. Hussain gave up the escape for his lead to now only be up 4-3. With five seconds to go in the bout, Geleta was able to get in on a shot of his own and he won the bout 5-4. The home gym crowd went wild and celebrated the win with Geleta and his team.

“When I was down, I was feeling down on myself and was really tired. But I knew I could get the win and ended up winning. It felt really good,” Geleta said. 

After a Red Devils 3-0 win at 138lbs, Stateliner Junior, Luke Geleta put the match away with pinning Red Devils Senior William Cella at the 4:10 with a tilt. Other matches to highlight were wins from Stateliner Junior Gavin Hawk winning 5-1 over previously undefeated Red Devils sophomore, Rhett Washleski, along with two other regular decision wins from Patrick Day and Jonathan Roth against quality opponents. 

Overall, Phillipsburg Head Coach Longacre seems very happy with the way that his team is wrestling after improving their record to 8-0 with the win over Hunterdon Central. After Tuesday night’s postponement of the annual Pit match against Watchung Hills due to weather and the school having a delay opening this morning, Coach Longacre ensured that this wouldn’t hinder their performance and got the team’s mindset to where he wanted them to. 

“I think we came in and ready to go. It’s starting to come together. I’m really happy the way the team is wrestling and actually wrestling six minutes,” Longacre said of his team perseverance with the weather.

Many of these lost toss up matches by Hunterdon Central, can get their revenge as both teams will be competing on Saturday (01/13/24) in the annual Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex County Tournament at Phillipsburg High School. The three counties will be showcasing their talents both as a team and individually. You already know that Phillipsburg will packing the gym with fans and will be preparing the rest of the week for that county tournament.

“This is a great opportunity for us to see diversity in our three counties. We’re happy for that, we’re excited to get the level of competition for that whole day,” Longacre said.

With what occurred tonight, it would not shock anybody if Phillipsburg came in and won the team title in their home gym.