Phillipsburg beats Easton for the third time in a row
Phillipsburg continued its recent domination of the series with rival Easton thanks to a 51-9 victory Tuesday night in New Jersey.
The Stateliners won for the third year in a row and sixth time in the last eight meetings. The programs did not face each other last season. The Red Rovers lead the series 61-20.
It is the most lopsided Phillipsburg victory in the 81 meetings. The Stateliners scored 42 points in the 2020 matchup.
It was first-year Phillipsburg coach Brad Gentzle’s first victory over his alma mater in his first attempt. It was Easton coach and alum Jody Karam’s first loss in the series.
Nate Zastowny got the Stateliners off to a strong start with a pin in 4 minutes, 42 seconds over Dylan Reed at 165 pounds. Zastowny had Reed in trouble twice previously before getting the six points on his last attempt for settling for the technical fall.
Connor Hille followed with a 6-3 decision over Giovani Macario at 175 before Caleb Rivera delivered a late pin to ignite the Stateliners’ student section again at 190.
Standout 215-pounder David Pierson decked Tyler Cocciolillo in 1:23 to push the cushion to 21-0.
Matt Cruise got Easton’s first takedown 26 seconds into the 285-pound bout against John Wargo. The Red Rovers senior got a reversal and a fivepoint move late in the second period, but couldn’t get the pin. He won 15-3.
Chris Kelly delivered a 16-1 technical fall at 106 to pull the Red Rovers within 21-9 after six bouts.
But senior Miguel Lopez delivered a big momentum shift for Phillipsburg by cradling Brendan Bowman in 2:54 in a 113-pound bout both coaches would have been happy to get a win out of.
Standout freshman Gavin Hawk then rode out Ben Fanelli in the third to preserve a 2-1 victory at 120 for a 30-9 Phillipsburg cushion. Hawk beat Fanelli 3-0 in the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic.
Senior James Day beat Oliver Fairchild for a second time this season, but had to come from behind to do it at 126. Fairchild rallied from an early deficit to take a 5-4 lead with 1:34 left. But Day escaped then countered a Fairchild shot with the winning takedown with 38 seconds left for the decision. Day beat Fairchild 6-0 in the BHWC final in December.
Freshman Luke Geleta clinched the match for the Stateliners with a 9-2 decision over fellow freshman Shae Linegar at 132.
Joe Innamorato (138), Liam Packer (144) and Matt Donofrio (150) followed with decisions for Phillipsburg.
Hunter Cleaver finished it off with a pin at 157.
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Easton (12-4) visits Pleasant Valley at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Phillipsburg (8-1) travels to Montgomery at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
Phillipsburg 51, Easton 9
106: Chris Kelly (E) tech. fall Dawson McWilliams, 16-1, 5:34
113: Miguel Lopez (P) pinned Brendan Bowman, 2:54
120: Gavin Hawk (P) dec. Ben Fanelli, 2-1 126: James Day (P) dec. Oliver Fairchild, 7-5
132: Luke Geleta (P) dec. Shae Linegar, 9-2
138: Joe Innamorato (P) dec. Nolan Krazer, 4-0
144: Liam Packer (P) dec. Lebron Simms, 4-1 150: Matt Donofrio (P) dec. James Geiger, 6-2 157: Hunter Cleaver (P) pinned Jayden Hazzard, 2:14
165: Nate Zastowny (P) pinned Dylan Reed, 4:42
175: Connor Hille (P) dec. Giovani Macario, 6-3
190: Caleb Rivera (P) pinned Brady Correll, 5:35
215: David Pierson (P) pinned Tyler Cocciolillo, 1:23
285: Matt Cruise (E) maj. dec. John Wargo, 15-3
Referees: Frank Lightner and Gary Kessel