North Hunterdon wins sectional title
ANNANDALE » The top-ranked and undefeated North Hunterdon wrestling team (21-0) didn’t just beat Phillipsburg in the North Jersey 2 Group IV championship match in front of a delighted packed house Friday night.
It beat the Liners up by the score of 37-12 and as a result North Hunterdon was able to advance to what appears to be an inevitable collision with defending Group IV champion Kingsway in the groups on Sunday afternoon in Toms River.
With its impressive victory over a stunned Phillipsburg squad, North Hunterdon captured its 15th sectional title in program history and its first since 2015. Phillipsburg, meanwhile, was denied a sectional championship for just the third time in the past 41 years.
It was also easily one of the worst losses the Liners have ever absorbed in sectionals or groups.
“Our kids are a very close knit group and are wrestling with a lot of confidence,” said North Hunterdon coach Chris Hrunka, who as a graduate of Warren Hills is very well in tune with how difficult it is to take down Phillipsburg twice in one season. “They really believe in themselves and what they are doing.”
Phillipsburg lost by only six points to North earlier in the season and came in thinking it could turn that setback around. The Liners also won the toss, meaning they could control the match-ups at 182 and 195.
None of that meant a thing, however, because when North’s James Holder avenged a loss from earlier in the year in the opening 170-pound bout, Phillipsburg was already in obvious trouble.
Before the Liners knew what had hit them, they were in an insurmountable 22-0 hole as North Hunterdon swept 170 through 106. In that run was a pin by Nathaniel Fossett (182), followed by decisions from Alex Uryniak, Ian Gaburo, heavyweight Liam Akers in overtime and Logan Wadle.
Uryniak’s win was arguably the biggest one since Phillipsburg wanted him against Jacob Wicks at 195 pounds. Instead the North Hunterdon freshman beat the P-burg senior, 3-2, when he was able to fight off a single leg taekdown in the last 10 seconds on the edge of the match.
“I didn’t take it personally (that they wanted that match-up); I just wanted to wrestle my best,” said Uryniak. “It was that way with our whole team. Once we got in control we were able to roll right through them. This is just an unbelievable feeling right now.”
And a depressing one for Phillipsburg, which won just four of the 14 bouts, all by regular decision. North Hunterdon, meanwhile, just kept outwrestling the visitors to win all the close ones and also got a second-period pin at 145 pounds from Evan Klimas.
North Hunterdon is a rare kind of team in the age of 14 weights. The Lions may very well not have a state place winner in their lineup, but they have all the weights covered with tough and quality wrestlers.
It’s this balance they hope will carry them through at groups. North Hunterdon beat Kingsway by 19 points in the Newton Duals in January, but the South Jersey team was not at full strength. You can be sure Kingsway will have all hands on deck for what should be a great final against North Hunterdon assuming both win their semifinals.
In those semifinals, North Hunterdon will face the North Jersey 1 champion, while Kingsway will have the tougher match when it takes on Central Jersey champion Brick Memorial.
North Hunterdon 37, Phillipsburg 12
170: James Holder (NOHU) over Nate Zastowny (PHIL) (Dec 8-6) 182: Nathaniel Fossett (NOHU) over David Pierson (PHIL) (Fall 1:14) 195: Alex Uryniak (NOHU) over Jacob Wicks (PHIL) (Dec 3-2) 220: Ian Gaburo (NOHU) over Gage Horvath (PHIL) (Dec 5-2) 285: Liam Akers (NOHU) over Cody Cruts (PHIL) (TB-1 3-2) 106: Logan Wadle (NOHU) over Sean Stasiulaitis (PHIL) (MD 9-1) 113: James Day (PHIL) over Nick DeLorenzo (NOHU) (Dec 11-4) 120: Logan Maczko (PHIL) over Frank DiEsso (NOHU) (Dec 2-1) 126: Joe Innamorato (PHIL) over Daniel DeLusant (NOHU) (Dec 5-1) 132: Connor Quinn (NOHU) over Jason Tino (PHIL) (Dec 5-2) 138: Drew Doscher (NOHU) over Hunter Cleaver (PHIL) (Dec 4-2) 145: Evan Klimas (NOHU) over Jared Kukor (PHIL) (Fall 2:25) 152: Kyle Anderson (NOHU) over Matthew Donofrio (PHIL) (Dec 5-2) 160: James Palitto (PHIL) over William Cole (NOHU) (Dec 4-0)