Stateliners overwhelm Lions for 28th title

2/16/08

By HARRY FREZZA

STAFF WRITER

PHILLIPSBURG — The North Hunterdon High School wrestling team's trip to Phillipsburg for the North 2 Group IV final Friday night went pretty much as expected — unfortunately for the Lions. It might have been even worse.

Phillipsburg won its 28th sectional title in the 29 years of the tournament with a 48-6 victory before another packed house.

The Stateliners (27-2) won the first seven bouts to take a 28-0 lead before North senior 285-pounder Colin Curzi (26-2) beat junior Jimmy Tersigni (12-8) 7-1. Even that win was tempered by the fact that Curzi had pinned Tersigni the first time in last month's 40-21 Phillipsburg dual-meet win.

That match seemed like a nailbiter compared to the rematch. Last time at "The Pit," North managed five wins. Phillipsburg won 12 of 14 this time.

Thirteen of the Stateliners' 14 starters have winning records, and even freshman 112-pounder Dan Brockherhoff (13-17) made the Lions' sophomore 112-pounder Pat Levandowski (24-2) work for a 6-3 decision. Phillipsburg freshman Matt Lane (19-9) spurred the crowd into a frenzy with 10-7 comeback win over senior Chris Kane (23-4) at 125, giving the home team a 38-6 lead.

"He got thrown on his head early, no doubt about it," North Hunterdon coach Jason Hawk said. "But he got a little too emotional. His head was pounding. But you can't let this crowd get the best of you. He let his emotions get the best of him, and that shouldn't happen to a senior."

North was in several bouts at the start, but Phillipsburg continually scored takedowns on the edge of the mat and scored at the end of bouts.

North senior Kevin Catullo, who had beaten Oliver Brukardt 8-5 in the Jan. 5 dual meet, was beaten by Brukardt this time in the first bout of the night at 140. Catullo was one of five Lions to win in the first match, beating Brukardt.

"The guys we put on the mat certainly I thought should have performed better," said Hawk, whose team last won a sectional title in 2003. "It was almost like our season ended Wednesday (in beating Watchung Hills in the semifinals). We were satisfied with just getting here and with the intentions of just of being happy to just get out of here.

"We haven't wrestled well here since I have been head coach, so I feel responsible for how we performed. I'm not sure what I need to do to improve it. But Phillipsburg is solid."

Hawk, a standout during his days at Phillipsburg before going on to wrestle at Rutgers, said he planned to have a strong practice for the Lions this morning.

"I wish I could say it's the first time I came up here and seen this kind of performance, but it's not," he added. "Believe me, we're going to have a nice, hard practice tomorrow morning."

North Hunterdon will prepare for the District 17 Tournament at Hunterdon Central next weekend. Phillipsburg heads to the Ritacco Center on Sunday in Toms River in pursuit of another NJSIAA group title.

In 2003, the Liners beat North for the that crown when the schools were in different sections.

"It's not the way we wanted to finish as a team, but now we go on to districts and we think we have some guys who can do a lot of things," Curzi said.

"We didn't capitlize when we got the chance, and once that trains starts rolling up here, it's hard to stop," he added.