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2003-2004 Phillipsburg Stateliners In The News |
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Express Times Sunday, February 15, 2004
By NICK FIERRO
Phillipsburg, Thompson have a tough time with Paulsboro
PAULSBORO, N.J. -- Rick Thompson, the ever-effervescent Phillipsburg wrestling
coach, materialized in the Paulsboro gymnasium a few seconds ahead of his squad.
He was positioning himself to deliver an encouraging whack to each wrestler's backside
as the Stateliners ran out to face the host Red Raiders in Saturday's independent dual meet.
Judging by the way his Stateliners responded, he probably should have snapped a
horse whip on them instead.
Phillipsburg was trounced 45-12 in ugly fashion by its younger, hungrier and more
aggressive rival, which irked the coach to no end.
"We had no intensity," he said. "I guess you can say it was Valentine's Day and we
didn't have our hearts. This is not the Phillipsburg team I've been used to being
associated with all year and that's on me. We were just unprepared. This was not
the day to wrestle like this. I apologize."
Not even Phillipsburg's four winners -- Chris Norrell at 135 pounds, Jared Duffy at
171, John Todd at 112 and Robert Au at 119 -- could escape Thompson's wrath.
None were able to produce bonus points.
"Some of the guys who lost had a lot more intensity than some of the guys who won,
" Thompson said.
Most noticeable in his nonchalance was Duffy, who after taking Nate Dawson down
for the fifth time, owned an 11-3 lead in the second period and was on course to
score at least a technical fall. Dawson battled back, though, with a reversal before
the end of the period and an escape, takedown and two back points on a cradle in
the third to even the score.
Duffy escaped in the final minute and then blocked another strong takedown
attempt with a wizzer in the final seconds to secure a sloppy 12-11 decision.
"It shouldn't have been that close," Thompson said.
Adding injury to insult, Phillipsburg's Brandon Stillo injured his left ankle in the final
bout and was not able to continue after taking Raynor Paulsen down. Paulsen was
awarded an injury default victory to set the final score.
"The whole day was ugly," Thompson said, "and it's even uglier now."
Saturday's match represented more than anything a Tale of Two Teams with Paulsboro
enjoying the best of times.
The Red Raiders not only scored the first lopsided win of the six-year series to
improve to 4-2 against their upstate rivals but received victories from four of the
six freshmen in their lineup. The first came when Eddie Wurtenburger recorded a
10-5 decision over A.J. Varga in the opening bout at 130.
"We have never had a freshman beat Phillipsburg," Raiders coach Paul Morina said,
"so when Wurtenburger came off the mat, it was like. `OK, that streak is over.
Let's go' " And go Paulsboro did.
After Norrell won an 8-2 decision over Niko Lopez to tie the match, Paulsboro
reeled off four straight wins and never looked back. Included in that stretch were
tossup bouts at 140 and 145, won by Jeff Hamilton and Bill Sierocinski, respectively.
Hamilton used a reverse with 29 seconds remaining to snap a 2-2 deadlock and held
on for a 4-3 decision over Anthony Cronce. Sierocinski tilted Ed Ahart in the third
period and went on to win 4-1.
Another tough loss for the Stateliners to absorb came at 189 as Bryan Kopesky
started the third period on defense trailing 5-1 and could not score except for a
technical violation on Alex Silvestro, another freshman.
"Phillipsburg, they're going to be back," Morina said. "Rick Thompson does a good job
and we have a lot of respect for the Phillipsburg program."
PAULSBORO 45, PHILLIPSBURG 12
130 -- Fr. Eddie Wurtenburger (15-10), Pa, d. S. A.J. Varga (9-6), 10-5.
135 -- So. Chris Norrell (13-10), Ph, d. Fr. Niko Lopez (13-12), 8-2.
140 -- Fr. Jeff Hamilton (15-9), Pa, d. Jr. Anthony Cronce (5-7), 4-3.
145 -- So. Bill Sierocinski (21-4), Pa, d. Sr. Ed Ahart (7-15), 4-1.
152 -- Jr. Chuck Martell (16-5), Pa, d. Jr. Bobby Coyle (11-12), 12-9.
160 -- Sr. Trevor Suter (23-0), Pa, p. Sr. Mike Duffy (9-13), 3:49.
171 -- Sr. Jared Duffy (15-4), Ph, d. So. Nate Dawson (11-12), 12-11.
189 -- Fr. Alex Silvestro (21-3), Pa, d. Jr. Bryan Kopesky (16-6), 5-2.
215 -- Jr. Pat Byrne (6-3), Pa, p. Jr. Zach Crouse (5-16), 5:15.
275 -- Fr. Demetrius Hester (19-5), Pa, p. Jr. Walt Pierson (5-15), :28.
103 -- Sr. David Smith (22-2), Pa, p. So. Jon Gregory (14-9), 4:36.
112 -- Jr. John Todd (14-8), Ph, d. Fr. Justin Sullivan (3-2), 7-0.
119 -- Sr. Robert Au (21-1), Ph, d. So. Bryan Tracy (19-6), 7-1.
125 -- Sr. Raynor Paulsen (15-7), Pa, inj. def. Jr. Brandon Stillo (17-4), :37.
Records -- Phillipsburg 11-5; Paulsboro 16-2
