Tilts out at P'burg

By NICK FIERRO

The Express-Times

PHILLIPSBURG | As tuneups go, Phillipsburg High School wrestling coach Rick Thompson couldn't have asked for much more from his Stateliners Tuesday as they opened NJSIAA North 2 Group 4 competition with a 56-10 semifinal win over visiting Edison.

The tuneup phase is now over, though, he cautioned.

"We'll wrestle Southern in the (state Group 4) semis if we make it," Thompson said, "and that's still a big 'if' at this point."

First, Phillipsburg (12-7) will have to get past Skyland Conference rival Watchung Hills in the sectional title match Thursday at the Pit. Watchung Hills advanced with a 53-18 romp over Woodbridge.

When the Warriors visit, they will have to contend with a squad that's picking up momentum seemingly by the minute. The Stateliners closed with four straight pins, including consecutive lightning-quick cradles by Chris Norrell (29 seconds at 152 pounds), Brian Norrell (39 seconds at 160) and Matt Santini (23 seconds at 171).

"That's what I want," Thompson said. "I want cradles. I'm tired of tilts. Cradles are the best way to get pins. Always have been, always will be."

Added Brian Norrell: "You can't get a pin with a tilt, so we've been going over arm bars and cradles in practice."

The sophomore was extra pumped by the time he took the mat against Matt Kouyoumdjian.

"Whenever Chris gets a quick pin, it always fires me up," he said. "In the past, the matches where Chris pins, I always did better (than if Chris didn't pin)."

Phillipsburg finished with five pins, a forfeit victory and a pair of technical falls for major bonus points that weren't required Tuesday but will be from now on, if it plans to keep advancing through the state bracket.

The 'Liners won some of the close ones too, including a memorable bout at heavyweight where Brian Gruhler won the coin flip leading to the fourth overtime, chose defense and escaped to hand Dan Walker a sudden-death 3-2 setback in a no-takedown confrontation. Phillipsburg's other pins came from Nick Simon (145) and Jon Stillo (130).

Luke Grassi scored a technical fall over Jeff Peterson at 119. And sophomore Kyle Huff, competing in his first varsity match, did the same to Burang Joof at 125.

Throughout the match, the 'Liners just kept going for cradles.

"That's Mr. Thompson," Chris Norrell said. "He's definitely against tilts. He wants us to pin."

The Norrell brothers and all their teammates in the Phillipsburg wrestling room know the score, though. They know the odds against the 'Liners returning to the top of the state this season are not in their favor.

"We're not a weak team but we're one of the weaker teams compared to the historically awesome Phillipsburg teams," Chris Norrell said. "But our goal is the same as every year -- to win a state title. It's perfect timing that we're starting to get better right now. But we're not there yet."

Edison, which ousted Westfield, 41-30, in a quarterfinal clash just before taking the match against Phillipsburg, never had a chance as the 'Liners went out to a 12-0 lead and never were seriously threatened.

Jeff Hager opened the match with two first-period takedowns en route to a 6-3 decision over Mark Best at 189, Jared Crouse followed with P'burg's forfeit victory and Gruhler came through with his marathon win over Walker.

Nick Fierro can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at nfierro@express-times.com