Phillipsburg wrestlers make a strong statement at Reno Tournament of Champions

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Phillipsburg High School must wait another month to try and end its 10-match losing streak to Easton Area High School, but the Stateliners showed the Red Rovers this is their year with an impressive display at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

Coach Jason Magditch's 'Liners prevailed in the 82-team tournament and dominated the rival Red Rovers every which way.

Phillipsburg finished with 158.5 points; Easton had 124.

P'burg had six* placewinners; Easton four.

And, the 'Liners won all three of the head-to-head bouts with the Rovers.

Statement made.

"Easton-P'burg is such a big rivalry," Magditch, the former Easton assistant, said, "and being on both sides of it, I don't have the killerness everyone wearing Garnet and Grey has. But as a coach, you always want to win.

"They have a great staff and they do a good job, so it speaks volumes for our staff, our kids and our community."

Easton has won 10 straight dual meets against Phillipsburg and leads the series 58-13 overall.

The Stateliners, coming off a 27-3 campaign last season -- one of those losses was to Easton, showed off their impressive balance and depth in Reno.

Matt Silva was 3-2 at 103 pounds; Rylan Watson 3-2 at 112; Matt Lane went 5-1 at 125 and finished third; John Horak was 7-2 at 130 and took fourth; Bobby Moyer 2-2 at 135; Oliver Brukardt went 5-3 at 140 and was sixth.

Nick Pare finished 5-2 at 145; Cliff Tinsman 2-2 at 152; Mike Simon 2-2 at 160; Eric Bohem 4-2 at 171; Jared Crouse went 4-2 at 189 and was seventh; Matt Santini was 5-2 at 215 and finished fourth; and Jim Tersigni 4-2 at 285 and finished eighth*.

"We were in it to win it," Magditch said. "We meant it to heart that it was a business trip; we were not out there to sight see. Did winning that tournament change our goals this season? No. Our goals have always been very, very high."

Phillipsburg opened its Skyland Conference season Monday with a 57-15 win over Montgomery.

Holiday Tournaments

Jody Karam's production -- the Bethlehem Holiday Classic -- will highlight this season's schedule of scintillating Christmas tourneys.

Liberty High School hosts national and local powers, including Blair Academy, St. Mark's, Council Rock South, Northampton, Nazareth and Saucon Valley, among others, next Monday and Tuesday.

The tournament is directed by Karem, Liberty's coach.

-- The Christmas City Tournament is Monday and Tuesday at Bethlehem Catholic High School. The participants include Becahi, Notre Dame, Palisades and Pius X.

-- Easton will compete in the Manheim Lions Club Tournament on Monday and Tuesday.

-- Warren Hills will host Delaware Valley and North Hunterdon, among others, in the John Goles Tournament on Monday.

-- Belvidere, North Warren and Voorhees all are scheduled to compete at the Kittatinny Tournament on Monday.

My 2 Cents

-- OK Phillipsburg, time to drop out of the Escape the Rock Tournament and enter the Bethlehem Holiday Classic. It's closer geographically and the New Jersey power would be competing against some of the elite programs in the Lehigh Valley.

Maybe it makes too much sense for the Stateliners?

-- Wrasslin' could NOT come soon enough for yours truly -- who loathes the gridiron but loves grapplin'. I'm especially excited to compile the first installment of our individual rankings, which will debut on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.

-- We need a transfer controversy in District 11 to liven things up!

Michael Blouse can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at mblouse@express-times.com.

*(Note: Items in yellow are amendments of errors or omissions made in the original story by the author)