From The Morning Call -- January 21, 2005 Easton learns a lesson in win over P'burg Rovers, in Phillipsburg for first time in 17 years, tame home crowd. By Stephen Miller Of The Morning Call PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. | With the Easton-Phillipsburg wrestling rivalry returning to The Pit for the first time in 17 years, none of the Red Rovers knew what to expect. Easton learned that its recent dominance of the series ensured nothing. The Red Rovers discovered they shouldn't allow a road crowd into a match early, as they did when Phillipsburg won three of the first four matches. Those lessons should serve Easton well in the future. But even on an off night, the Red Rovers had too much talent for Phillipsburg. Alex Krom swung the pendulum in Easton's favor when he pinned 135-pounder Bryan Norrell in the first period. When Andrew Goldstein followed with a 13-second fall, the Red Rovers began rolling to a 39-18 non-conference win Thursday. Those two matches took only 1:06, but they erased the lead Phillipsburg (7-4) built in the first seven bouts. They also silenced the Phillipsburg crowd, which rocked The Pit after Brandon Stillo won a 5-4 decision over Easton's Josh Oliver at 130 for a 15-11 Stateliner lead. ''I think Krom and I, we were just feeding off the crowd's energy,'' Goldstein said. ''We just got it done.'' Krom started Easton's roll by pouncing on Norrell, a freshman. When his fall was secured, Krom leaped to his feet and raised his right index finger to his lips while staring at Phillipsburg's student section. Krom's gesture incited the crowd, but Goldstein quieted it when he decked Pete Gitto. Goldstein's pin gave Easton a 23-15 lead and earned him the Easton Lions Club Most Aggressive Wrestler award. ''Certainly Goldstein and Krom knew that they were favored and had a job to do,'' Easton coach Steve Powell said. ''They came prepared to do it.'' While Krom and Goldstein accomplished their goals, Easton (9-0) didn't produce the blowout many people expected. Phillipsburg competed in most weight classes and restored some pride after last year's 59-5 loss at Easton. Perhaps the Red Rovers were looking ahead to Saturday's National High School Coaches Association Final Four. The Red Rovers will host the event and face Rio Rancho (N.M.), Great Bridge (Va.) and Blair Academy (N.J.). Like Easton, all of those teams hold national rankings. ''I think we all learned a good lesson that you've got to wrestle hard the entire match because a few of our guys lost in the last seconds,'' Goldstein said. Stillo received the Brad Weaver Award, given to the night's most outstanding wrestler for his battle with Josh Oliver. The match was tied 4-4 late in the third period, but Stillo scored a late escape for the win. ''This was only one milestone,'' Stillo said. ''We didn't get to reach it, but we have turned some heads.'' Jon Gregory (103), Luke Grassi (112) and Chris Norrell (145) also won decisions late in the third period for the Stateliners. Those efforts pleased coach Rick Thompson, but he's still looking for a win over a top program. ''It's still only January 20,'' Thompson said. ''We want to be wrestling into March. Some of our guys proved tonight they can wrestle not only with some of the best wrestlers in Pennsylvania but some of the best wrestlers in the country.'' stephen.miller@mcall.com 610-820-6750

From The Express-Times Easton fends off 'Liners' best shot Krom, Goldstein pins help Rovers foil upset bid. Friday, January 21, 2005 By MIKE WEILAMANN The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG -- Easton Area High School's wrestling team might have been caught looking ahead. Or maybe those mysterious spirits in The Pit were in a haunting mood. Whatever the case, Phillipsburg didn't go down with a whimper this time. The Red Rovers captured nine of 14 bouts, but the Stateliners mixed in a few big victories of their own as Easton prevailed 39-18 Thursday night before a sellout crowd in the 68th meeting between these rivals. "(Phillipsburg) wrestled well where they could, but I can't take anything away from our kids," said Easton coach Steve Powell, 20-2 all-time against the Stateliners. "We should have been physically prepared to wrestle Nazareth (Wednesday). Even with the day off, we should've been rested and really shined tonight." Easton (9-0), ranked No. 1 in The Express-Times region, has won seven straight over No. 10 Phillipsburg (7-4). The seventh wasn't as easy as the last six thanks to upset wins by Stateliners Jon Gregory (103), Brandon Stillo (130) and Chris Norrell (145). Unlike previous years, this one had some drama. Norrell converted a takedown with two seconds left to knock off Braylin Williams 6-5. His win, which avenged a 2-1 loss to Williams last year, pulled the Stateliners within five points at 23-18, but that's as close as they would get. Kyle Hershey's 5-3 win over favored Anthony Cronce at 152 started a string of four straight Easton wins to close it out. The night was capped by Zach Pizarro's 13-5 major of P'burg senior Bryan Kopesky at 189. "I'm pleased with our effort and I hate to say it but we still lost," Phillipsburg coach Rick Thompson, said. "We proved that we can wrestle with the best in Pennsylvania and the nation, but I want to win a big (match)." Amazingly, the Stateliners were still in the match after 10 bouts, despite Easton's 17-6 advantage in takedowns after the 145-pound bout. Senior 275-pounder Walt Pierson had four of those P'burg takedowns before pinning Jarrid Myers in the evening's second bout. The Rovers finished with 27 takedowns to Phillipsburg's seven. "Part of coaching is wrestling aggressively," said Powell, whose team needs to pick it up before Saturday's Final Four at its 25th Street Gym. "We were taking 10 shots in the first periods and wasting a lot of energy and chasing their kids near the out of bounds. You have to make your shots count." The match started at 215 pounds with Easton freshman Cory Rutt posting an 8-3 decision over Shane Ostoyic. Down 3-0, Pierson ignited the P'burg crowd by decking Myers with a bear hug in 2:48. "We couldn't even get the flip," Stateliners coach Rick Thompson said. "We didn't want to put Kopesky out there right away against Pizarro and take us out of the match. Juicyfruit (Pierson) did a good job." Gregory gave the hosts a 9-3 lead after his 4-3 win over freshman Jordan Oliver, ranked No. 2 by The Express-Times at 103. The Stateliner, who's ranked sixth, escaped with 37 seconds left in the third period and fought off two single leg takedown attempts in the closing seconds to win. However, the upset of the night came at 130 where Brandon Stillo knocked off Easton's state runner-up Josh Oliver, 5-4, in a battle of top-ranked 130 pounders -- giving the 'Liners a 15-11 lead through seven bouts. Stillo (13-1) earned the Brad Weaver Memorial Award, sponsored by The Express-Times, as the meet's outstanding wrestler. But any thoughts of an upset were quickly squashed by pins from Easton seniors Alex Krom (135) and Andrew Goldstein (140). Krom needed just 53 seconds to put away Brian Norrell, while Goldstein used a near-side cradle to pack Pete Gitto in just 13 seconds. "We saw the P'burg fans were going crazy, and I think Krom and I fed off the crowd's energy," Goldstein said. Goldstein, who earned the Easton Lions Club Award for the most aggressive wrestler, was miffed to why his team looked so flat. "In the end it has to do with who has the most heart and wants to win the most," he said. "I think P'burg showed they had a little more heart. Maybe some of my teammates took Phillipsburg too lightly."