Easton 32 - Phillipsburg 21 Saturday January 26, 2008 7:30pm Shawnee Junior High School, Easton, Pa. Brad Weaver Memorial Outstanding Wrestler Award goes to Jordan Oliver of Easton Easton Lions Most aggressive Wrestler Award goes to Jordan Oliver of Easton Express-Times pre-match article Express-Times post-match article Kegan Handlovic Article Start time: 7:40pm End time: 9:32pm Referees: Bob Kern and Brandon Mihalko Pburg has even bouts, Easton has odd. 171 - Sr. Jeremy Snyder 22-7 (E) dec 6-4 Jr. Matt Santini 17-8 (P) 1st - E td-2; out; E blood time 0:57; restart; P e-1; E 2-1 2nd - P took down; E blood time 0:44 (1:41 total); restart P e-1; P td-2; out; E bloodtime 0:28 (2:09); restart; P 4-2 3rd - E down; P dangerous, restart; e Rev-2+bp-2; E 6-4 189 - Sr. Brian Norrell 22-3 (P) WBTF 16-1 3:16 Jr. Storm Kruczek 7-13 (E) 1st - P td-2;+bp-2; +bp3; P 7-0 2nd - P defer; E neutral; P td-2+bp-2; +bp3; out; restart; E caution; E e-1; E stall; out; restart; P 14-1 3rd - P neutral; out;restart; E stall-1; out; E stall-1; P 16-1 215 - Jr. Chris Wilson 22-6 (E) dec 2-1 Jr. Jared Crouse 16-9 (P) 1st - out;restart; out; restart 0-0 2nd - E down; out; restart; E stall; P stall; 0-0 3rd - p down; P e-1; out; restart neutral; E td-2; E 2-1 285 - Sr. Steve Vas 13-13 (E) dec 11-6 Jr. Jimmy Tersigni 9-5 (P) 1st - E td-2; P rev-2; E rev-2; P rev-2; 4-4 2nd - P down; P rev-2; E rev-2+bp-3; E 9-6 3rd - E down; E stall; E rev-2; E 11--6 103 - Fr. Rylan Watson 19-5 (P) dec 6-5 Fr. Mike Fleck 16-11 (E) 1st - P td-2; P 2-0 2nd - E defer; p down; stalemate; restart; E caution; P rev-2; out; P bp-2; P 6-0 3rd - E top; E bp-3; E bp-2; out; restart; P stall; stalemate; E caution; P 6-5 112 - Fr. Joey Rizzolino 22-7 (E) WBTF 16-0 3:04 So. Dan Brockerhoff 9-12 (P) 1st - E td-2+bp-2; out; restart; E bp-3; E bp-3; E bp-2 E 12-0 2nd - P neutral; E td-2; E bp-2; E 16-0 3:04 119 - Sr. Kegan Handlovic 26-1 (E) dec 6-4 Jr. John Horak 18-5 (P) 1st - P td-2; E e-1; 2nd - E defer P downl P e-1; E td-2; P e-1; out restart neutral; E 5-4 3rd - E down; E stall; E e-1; E 6-4 125 - So. Mark Hartenstine 23-3 (E) md 10-0 Fr. Matt Lane 6-11 (P) 1st - E td-2; E 2-0 2nd - P defer E down; E rev-2; E bp-2; E bp-2; E 8-0 3rd - P neutral; out; restart; E td-2; E 10-0 130 - Bob Moyer 8-0 (P) md 12-2 Jr. Pat Corpora 16-9 (E) 1st - E td-2; P rev-2; out; restart; E caution; 2-2 2nd - E defer P down; P rev-2; out; restart; P bp-3 P 7-2 3rd - E neutral; P td-2; out; restart; P bp-3; P 12-2 135 - Sr. Jordan Oliver 27-0 (E) *sets all-time Easton win record at 162* WBTF 21-6 4:09 Sr. Luke Grassi 18-5 (P) 1st - E td-2; P e-1; E td-2; p e-1; E td-2; P e-1; E td-2; P e-1; E td-2; E 12-4 2nd - P blood time P down; stalemate; P e-1; E td-2; P e-1; E td-2 (leg scissor) +bp-3; E 19-6 3rd - E neutral E td-2 E 21-6 4:09 140 - So. Oliver Brukardt 17-8 (P) dec 7-5 OT Sr. Tevin Gibson 20-8 (E) 1st - P takes 2 shots; E faught off; stalemate; restart 0-0 2nd - E defer P down; E bp-3; P e-1; P single leg shot, E faught off; out; restart; P dbl-leg td-2; P stall; E e-1; E 4-3 3rd - E down; E stall; P inj time 0:45 /E blood time 0:45; restart; P bp-2; P stall E-1; 5-5 OT - P blood time; P td-2 P 7-5 145 - Jr. Nick Pare 13-8 (P) WBF 1:37 Jr. Eric Burgey 25-6 (E) 1st - E td-2; P rev-2 P fall 1:37 152 - Sr. Colin Dailey 21-6 (E) *100th Win* WBF 1:58 Sr. Brad Dailey 8-9 (P) 1st - E td-2; stalemate; bp-3; E fall 1:58 160 - Sr. Dan Marino 14-10 (P) dec 5-4 Jr. Jeff Griffith 10-13 (E) 1st - P td-2; P 2-0 2nd - P defer E down; E rev-2; P inj time 0:50; out; restart; P e-1; P 3-2 3rd - E down; E e-1; P td-2; P 2nd inj time, E choice on restart; restart; P 5-4

- When: 7:30 tonight. - Where: Shawnee Middle School, Forks Township. - Conference: Independent. - Records: Phillipsburg, 17-1; Easton, 14-2. - Express-Times rankings: Phillipsburg, No. 3 region, No. 3 big schools; Easton, No. 2 region, No. 2 big schools. - State rankings: Phillipsburg, No. 5 New Jersey by Star-Ledger; Easton, No. 2 Pennsylvania by PA Power. - Coaches: Phillipsburg, Jason Magditch (second season, 32-6); Easton, Steve Powell (24th season, 393-85-3). - Probable matchups: (Phillipsburg vs. Easton wrestlers with records and Express-Times rankings in parentheses): 103 -- Fr. Rylan Watson (18-5, No. 3) vs. Fr. Mike Fleck (15-10). 112 -- So. Dan Brockerhoff (9-11) vs. Fr. Joey Rizzolino (20-7, No. 5). 119 -- Jr. John Horak (18-4, No. 4) or So. Adam Simon (9-4) or Fr. Matt Lane (6-11) vs. Sr. Kegan Handlovic (24-1, No. 1) or Jr. Nick Slack (2-1). 125 -- Horak or Simon or Lane vs. So. Mark Hartenstine (22-3, No. 1) or Handlovic. 130 -- Sr. Luke Grassi (18-4, No. 2) vs. Sr. Jordan Oliver (25-0, No. 1) or Jr. Patrick Corpora (15-8). 135 -- So. Oliver Brukardt (16-8) vs. Oliver or Corpora. 140 -- Jr. Mike Simon (14-8) or Jr. Bob Moyer (7-0) vs. Sr. Tevin Gibson (19-7, No. 3). 145 -- Sr. Brad Dailey (8-8) or Jr. Nick Pare (12-8) vs. Jr. Eric Burgey (24-5, No. 2). 152 -- Dailey or Pare vs. Sr. Colin Dailey (19-6, No. 2). 160 -- Sr. Dan Marino (13-10) vs. Sr. Jeremy Snyder (20-7, No. 2) or Jr. Jeff Griffith (9-12). 171 -- Jr. Matt Santini (17-7, No. 5) vs. Snyder or Griffith. 189 -- Sr. Brian Norrell (21-3, No. 4) vs. Jr. Storm Kruczek (6-12). 215 -- Jr. Jared Crouse (16-8) vs. Jr. Chris Wilson (21-5, No. 2) or Sr. Steve Vas (11-13). 285 -- Jr. Jimmy Tersigni (9-4) vs. Wilson or Vas. - Michael Blouse's prediction: Unlike recent seasons, the 71st edition of this intense cross-river rivalry should be a donnybrook. Who controls the matchups, as usual, will be a key as the Stateliners likely want to avoid an Oliver-Grassi showdown and score points with their 100-match winner elsewhere. Vas-Tersigni, in a titanic clash of football linemen, would be interesting if it comes off. Both are improving rapidly. P'burg could win as many as six bouts -- and just might -- but Easton will improve to 58-13 in this longtime series. Easton 33-21.

Easton gets it done early Dispatches archrival P'burg for 10th straight year. Sunday, January 27, 2008 By MICHAEL BLOUSE The Express-Times FORKS TWP. | The Phillipsburg Stateliners' opportunity to walk out of Shawnee Middle School victorious after Saturday night's 71st cross-river wrestling clash against Easton's Red Rovers basically was lost in the first four bouts. But for the first time in a long time, this match included some drama at the end. Easton Area High School captured enough of the close bouts and picked up some crucial bonus points along the way in its 32-24 win over Phillipsburg High School before a crowd of 2,500. The Red Rovers, ranked No. 2 in The Express-Times region, won eight bouts in improving to 16-2. No. 3 Phillipsburg is 17-2. With high hopes after being dominated recently in the intense series, the Stateliners promptly lost what were considered tossup bouts at 171, 215 and 285 pounds to start the night. Jeremy Snyder, Chris Wilson and Steve Vas all prevailed in the upper weights for Easton. "There's no question that the Phillipsburg Stateliners could've beat the Easton Red Rovers tonight," said Phillipsburg second-year coach Jason Magditch, a former Easton assistant. "We won the coin toss, set the matchups ... this one was almost gift-wrapped for our team. But it was lost in the first four bouts. We couldn't win matches in the final 30 seconds. "I don't care if we lose by 25 points or one, a loss is a loss." Phillipsburg eventually powered its way back into Saturday's showdown, as junior Nick Pare's surprising pin of senior Eric Burgey at 145 -- the third-to-last individual match of the evening -- made the score Easton 26, P'burg 21. Senior Colin Dailey then closed out the Red Rover victory with a pin over Phillipsburg's Brad Dailey, his cousin, in 118 seconds. The win was the 100th of Colin Dailey's career. "I had to treat it like any other match," Colin Dailey said. "You can't treat it differently or more important than any other match. It's the first time we've ever wrestled -- we never even wrestled in the room. We knew whatever happened in that match, happened in the match. Our family is very close." One of the featured bouts was Easton senior Jordan Oliver, a two-time Pennsylvania state champion, against Stateliners 100-match winner Luke Grassi. Oliver, who won his school-record 162nd match, again showed he's in a class by himself with an impressive 16-1 technical fall. Oliver added The Express-Times' Brad Weaver most outstanding wrestler award and Easton Lions Club most aggressive wrestler award to his trophy case. The match started at 171 pounds with the Stateliners sending out Matt Santini to take on Snyder. The Red Rovers senior turned a 4-2 deficit entering the third period around with 30 seconds remaining. Snyder used a reversal and two back points to earn a 6-4 win. Brian Norrell briefly put P'burg ahead, 5-3, with a 16-1 technical fall over Storm Kruczek at 189. Easton responded with back-to-back victories at 215 and 285 pounds. Wilson's takedown with 3 seconds left off a sloppy shot by Jared Crouse, who controlled most of the bout, was the difference in a 3-2 decision. Vas then bounced back from a 6-4 deficit for an 11-6 win over Jimmy Tersigni. "We expected it to be close this year," said Powell, who has coached the Red Rovers to 10 consecutive wins in the series. "Things went so well for us up top with Snyder, Wilson and Vas. Those were certainly three nice wins." Rylan Watson of Phillipsburg decisioned Mike Fleck 6-5 in a battle of freshmen at 103 pounds. Bob Moyer at 130, Oliver Brukardt 140 and Dan Marino 160 also were winners for the Stateliners. "Definitely, we're light years ahead of where we were in the past, I'd think," Magditch said. "We're certainly going in the right direction. We just really wanted this one." "Phillipsburg put up a good fight tonight," Colin Dailey said, "and with a young team has a really promising future." Joey Rizzolino, the Red Rovers' standout sophomore at 112 pounds, senior Kegan Handlovic at 119 and Mark Hartenstine 125 were victorious Red Rovers. "It's exciting," Colin Dailey said of beating Phillipsburg. "But it's not our ultimate goal. We still have a lot of work ahead." Michael Blouse can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at mblouse@express-times.com.

Pinning down perfect timing Great night for honor. Handlovic cemented on wall. Sunday, January 27, 2008 By NICK FIERRO The Express-Times FORKS TWP. | He certainly didn't plan his official addition to Easton Area High School's Wall of Fame to coincide with his most difficult stretch of regular-season matches, but Kegan Handlovic seems to have an acute sense of timing nonetheless. The senior wrestler was given his choice at the start of this season of when and where he would like the ceremony to be (after earning the honor automatically with his state title last March.) He chose the annual match against archrival Phillipsburg, which this season was held on Saturday night at Shawnee Middle School in front of a capacity crowd of 3,000. This was two days after surviving a double-overtime bout against Northampton's Josh Yurasits, around two hours after prevailing in a tough six-minute battle with Bethlehem Catholic's Bryan Smith and less than an hour before being forced to go another tough six minutes with Stateliners sophomore John Horak in a 6-4 win at 119 pounds that helped Easton come away with a 32-24 victory. "(The induction) would have been a surprise," Handlovic said, "but because we have both gyms, they wanted to know when I wanted to do it and what gym. I said the Pburg match is fine. I like it here. I love these matches. I love it when it's packed in here. It's fun." Handlovic's rough stretch began on Thursday against Yurasits at 125. Forced to come from behind just to send it to overtime, Handlovic finally won it when they went to the second session, making an escape and takedown stand up for a 7-4 decision. Saturday afternoon against Bethlehem Catholic, he entered the third period poised to get at least a technical fall over Smith, but was put on his back twice and nearly pinned before barely hanging on for a 19-10 major. Horak then started Saturday night's bout by getting the first takedown, but Handlovic never panicked and Horak never scored another offensive point. "I was a little surprised," Handlovic said, "but I saw him wrestle and I knew he comes out with fire in the beginning. He's real good in the beginning, but then he kind of gets tired. I knew he was bigger -- he dropped down from 125 -- and I knew that he was good on his feet, so I kind of knew what I was in for." Easton coach Steve Powell said Handlovic's level has been pulled up over the years with help from standout competition in the room, a favor Handlovic is now returning with emerging freshman Joey Rizzolino. "He has a great workout partner with Mark Hartenstine, a great workout partner with Jordan (Oliver)," Powell said. "And on the other end, you've got a freshman, Rizzolino, coming up that can go with him. So there's a whole lot of talent there, and he's been working very hard. They've been feeding off each other." Handlovic had been plotting a drop to 112 for the postseason, but scrapped that when he saw how well Rizzolino was coming along at that weight. Easton's tournament lineup will be much stronger as a result. "I don't fear anybody at 119," Handlovic said, "and I really feel Riz has a chance to make a good run at a medal at states. He could do good, definitely. He works his (butt) off. I have confidence in myself at 119 and confidence in him at 112. It's definitely a big factor why I wouldn't drop." Nick Fierro can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at nfierro@express-times.com.