Last Updated: January 26, 2008 10:00pm

Winners of the
Brad Weaver Memorial Award
sponsored and presented by The Express-Times
to the outstanding wrestler in the Easton-Phillipsburg dual meet:

2008 -- Jordan Oliver, Easton
2007 -- Kegan Handlovic, Easton
2006 -- Jordan Oliver, Easton
2005 -- Brandon Stillo, Phillipsburg
2004 -- Seth Ciasulli, Easton
2003 -- Alex Krom, Easton
2002 -- Matt Lear, Easton
2001 -- Gino Fortebuono, Easton
2000 -- Matt Ciasulli, Easton
1999 -- Ryan Kilpatrick, Easton
1998 -- Jared Frey, Phillipsburg
1997 -- Bryan Snyder, Easton
1996 -- Jamarr Billman, Easton
1995 -- Jamarr Billman, Easton
1994 -- Blane Sandt, Easton
1993 -- Tory Burgio, Easton
1992 -- Tim Flynn, Phillipsburg
1991 -- Tyler Purdy, Easton
1990 -- Dan Goffredo, Easton
1989 -- Brian Marchetti, Easton
1988 -- Moss Grays, Easton
1987 -- Jack Thompson, Easton
1986 -- Tom Marchetti, Easton
1985 -- Jack Cuvo, Easton
1984 -- Mike Barna, Phillipsburg
1983 -- Jack Cuvo, Easton
1982 -- Jim Smith, Phillipsburg
1981 -- Tony Morello, Easton
1980 -- John Cuvo, Easton
1979 -- Brian Liska, Easton
1978 -- Mark Noto, Easton
1977 -- Bobby Weaver, Easton
1976 -- Jack Yost, Phillipsburg
1975 -- Fred Stoelzl, Easton
1974 -- Darwin Brodt, Easton
1973-- Bob Wesley, Easton
1972 -- Bob Wesley, Easton

Red Rovers maintain their hold on Stateliners Easton 44, Phillipsburg 16. Claim 11 bouts to run their winning streak to nine straight in series. Sunday, January 28, 2007 By MIKE WEILAMANN The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Kegan Handlovic tried his best to juggle his awards while thanking his well-wishers. But Handlovic was in total control on the mat. The junior 112-pounder's impressive victory was among the highlights Saturday night in Easton's 44-16 independent victory over rival Phillipsburg before a crowd of over 1,000 at The Pit. Easton (12-2), 57-13 all-time against the Stateliners, rolled to its ninth straight win in the series by capturing 11 of 14 bouts in the 70th meeting since 1947. "Phillipsburg always comes to wrestle," said Easton coach Steve Powell, now 21-2 against P'burg. "I think some of our kids thought P'burg was going to lie down in spots. That didn't happen. Our kids worked for what they got." "Before we came out I told the kids that we were outmanned here tonight," said first-year Phillipsburg coach and former Easton assistant Jason Magditch. "They went out there and did their best and that's really all you can ask against an experienced team like Easton." Handlovic majored New Jersey state qualifier Charlie McGuinness -- 18-5 to seal the Rovers' victory with two bouts left -- and earned the Brad Weaver Award, sponsored by The Express-Times and presented to the meet's outstanding wrestler. "I really didn't think about (the award), I just went out there looking for the pin," said Handlovic, who also picked up the Easton Lions most aggressive award. "It'll feel good to see my name with (former Easton state champs) Jack Cuvo and Bobby Weaver." Things didn't start off well for Phillipsburg (11-3), which fell into an early 6-0 hole -- thanks largely to Ju-Ju Drummond's 9-3 win over 'Liner Luke Grassi in a battle of state qualifiers to open things at 130. Drummond (26-6) surrendered an early takedown, but got one back at the first-period buzzer to go up 3-2. Grassi (14-7) made the tactical mistake of taking bottom to start the second period and Drummond made him pay by tilting him for three back points to go up 6-2 after two periods. "We were ready to wrestle," Drummond said. "We knew what they had and we knew we could beat them." "That was a real nice win for Ju-Ju," Powell said. "Grassi is one of their better, if not their best kids." Tevin Gibson followed with a tight 4-3 win over P'burg freshman Oliver Brukardt, who made the Rover fight off a deep single-leg attempt in the final 20 seconds. Sophomore Nick Pare got the 'Liners on the board at 140 with an impressive 12-3 major of Eric Burgey. Easton won the next three -- including Jeremy Snyder's pin at 152 in a close bout -- to go up 19-4. Matt Santini ended the run with 45-second pin of Easton reserve Deven Amin at 171. Easton starting 171-pounder Joe Piro (21-8) missed the match due to illness. "I thought we had a chance at 135," Magditch said. "I started with Grassi to hopefully get things rolling. We lost some close matches. I thought maybe we could get on a run and get (Easton) rattled." Easton stretched its lead to 26-10 with Cory Rutt's major at 189 and Chris Wilson's 5-4 marathon win in four overtimes at 215. Jared Crouse gave the Stateliner faithful one last thing to cheer about. Crouse cradled up Nick Williams for a pin at 285 and cut the deficit to 26-16 with four bouts left. Desmond Moore's pin at 103 set the stage for Handlovic to clinch it. Handlovic was on the attack from the onset -- converting six takedowns and turning McGuinness twice to his back in the victory. "I went out there and tried to control the tempo," Handlovic said. "He did a good job of slowing me down. I just kept moving and tried to be aggressive." Mike Weilamann can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at mweilamann@express-times.com.

Easton's Oliver makes his mark as Red Rover Friday, January 06, 2006 By ED RABINOWITZ The Express-Times PALMER TWP. | Every athlete sets goals. Some high school athletes aim to earn individual honors and team glory. Jordan Oliver, Easton Area High School's 103-pound wrestling dynamo, has his own goals. One of those was to be named the outstanding wrestler in the much-anticipated Phillipsburg-Easton wrestling clash. Thursday night, Oliver made good on that goal -- capturing the Brad Weaver Memorial Award presented and sponsored by The Express-Times to the meet's outstanding wrestler. "This (winning the award) feels great," said Oliver, who improved to 20-0 on the season with a 21-4 technical fall win over Phillipsburg's Charlie McGuinness. "I came out and was prepared. I was working to get this (award), I wanted it so bad." Wrestling fourth on the night, Oliver brought the packed house at Easton's 25th Street Gym to its feet. The win sparked the Red Rovers to a 45-15 victory -- their eighth straight over the rival Stateliners. "Wrestling for Easton is wild and exciting, and it's something I'll always remember," said Oliver, sounding more like a senior than a sophomore. "But you have to work hard at it." Oliver, a PIAA Class AAA runner-up as a freshman, said he began working at wrestling at the tender age of 4. He learned moves from his older brother Josh, a standout wrestler at Easton who graduated last spring. The younger Oliver practiced those moves even before he began wrestling competitively. Oliver, ranked No. 1 by The Express-Times, obviously paid attention and learned his lessons well. He burst onto the high school scene last season with a 42-4 record, the most wins ever by a freshman in Easton history. Red Rovers coach Steve Powell praised his prized pupil. "Jordan takes his wrestling with a passion," Powell said. "He's committed to the sport, he does it year round. He may wrestle 50 to 100 matches in the summer time. You go to a tournament, he pretty much knows everybody in his weight class across the country." Oliver said one of the most enjoyable aspects of wrestling for Easton is the traveling to tournaments in faraway places like Reno, Nev. "They're fun, and they're a great experience," Oliver said. "Going out west, we get to see a lot of different talent." Now back to those other goals. Oliver said he was disappointed last season, finishing second at states and earning the silver medal. This year, he's going for the gold. And there's one other thing he'd like to accomplish. "I want to go undefeated," Oliver said without the slightest hesitation. Ed Rabinowitz can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at sports@express-times.com