Phillipsburg Once Again Too Much for West Orange

The aura of wrestling at "The Pit" Phillipsburg High School's gymnasium isn't a new experience for the West Orange wrestling team.

Unfortunately for the Mountaineers not much changed from the last time they visited distant Warren County.

Phillipsburg, 12-5, the top seed in the North 1 Group IV section, was simply too much for the third-seeded Mountaineers Friday night in a 48-15 victory. The Stateliners, who won last year's match 48-17, repeated the number of wins from last year's final — 10.

West Orange, now 11-4, got wins from seniors — 285-pounder Emo Betancor, 171-pounder Pascal Louis; 145-pounder Zach White and 125-pounder Dawit Rutty. Louis also won at Phillipsburg last year – by technical fall — and Betancor, who won last year 3-1.

It was the third straight year West Orange has made the sectional final, losing to Randolph three years ago and to Phillipsburg the last two years.

"We battled," said West Orange coach Steve Zicehlla. "We didn't think we matched up with Phillipsburg.

"I think we did alright," Zichella said. "They are tough. They overwhelmed us. They were good from every position and scramble. They were just more polished. They obviously are veteran wrestlers."

Betancor, the fourth place finisher in the NJSIAA State Wrestling Tournament last year, improved his record to 17-0 with a 49 second fall of junior Cody Crouse. Louis (23-7) beat junior Larry Giammarco 11-4, White (19-7) knocked off junior Joe Moyer 12-8 and Rutty (19-7) beat junior Justin Lane 7-2.

The Mountaneers are scheduled to wrestle in the Verona Quad today where Betancor is likely to meet New Providence unbeaten senior Zach Troutman. Troutman finished sixth in last year's state tournament.