MySchoolIsPburg.com

This website. social media/related accounts are not affiliated with Phillipsburg School District or any school. We support the constitution and freedom of press. We are not influenced by any entity of what to or to not post. The public/residents/students have a right to know what's going on and they don't deserve a censored and biased media to tell them. Pburg Underground.

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg drug crackdown leads to three more arrests and seizure of 334 bags of heroin and a handgun, authorities say

We recognized some PHS/PASS past students, thought it'd be worth the share 

Authorities in June conduct a drug raid in the 100 block of McKeen Street in Phillipsburg. Town police and the Warren County Narcotics Task Force have recently stepped efforts that resulted in several arrests over the last week. (Express-Times Photo | TIM WYNKOOP)

Print

By Matthew Bultman | The Express-Times  Email the author | Follow on Twitter  on August 15, 2014 at 2:01 PM, updated August 15, 2014 at 2:18 PM

0

Reddit

Email

Authorities recovered more than 300 bags of heroin and a handgun on Thursday inPhillipsburg, continuing a torrid pace of drug-related arrests in recent days.

Luis Diaz, 19, faces 16 charges as a result of the bust, including heroin distribution and weapons possession, court records say.

Daniel Baker, 21, and Miguel Aguilar, 20, who share his address in the 600 block of Green Street, were charged a single count of possession of synthetic marijuana, according to court papers.

With the arrests, Phillipsburg police have now charged at least 20 people with drug crimes in the past 10 days.

In court papers, police say Diaz was observed selling heroin in July within 500 feet of property belonging to the Phillipsburg Housing Authority. When he was busted on Thursday, he had a black 9mm Kel-Tec handgun, brass knuckles and 334 bags of heroin, court papers say.

Police noted the serial number on the gun was scraped off.

Diaz was also alleged to have been in possession of 57 bags of synthetic marijuana.

He was scheduled to make his first appearance this afternoon in New Jersey Superior Court in Belvidere and remains in the Warren County jail this afternoon in lieu of $75,000 bail. Baker and Aguilar each were issued a summons and released.

Drug-related arrests have become almost a daily occurrence in Phillipsburg as of late as authorities continue to crack down on drugs in the downtown area.

A majority of those arrested, who range in age from 19 to 52, face distribution and related charges. The arrests are largely associated with potent drugs such as heroin, crack and cocaine.

In a news release Wednesday, town police said the arrests are the result of a multi-department investigation which started in May.

Mayor Harry Wyant Jr. has described the operation as a concerted effort by law enforcement to bring down drug dealers.

Authorities today declined to reveal more details of the case, only saying the investigation is ongoing.

[myschoolispburg]

PHS Politics and favoritism

An anonymous person contacted us and wanted us to share the following:

 the current varsity cheerleading "re-evaluations" that are being used to move certain selected people up from JV while moving numerous more talented kids that made varsity down.   This is happening right before school even though the kids have been practicing all summer.   Typical pburg favoritism.

Well this is rather unfair and we think the students and parents should stand up and do something about this. Cheering levels as well as any sport levels should be based on skill rather than knowing somebody

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg wrestling photo focus of Centenary College forum; district OKs diversity training

The college's NAACP chapter is hosting a forum about the photo 6 p.m. Wednesday at the college, 400 Jefferson St. The event in the president’s boardroom is open to the public. 

The meeting comes as the Phillipsburg School District takes steps to provide students with diversity training, with the school board voting tonight on three new programs.

The photo surfaced publicly Feb. 17, creating an online firestorm and leading to disciplinary action that included forbidding wrestlers on the state-champion team from competing for individual titles. The attorney for eight teens connected with the photo says there was no racial intent; rather, the dummy represented a Phillipsburg wrestler forced to wear the clothing and colors of Phillipsburg rivals Kittatinny Regional and Paulsboro, Scott Wilhelm said.

Centenary Assistant Professor of Sociology Kitsy Dixon said the photo and ensuing dialogue highlighted the need to have an on-campus discussion about diversity, stereotyping and racism. The college is known for its wrestling team, and a lot of wrestlers come from the Phillipsburg area, if not Phillipsburg High School, she said.

“It’s one of those issues that just hits close to home for us,” said Dixon, an adviser to the Centenary College NAACP chapter.

Assistant Professor Matt Mendres will interview Charles Boddy, president of the Warren/Sussex County NAACP, about the photo and reactions to it. Students will have the opportunity to comment on not only what happened in Phillipsburg but other incidents that “go unnoticed,” Dixon said.

Dixon said she’s been encouraged by Boddy’s approach to the matter. He’s worked hard to make it a moment of reflection and discussion for Warren and Sussex counties, she said. That makes it even more relevant for the college to take part, Dixon said.

“I’m hoping to talk about how we can utilize the resources that are available to us that fight against this type of injustice,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Phillipsburg School Board tonight took action on two diversity programs for students, two weeks after a parent and concerned community members implored officials to move quickly to implement such training. 

Detective David D’Amico, a bias-crime investigator with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, is scheduled to give a presentation Wednesday to Phillipsburg High School students. The program comes at no cost to the district, according to tonight’s school board agenda.

The school board also hired the Ceceilyn Miller Institute for Leadership and Diversity in America to provide human relations, diversity awareness and leadership training. The services will cost no more than $15,000, according to the meeting agenda. The Clifton, N.J.-based institute works with students in kindergarten through 12th grades and on college campuses.

The board also approved a program titled "The Mind of the Athlete" by Dr. Jared Spencer for $8,500. Bill Spencer, Jared's father, abstained from the vote.

Superintendent George Chando said the programs that will begin this year and continue next year are designed to engage parents, students and staff and provide them an opportunity to offer their thoughts on the climate and culture of the school. The Ceceilyn Miller Institute will design programs to continue promoting school climate and culture based on the input from those groups, he said.

"The last five weeks have challenged both our high school and community," Chando said. "As an administration, we need to take this challenge as an opportunity to educate our school community and continue to foster an environment and culture of understanding at our high school."

Joan Maingrette, a Lopatcong Township resident who questioned the board about such programs at the last meeting, commended the board members who took action.

Dixon, of Centenary, said the Phillipsburg photo reminded her of an instance earlier this year in which Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity members at Arizona State University threw a Martin Luther King Jr. party complete with racist stereotypes and costumes. It’s become a common explanation this year that those involved in such incidents didn’t realize the implications.

“We do know better. It’s OK to judge, stereotype and discriminate until we get caught,” she said. “These young boys in Phillipsburg knew what they were doing is wrong.”

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg High School's Anthony Guarino places eighth in triple jump at New Balance Nationals

Anthony Guarino, a junior at Phillipsburg High School, finished eighth in the Emerging Elite boys triple jump division Friday at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track and Field Championships in New York.

Guarino, the Warren County record-holder in the event, leaped 44 feet, 6 inches in the event held at the Armory.

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg High School's Dave Post is The 2014 Express-Times Wrestling Coach of the Year

Dave Post is well-versed in Phillipsburg High School's storied wrestling tradition.

The fourth-year Stateliners' head coach has been part of that tradition for as long as he can remember.

That said, Post knew something special was unfolding right before his eyes this winter.

Post's Stateliners put together a season for the ages, finishing 18-0 and capturing the NJSIAA Group 4 state team title.

But that is not how this season will be remembered.

The Feb. 17 disclosure of a photo depicting seven Phillipsburg wrestlers -- two of whom posed with the hoods of their sweatshirts up and shaped into points -- around a black wrestling dummy dressed in a Paulsboro sweatshirt, a Kittatinny singlet and hanging with a rope around its neck -- set off a firestorm of outrage and scrutiny and cast a pall over what was a dream season.

Two days later, eight team members, including the one who took the picture a few days after the Feb. 1 victory over rival Paulsboro, were suspended and forced to sit out the remainder of the season.

View full sizePhillipsburg coach Dave Post reacts with assistant Bryan Kopesky after Stateliner Robert Melise recorded a pin in the Group 4 final.Express-Times Photo | MATT SMITH

Post and his assistant coaches -- Scott Silvis, Brad Gentzle, Josh Haines, Bryan Kopesky and Joe Kushnerick -- were tasked with prepping the remaining wrestlers for the biggest three weeks of the season.

"The kids that were still wrestling still had personal goals," Post said. "Energy is contagious. If I came in and hung my head every day and my staff came in and was down, it would affect the kids and I wouldn't be doing my job as a coach."

The days and weeks immediately following the incident did take a toll on Post, who struggled with moving forward as the photo gained national headlines.

"Just seeing (Post) every day, you could see the whole situation really wore on him," said Gentzle, who has been on Post's staff all four years. "He made it a priority to protect the kids. Knowing him the way I do, I know it was tough for him not to break. He kept it together for himself and he kept it together for them."

"It tests what your true character is," Post said. "We had to show through our actions that we were going to be there for the (wrestlers). We have to be strong for them."

The firestorm overshadowed what had been a historic run. It was P'burg's first undefeated season since coaching legend Thad Turner led the 1969-70 squad to a 13-0 finish to complete a run of three-straight unbeaten seasons.

No one had a better season. And today, because of that, Post is The 2014 Express-Times Wrestling Coach of the Year.

"It's obviously a great honor," said Post, a two-time state place-winner and 2003 Stateliner graduate. "We'd trade state championships for these awards any day, but with the coaches that are in the area and the storied programs in the Lehigh Valley, to have this honor is incredible. We are very blessed."

As usual, expectations were high for the 'Liners, who entered the season with a deep pool of talent returning from last year's 13-4 squad.

But going undefeated?

"You always set it as a goal," said Post, 29, a mathematics teacher at the high school. "You don't ever plan to lose matches. At first, I don't know if going undefeated is a realistic goal because you're dealing with 14-, 15-, 16-, 17-year-old kids. You're going to have a letdown somewhere along the line."

After strong showings to open the season at the Reno (Nev.) Tournament of Champions -- while competing without three starters and entering no heavyweight -- and the Bethlehem Holiday Classic at Liberty High School -- again without a heavyweight -- the 'Liners kicked off the dual meet season with a 51-17 thumping of Northampton.

Dominant wins over North Hunterdon (42-13), Hunterdon Central (41-18) and High Point (52-13) followed to set up the annual showdown with archival Easton.

"As long as I've been coaching, Easton wrestles with a chip on their shoulder when they wrestle P'burg," Post said. "No matter what type of team they send out, you have to perform at 100 percent because their whole season could turn around if they beat Phillipsburg."

COACH OF THE YEAR

2014 - Dave Post, Phillipsburg 2013 - Jeff Karam, Bethlehem Catholic 2012 - Dave Post, Phillipsburg 2011 - Andy Fitz, Delaware Valley 2010 - Steve Powell, Easton 2009 - Scott Kupec, Pen Argyl 2008 - Jason Magditch, Phillipsburg 2007 - Brian Nesfeder, Bethlehem Catholic 2006 - Frank Rodgers, Hackettstown 2005 - Jason Hawk, North Hunterdon 2004 - Rick Thompson, Phillipsburg 2003 - Terry Daubert, Northampton 2002 - Dave Crowell, Wilson 2001 - Steve Powell, Easton 2000 - Don Rohn, Northampton 1999 - Paul Petro Jr., Delaware Valley 1998 - Don Rohn, Northampton 1997 - Ray Nunamaker, Nazareth 1996 - Jeff Buxton, Blair Academy  1995 - Steve Powell, Easton 1994 - Don Rohn, Northampton 1993 - Jody Karam, Delaware Valley 1992 - Rick Thompson, Phillipsburg 1991 - Don Rohn, Northampton 1990 - Ray Nunamaker, Nazareth 1989 - Bob Jiorle, Phillipsburg  1988 - Ray Nunamaker, Nazareth 1987 - Ray Nunamaker, Nazareth 1986 - (Tie), Rick Thompson, Phillipsburg, and Bob Hall, Voorhees 1985 - Steve Powell, Easton  1984 - Vince Fitz, Delaware Valley 1983 - Dave Crowell, Easton 1982 - Rick Thompson, Phillipsburg 1981 - Dave Crowell, Easton 1980 - Bob Hall, Voorhees 1979 - Dennis Fenton, Notre Dame 1978 - Dave Crowell, Easton 1977 - John Goles, Warren Hills 1976 - Russ Riegel, Hunterdon Central 1975 - Vince Fitz, Delaware Valley 1974 - Bob Zarbatany, Easton 1973 - (Tie), Jan Dutt, Phillipsburg, and Bob Zarbatany, Easton

P'burg defeated Easton 36-20 and continued to roll to impressive wins over Kittatinny (48-16) and Paulsboro (38-21) in a span of 18 hours and right on through sectionals, where the 'Liners avenged last season's loss to Hunterdon Central with a 65-9 thumping of the Red Devils in the North 2 Group 4 finals.

"I don't know if at first we really thought we could go undefeated," Post said. "We knew we were going to have some grinds. High Point was a big one. The way we wrestled in that match and then getting over the hump with Easton. Once we got past that point, winning out became a little less of a fantasy and a little more of a possibility."

Post and his coaching staff orchestrated P'burg's title run by filling a lineup mixed with front-line talent like sophomore 106-pounderBrandon Paetzell, juniors Corey Zinsmeister (138), Jimmy Schuitema(145-152) and Max Elling (152-160) and seniors Broderick Bupivi (160-170) andJake Kocsis (170-182) and junior Joe Maso(195-220).

Add invaluable role players like seniorGarrett Wolfinger (145-152) and juniorTim Hinkle (195-220) and sprinkle in newcomers DJ Wissing (120), Drew Horun(220-285) and Robert Melise (220-285) and you have a recipe for a perfect season.

"That's what made us so hard to wrestle," Post said. "You never knew who was coming out to wrestle where."

Besides the school-issued disciplinary action for violating sportsmanship rules, the controversial photo has prompted ongoing investigations by the Warren County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office Division of Civil Rights. A Paulsboro wrestler has notified the Phillipsburg School District he intends to sue over racial intimidation.

The attorney for the wrestlers involved in the photo has said racial imagery was never intended or considered by those who staged the picture.

Because of the threatened litigation and law enforcement investigations, school officials, including Post, have been prohibited from discussing the photo.

On a competitive level, the fallout made getting on with the wrestling season a herculean task. It also meant making sure the seven wrestlers remaining on the squad were ready to compete in the postseason.

"Dave and the coaching staff worked very hard to keep these kids together and keep them focused in the face of what was a huge distraction," Brandon Paetzell's father Paul Paetzell said. "He wasn't going to let anything detract from what these kids set out to accomplish. "

"We told the kids not to worry about what was going on around them," Post said. "Go to school, do your thing and come to practice. When we came in, it was our way of getting away. It was our way of getting back to what we do best. That's working hard and staying focused on the task at hand. We had to make sure that we didn't lose sight of the fact that these kids had three weeks left to get on the podium in Atlantic City and we weren't going to take that away from them."

All seven remaining Stateliners -- Paetzell, Stephen Friedman, Zinsmeister, Elling, Kocsis, Maso and Melise -- placed top three in District 1, earning spots in the Region 1 Tournament at Wallkill Valley a week later.

Paetzell, Elling and Kocsis were all crowned district champions, with Paetzell and Kocsis advancing to states with first- and second-place region finishes, respectively.

"With only half a team left, we had to make sure these guys had enough workout partners," Post said. "We had to make sure they were still getting really good workouts. We had to be creative."

Post laced up the wrestling shoes and took turns with Haines, Silvis, Kopesky and Kushnerick in squaring off regularly against Zinsmeister, Elling and Kocsis.

"Post is invested in every single kid in that wrestling room," Paul Paetzell said. "No matter what."

Paetzell lost his regular workout partner when Gentzle broke his foot in a pick-up soccer game, so lightweights Kyle Markus and Tom Kosar stepped in to pick up the slack.

"Markus and Kosar didn't leave Paetzell's side. They knew he needed people to work out with," Post said. "(Gentzle) was a week removed from breaking his foot and he was out there trying to go. All my assistant coaches are great. They deserve a lot of credit for coming up with different ways to challenge the kids, to make sure the kids were always wrestling at that competitive edge."

Paetzell and Kocsis both came home from Atlantic City with medals, giving P'burg two place-winners for the first time since 2006, when Jon Gregory (112) and Chris Norrell (152) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Paetzell (39-2) lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Delbarton's Ty Agaisse in the 106-pound finals, while Kocsis (41-5) set a school record for wins in a season and placed fourth in the state at 170, dropping a pair of close decisions to Josef Johnson, also of Delbarton.

"We had aspirations of putting multiple guys on the podium at states," Post said. "We took two guys down and we placed both of them."

"These kids faced every obstacle head-on this season and they've handled each one admirably," Gentzle said. "This was just another knock at them and they never buckled. That's a tribute to them and that's a tribute to (Post). He handled it about as good as anyone could have. That alone is reason why he deserves an honor like this."

Next season could see much of the same as P'burg returns 10 starters and 12 wrestlers who saw significant varsity time this year.

For now, Post and the 'Liners will try to heal and move on.

"We all learned a lot about this situation," said Post, who lives in P'burg with his wife, Ashley, and 19-month-old daughter Madison. "The kids got to see that things happen and you have to pick yourself up and move on with your life.

"For me, it has to do with having positive people around you. I leaned on the people in my life for support more than ever. There were some really low moments. But if those people were going to be strong for me, I had to be strong for these kids."

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Hanging wrestling dummy photo designed to racially intimidate, attorney says

The family of a Paulsboro High School wrestler and the attorney who represents them believe a photo of seven Phillipsburg High Schoolwrestlers with a hanging wrestling dummy was staged to racially intimidate opponents, the lawyer said today.

"Based on what's depicted in that photo, we believe it depicts a lynching," said Telissa Lindsey, an attorney in Marlton, N.J., who last week filed a notice of intent to sue the Phillipsburg School District. "We also see different things within that photo that are very, very disturbing."

Lindsey said the dummy hanging by its neck, coupled with two wrestlers wearing hoods, another in the back motioning in "an Aryan Nation-type salute," another with a paddle "making some type of symbols with his fingers" are all designed to send a message.

A lawyer for the Phillipsburg wrestlers, Scott Wilhelm, has said there was no racial intent with the photo. The scene was staged spontaneously in the high school wrestling room in a display of bravado and school spirit, Wilhelm has said.

The students with their hoods up were acting as executioners and the scene depicted a suicide — the dummy was a Phillipsburg wrestler who hanged himself because he was forced to wear rivals' clothing, including a Paulsboro T-shirt, Wilhelm has said.

'Very worrisome to me'

"What's depicted is very worrisome to me and the community," Lindsey told The Express-Times today. She made her first public comments about the case Friday to the South Jersey Times in Gloucester County.

"They were hanging something," Lindsey said. "That's not school spirit. Holding up one finger saying we're No. 1 is team spirit. I get it. But to be hanging something, I don't buy it."

Lindsey said when Paulsboro wrestled Feb. 1 at Phillipsburg — before the photo was taken — the two black students on the Paulsboro team won their matches.

"Was this some type of way of demonstrating to those students 'This is what happens to you'?" Lindsey said. "I'm not in the head of those students."

Lindsey would not disclose the name of the parents or student considering legal action.

Since Phillipsburg Superintendent George Chando confirmed last week that a Paulsboro student had filed a tort claim against the Phillipsburg School District, many on social media and in online comments have suggested any litigation is financially motivated.

Lindsey today denied that.

"I can't expect everybody to have sensitivity to the things that people in the African-American community would have sensitivity to," said Lindsey, who is black as is the wrestler she represents. "But this is blatant. This is not a small undertone that may have been misunderstood. You're hanging something.

"It's not about money. It's about preventing this from happening again and again and again. And when people close their eyes or disregard this, that's the message you're sending — that this is OK."

Conducting own investigation

Lindsey said she is conducting her own investigation and it will help determine in which court she files a lawsuit "if it comes to that."

"Ultimately, holding people accountable is what we do. But we also want some healing," she said. "Like I said before, it's not just about the money. There has to be a healing process. But that can only come about when people are honest with themselves, sit down and come up with a way to move forward.

"These are kids and I'm hoping they'll learn from this and be better people because of it. If this is just swept under the rug and these students don't truly understand what that picture represents to others, I think you're just going to have another problem in the future and next time it may be more than what a photo represents."

Wilhelm, the Phillipsburg wrestlers' attorney, said while he understands some will interpret racial overtones in the photo, that was never considered by the teens in the picture.

"Could somebody who's older and more attuned to those things view it in that regard? Yes," Wilhelm said previously. "But when you take in all the factors -- (the dummy) is manufactured only in dark, they were creating an execution scene, the boys are 15 and 16, and this day and age when young children are more sensitive to cultural and diversity issues -- it was youthful exuberance for a victor over their rivals."

Eight students punished

Eight wrestlers, including the one who took the picture, were suspended from school for three days and ordered to undergo sensitivity training. The seven who were planning to wrestle in the district tournament on Feb. 22 at Phillipsburg were forbidden from doing so, effectively ending their seasons.

"The boys have learned a lesson," Wilhelm said. "And that's that others may be offended by what you do. But there was no intent here."

Lindsey said she notified the school district of her intent to sue because of rules that require her to give a public agency 90 days' notice.

That requirement isn't in place for individuals, such as the Phillipsburg wrestlers and their parents who also may be subject to a lawsuit, she said.

"Everyone who is involved is subject to potential action," she said. "As far as I'm concerned, I don't think it may just be the students. If this is happening on school property, who else knew about it? Who else encouraged it, if students felt like it was OK."

The Warren County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office Division of Civil Rights also are investigating.

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/03/hanging_wrestling_dummy_photo.html#incart_river

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg wrestler Brandon Paetzell falls in NJSIAA final; Hunterdon Central's Gary Dinmore defeated

Phillipsburg High School sophomore Brandon Paetzell fell to Delbarton High School sophomore Ty Agaisse in the 106-pound championship match of the NJSIAA individual wrestling tournament at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall this afternoon.

After a scoreless first period, Paetzell (42-2) was ridden the entire second period by Agaisse (44-0) and could not come up with a takedown after letting Agaisse escape with 1:47 left in the third period.

Hunterdon Central's Gary Dinmore lost in a sudden-victory period to Jack Clark of St. Augustine in the 152-pound final.

Source :http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/phillipsburg_high_schools_bran_4.html#incart_river

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Former Phillipsburg basketball player Allyson Scerbo's homecoming was a strange experience

Allyson Scerbo’s homecoming wasn’t so homey.

Scerbo, Class of 2009, was one of the better point guards to come through Phillipsburg High School and also excelled on the softball field for the Stateliners.

Now, in her first season as a high school assistant girls basketball coach at Delaware Valley, Scerbo says it was a little strange coming back home as the enemy.

“It was a weird experience to come back and coach against Phillipsburg,” said Scerbo, who studied criminal justice for three years at William Paterson University before transferring to DeSales University. “It really was. There were a lot of mixed emotions because it’s my hometown and I wanted to beat them.”

It didn’t work out that way. Phillipsburg won the junior varsity game and the varsity game against the Terriers rather easily earlier this season. But she’s got this going for her. Her season lasted a few days longer as Del Val advanced to the Central Jersey Group semifinals with a win over Cinnaminson on Thursday before the Terriers lost to Holmdel on Saturday. Phillipsburg’s season came to an end on Thursday with a loss to East Orange in the state playoffs.

Scerbo is the head junior varsity coach and assists first-year coach Mike Haughey on the varsity. She got the job in part because of her friendship with former North Hunterdon star Megan Haughey, Mike’s sister. Megan Haughey, in her second season as head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology, started Phillipsburg’s successful feeder program and coached at Phillipsburg for five season before leaving to go to the college level in 2009.

Megan Haughey played for one of the best feeder programs in the state, the Hunterdon Hoosiers, before she entered North Hunterdon. She and former Warren Hills and Boston University standout Katie Terhune started another feeder program in Hunterdon County several years ago named Hunterdon United.

Scerbo has assisted Megan Haughey the last three seasons with Hunterdon United, a feeder program for fifth-to-eighth graders.

“We just got done with the eighth grade group last summer,” Scerbo said. “So now we’ll go back to the fifth and sixth grade team this year. It’s exciting to see how the girls progress. (Freshman) Michelle Lalor was the starting point guard for Hunterdon Central this season. We had some of those girls for three years and now they are all grown up.”

So what happens if an opening in criminal justice comes along?

“I’d like to still be able to coach on the high school level. I hope I can do both,” said Scerbo, who is also a substitute teacher at Del Val. “I like coaching at the feeder level but I like the high school level, too. It’s a challenge. But you can tell kids at that level to do something and they’ll generally go out and try and do it. The younger kids are a little harder.”

Scerbo would have loved to come back to coach at her alma mater but things just didn’t pan out.

“P’burg didn’t work out,” Scerbo said. “They didn’t have any openings. They say everything happens for a reason, right? I love the Delaware Valley program and I’d like to stay here a long time.”

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg's Brandon Paetzell, Hunterdon Central's Gary Dinmore reach state wrestling finals

Phillipsburg High School waited 16 years between state champions and 13 years between state finalists before Brandon Hull won the 220-pound title in 2012.

The wait could be significantly shorter this time around.

Sophomore 106-pounder Brandon Paetzellearned his way to the finals with tonight's 7-1 semifinal decision over Steinert's Brandon Cray at the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

"I remember the parade we had honoring (Hull) after he won it in 2012," P'burg coach Dave Post said. "I told the P'burg people, it took us all those years to get a state champion, I didn't want to wait again. When Brandon (Paetzell) came in as a freshman, I shared that line with him."

Paetzell (39-1) has a chance to become the 'Liners 34th state champ when he takes on Delbarton's Ty Agaisse (40-0).

Action kicks off at 10 a.m. Sunday with fifth-round wrestlebacks, consolation finals for third through eighth places at 11 and the championships at 3.

"This is the predicted state final," said Paetzell, who lost 1-0 to Agaisse in a dual meet last season at The Pit. "I know it's a really-hyped match and he's going to try to keep it close, maybe get one takedown and ride me out. I just want to open him up and get him to wrestle me."

Paetzell joins Hunterdon Central's Gary Dinmore, who advanced to his third state final with a 5-3 decision over Delbarton's Joseph Tavoso.

Dinmore (39-2), who lost in the finals the past two seasons to South Plainfield's undefeated, four-time champion Anthony Ashnault, will face St. Augustine Prep's Jack Clark.

Clark (26-0) came back to New Jersey after spending three years at the McDonough School in Maryland, where he won three Maryland independent schools state championships and two national prep titles.

Paetzell, who dominated Emerson-Park Ridge's Pablo Robles 9-1 in the quarterfinals, has not given up more than a point in his three tournament wins.

"It's a style thing," Post said. "The best way to wrestle Brandon is not to wrestle him at all. You see guys go out and try to shut him down, but he's so explosive offensively."

In the semis, Paetzell had to fend off an early attack by Cray to go into the second period tied 0-0.

"He came out a lot more aggressive then my other opponents," Paetzell said. "I had to be a little more defensive than normal."

Paetzell broke the tie with a reversal early in the second before locking up a cradle to take a 5-0 lead into the third.

"I ended up on top, pushing his other leg over top of me," said Paetzell, who had to win six wrestleback matches last year to earn a fifth-place finish after losing in the preliminaries. "I was going for the turk there. Then I saw the opportunity for the cradle open up and I took it."

North Hunterdon's Ryan Pomrinca (126) and Warren Hills' Andrew Pacheco(285) lost their semifinal matches and will have to navigate the loser's bracket for possible third-place medals.

Pomrinca, who survived a 2-1 overtime decision against Hasbrouck Heights' Marc Mastropietro in the quarterfinals, had no answer for Don Bosco's Kyle Bierdumpful in a 9-5 semifinal loss.

Bierdumpful, the 106-pound state runner-up last season, scored four takedowns to advance to the finals.

Pacheco was ambushed in the semis by Robbinsville senior Tyler Gildner, who pinned him in 4:52.

Pacheco, who exorcised some demons in the quarterfinals when he sent Hanover Park's Nick LaShell to the loser's bracket with a 5-3 decision, was leading Gildner 2-1 when he was reversed to his back and pressed for the fall.

LaShell beat Pacheco in the wrestlebacks a year ago, ending the Blue Streaks big man's season.

Hunterdon Central's Dylan Nace (132) and Collin Boylan (145), North's Mike Ciavarro (152) and P'burg's Jake Kocsis (170) are all still alive in the wrestlebacks.

Nace (42-3) went 4-0, including three falls today to ensure himself no worse than a fifth-place finish.

Boylan (42-5) will have to settle for seventh-place at best after dropping a fourth-round consolation match 4-3 to Westfield's Matt Barber.

Ciavarro (35-7) and Kocsis (40-4) are also still alive for third place and can do no worse that fifth.

Ciavarro lost an 8-4 decision to Trenton Central's Maaziah Bethea in the quarterfinals but bounced back with one-point wins over Kittatinny's Nick Romyns (3-2) and Bergen Catholic's Joe Grello (2-1) in the wrestlebacks.

Kocsis dropped a 3-2 decision to St. Peter's Prep's Josef Johnson in the quarters before defeating Brick Township's Dean Sherry (6-4 in overtime) and Howell's Gerardo Jorge (3-2) in the consolations.

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/phillipsburgs_brandon_paetzell_1.html#incart_river

[myschoolispburg]

LVH:East Orange ends Phillipsburg's girls basketball season for fourth straight year

Once again, East Orange wasn't fazed by the bright lights or the boisterous home crowd.

Guards Marvellous Osage-Erese scored 19 points and Kyianah English added 18 as the Jaquars took control with a 17-7 third quarter and eliminated Phillipsburg from state play for the fourth straight season with an exciting 63-59 victory in a NJSIAA North 2 Group 4 girls basketball quarterfinal game tonight.

East Orange, the No. 6 seed out of brutally tough Essex County, beat No. 3 Phillipsburg (23-4) 66-55 and 71-67 in quarterfinal rounds and 48-33 in the sectional final last season.

Junior forward Ny-asia Franklin added 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the and scored eight of her points when East Orange (17-8), turned a 35-34 deficit after a half to 51-42 after three quarters and P'burg could never recover.

"They are very athletic, they get on the boards and they can shoot the ball," Phillipsburg coach Nicole Savino said. "We hung with them. There were a couple plays, a couple offensive rebounds, we gave them. We had a tough third quarter but al-in-all, this team never gives up. I'm so proud of their effort."

Phillipsburg super scorer Jess Kovatch, a junior guard who set a school records with 559 points and 51 3-pointers, and Osage-Erese, a sophomore guard, were hooked up in a scoring duel in the first half with Kovatch scoring 18 points and Osage-Erese 17 in an entertaining up-and-down first 16 minutes.

Kovatch, the first player in Phillipsburg history to score 1,000 career points as an underclassman, finished with 28 points on 10-for-20 shooting from the field, 2-for-5 from 3-point territory, and 6-for-6 from the foul line.

"Jess has had just an amazing season," Savino said. "She's a great player offensively and the rest of her game has come so far along this year. She leads our team by action and came back fighting at the end."

The Jaguars led 13-7 before P'burg came back to take a 14-13 lead. East Orange led 29-23 when P'burg senior Rachel Edwards, who missed most of the season with an ACL injury, scored the last of her six second-quarter points to give the 'Liners a 35-32 advantage.

"Rachel sort of re-tweaked her knee after coming back," Savino said of Edwards, who finished her career with 93 3-pointers. "It was nice to see her get in there and play great in her last game. She's going to Centenary so I know she'll have a great career there.""

P'burg didn't wilt after going 0-for-3 from the field with eight turnovers to start the second half. Kylie Devlin hit a "3" to get the Stateliners back to within 53-49 and get the huge crowd back in the game as well.

"I have so much respect for Phillipsburg and their fans," East Orange coach Derrick Johnson said. "What a great place to play. And the Kovatch kid is something else. One of the best players I've seen this season. We feel lucky to come here and win. That was a good team we played. We just played a little better."

An Edwards 3-pointer with 3:49 left almost blew the roof off the house while cutting the lead to 54-52. Franklin then rebounded her own miss, made a layup, was fouled and made the free throw for a 57-52 lead with 3:23 left.

Down 62-59 with 5.2 seconds left, P'burg almost forced East Orange into a turnover in their backcourt but English kept her plant foot long enough, drew a foul, and clinched the game with a free throw with 1.8 remaining.

"Fourth time," Savino said, not counting the loss in a summer tournament championship to East Orange. "It was a great game though. Everybody puts it all out there. That's all you can ask. "

Soruce and gallery http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/east_orange_ends_phillipsburgs.html#incart_river

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg needs 'to be held accountable' for wrestling dummy photo, attorney says

The parents of a Paulsboro wrestler who have filed a notice of intent to sue the Phillipsburg School District fear their son won't be safe when he travels to Phillipsburg for athletic events, according to a published report.

The South Jersey Times today reported Telissa Lindsey, an attorney in Marlton, N.J., represents the family of the Paulsboro High School wrestler, who is black.

"The parents are very concerned," she told the newspaper. "If this is being displayed by the students, what are the adults doing? Could their child be in danger in participating in sporting events?"

Lindsey did not identify the wrestler or his family.

The photograph was taken by a Phillipsburg wrestler in the school's wrestling room a few days after Phillipsburg's Feb. 1 defeat of Paulsboro.

It depicted seven members of the wrestling team posing around a dummy hanging by its neck and wearing the clothing and colors of Phillipsburg rivals -- a blue Kittatinny Regional singlet and a red Paulsboro T-shirt. Two of the teens in the photo wore hoods shaped into a point.

"There were a lot of racial overtones in the photo," Lindsey told the South Jersey Times. "Those responsible need to be held accountable. There is a bias intimidation statute in New Jersey that prohibits that type of display of racial intimidation. There are criminal laws against it."

Scott Wilhelm, a Phillipsburg attorney who represents the Phillipsburg wrestlers, has said creating imagery of race or the Ku Klux Klan was not the wrestlers' intent. The students with their hoods up were acting as executioners and the scene depicted a suicide — the dummy was a Phillipsburg wrestler who hanged himself because he was forced to wear rivals' clothing, Wilhelm has said.

Lindsey told the South Jersey Times she is pursuing her own investigation into the photo.

"The parents are interested in getting justice for what was displayed in that photograph," Lindsey said. "They have become even more upset over time when the students' attorney has tried to downplay what has been depicted in that photograph."

Wilhelm said he was disturbed by Lindsey's characterization of Phillipsburg as unsafe.

"Not knowing anybody in Phillipsburg, probably never having been to Phillipsburg and certainly not knowing any of the boys and their families, she disparaged the entire town," Wilhelm said. "And I think that’s troubling coming from a so-called professional."

Accusations of a bias crime are baseless because of the absence of intent and because the photo was not directed at any individual, Wilhelm said.

The photo surfaced publicly a day after Phillipsburg won a state team championship and capped its first undefeated dual meet season in 44 years.

Disclosure of the photo has also prompted investigations by Phillipsburg police, the Warren County Prosecutor's Office and the state Attorney General's Office Division of Civil Rights.

Earlier today, the acting superintendent of Paulsboro schools, Walter Quint, said any threat of a lawsuit won't erase the strides both the Paulsboro and Phillipsburg school districts have taken to move beyond the controversy.

"They feel as many of us would," Quint said of school administrators in Phillipsburg. "As a school and a community, you never want this. This is a serious matter, but my professional colleagues and peers in Phillipsburg I'm sure feel very, very badly about this."

Phillipsburg schools Superintendent George Chando this week said the Phillipsburg school board received a notice of intent to sue on behalf of a Paulsboro student, but he wouldn't elaborate.

Paulsboro's Quint said he was touched by a handwritten letter he received from Greg Troxell, principal of Phillipsburg High School. The letter expressed apologies and gratitude for Paulsboro's response in the aftermath of the controversy, Quint said.

"He wrote that this incident in no way reflects any feeling about our community (Paulsboro) from that school (Phillipsburg) or from that community in Phillipsburg," Quint said. "Both Mr. Chando and Mr. Troxell have been clear on that and grateful for the way we've handled this."

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/03/phillipsburg_needs_to_be_held.html#incart_m-rpt-1

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg High School's Jake Kocsis confident heading into state wrestling tournament

Jake Kocsis learned something about himself last weekend when he

locked horns with Dillon Artigliere of Roxbury in the 170-pound finals at the NJSIAA Region 1 Tournament at Wallkill Valley.

The Phillipsburg High School senior, who's not known to be short on confidence, wasn't completely sure he belonged on the mat with the returning state champion.

Artigliere came away with a 5-3 decision and his third regional crown.

Kocsis came away with something more.

Kocsis' performance dropped him firmly into the conversation of 170-pound state-title contenders for this weekend's State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

"It took Jake about a minute into the first period to figure out he could hang with (Artigliere)," Phillipsburg head coach Dave Post said. "I'm not sure he knew he really belonged out there. As the match went on, he proved he did."

Kocsis (36-3) enters the weekend as the No. 3 seed in the bottom half of the state bracket, while Artigliere (39-0) is the top seed in the top half.

"I'm even more focused to get to the state finals," Kocsis said. "I proved I can hang with anybody."

Kocsis, the top-ranked 170 pounder in The Express-Times region, is making his second trip to Atlantic City and knows there are no guarantees he'll reach the finals.

He'll need to navigate his half of the bracket, which features returning place winners Luke Farinaro of Don Bosco and Delbarton's Josef Johnson, among others, to even get a shot at Artigliere.

"The seedings don't really faze me," Kocsis said. "It doesn't matter where you fall in the bracket. You have to beat everybody to win it all."

"Jake is unflappable," Post said. "He's your typical old-school P'burg kid - not scared of anybody. He approaches every match the same."

Kocsis, who has had a breakout senior season of sorts - his third year as a starter for the Stateliners.

The loss to Artigliere was Kocsis' only loss this season in New Jersey. And all three of his defeats are to opponents ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Artigliere is ranked seventh in the country by InterMat Wrestling.

Kocsis' other losses were to No. 8-ranked Kimball Bastain (42-0) from Maple Mountain, Utah and Garrett Peppleman (35-1) from Central Mountain (Pa.) - the No. 3-ranked 160- pounder in the country.

"The strides Jake has made since his freshman year are remarkable," Post said. "And the credit goes to his own work ethic. It's been a 365-day-a-year process with multiple practices a day. He motivates everyone else to work harder."

Kocsis cracked the lineup as a sophomore in 2012, going 19-12 and placing fourth in District 1.

His junior year, Kocsis won 29 matches and made it to the district finals but settled for a silver medal behind Mendham's Sam Button. Kocsis advanced to A.C. with a third-place finish at regions the following weekend.

"I really didn't know what to expect when I got to states last year," Kocsis said. "I wasn't really focused on what I was capable of. I think I doubted myself and I was pretty overwhelmed really. This year is a lot different."

Kocsis faces Bound Brook senior Ryan Doerr (30-10) in Friday's 5 p.m. preliminary round with unbeaten Region 8 champ Kellen Whitney from Hammonton waiting in the prequarterfinals.

Even with the road littered with pitfalls, Kocsis likes his chances.

So does Post, who has taken turns with P'burg assistant coaches Josh Haines and Scott Silvis in working Kocsis out this week.

"Jake hates to lose," Post said. "Whether it's in practice with me or Silvis or Haines, or if it's in the regional finals, he doesn't take a second off. He doesn't want to get scored on at all."

Post was a two-time state place winner for the 'Liners in the early 2000s. Haines won back-to-back PIAA Class AAA state titles at Northampton in 2003 and 2004.

"Last year, I realized what I needed to do to be a state champion," Kocsis said. "And I think I've done everything I could to get me to this point. I've done all the off-season work with tournaments and going to Gold Medal (Wrestling Club out of Easton, Pa.) regularly. I've done a lot of weight training with my uncle (Mike Kocsis). All that's left to do is wrestle."

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/phillipsburg_high_schools_jake.html#incart_river

[myschoolispburg]

SAT Testing tomorrow (Sat, March 8th)

SAT Testing will be taking place tomorrow Saturday, March 8th, 2014. Be sure to study and get plenty of rest

[myschoolispburg]

NJSIAA wrestling tournament: A weight-by-weight preview

106 pounds

The favorite: Ty Agaisse, Delbarton.

The contenders: Brandon Paetzell,Phillipsburg; Alec Kelly. St. Peter's Prep; Sebastian Rivera, Christian Brothers Academy; Jonathan Tropea, St. Joseph's-Montvale.

The dark horse: Gonzalo Limenza, Bound Brook. 

The locals: Paetzell.

The skinny: Beast of the East champion Agaisse is the universal choice of much of the New Jersey wrestling cognoscenti, but he probably should be the favorite: Beast of the East champions deserve that deference, and he did beat Paetzell last season. However, no one can match Paetzell's go-for-it aggressiveness and constant forward motion, and it would be easy to see why a Stateliner wrestler may come into states with extra motivation. Limenza is a senior, always a threat at this class, and Rivera has moxie and strength. But the final should certainly be Agaisse-Paetzell, and when it's all at stake on the mat we'll always take a Stateliner. 

The pick: Paetzell.

113 pounds

The favorite: Nick Suriano, Bergen Catholic.

The contenders: Patrick D'Arcy, Holy Spirit; Owen McClave, Toms River South; Bobby Jordan, Woodbridge.

The dark horse: Ryan Freeman, Paramus.

The locals: Kyle DiNapoli, Voorhees.

The skinny: Suriano's stats boggle the mind. He's been held under 10 points once all season and has won every match by a major decision or more, including an 11-1 decision over Bethlehem Catholic's Luke Karam in the Beast of the East final. Suriano, the 2013 106-pound champ, hasn't lost in 79 scholastic matches and won't lose this weekend, either. Everybody is competing for second, which we like Jordan for. DiNapoli is underrated but the sophomore may be a year away from the podium.

The pick: Suriano.

120 pounds

The favorite: Luis Gonzalez, Don Bosco Prep.

The contenders: Anthony Cefolo, Hanover Park; Nick Farro, Delbarton; Tyler McBride, Camden Catholic; Michael Russo, St. Peter's Prep; Mike Russo, Jackson Liberty.

The dark horse: Bryan Damon, Jefferson Township.

The locals: Cody Ihling, Voorhees.

The skinny: Might not be a more entertaining and evenly-matched class to watch on the Boardwalk. It features two past champs -- Gonzalez (113 in 2013) and Cefolo (106 in 2012), a physical powerhouse in McBride and not one but two very talented Mike Russos, the Jackson version of which wrestled a tough 3-0 decision over Ihling in December.  Cefolo lost to Farro in D-9 and R-3 finals and they could meet here, too ... but Bosco senior Gonzalez should break up that party. Ihling could see Cefolo in the second round but is mentally tough enough to come back for a medal. 

The pick: Gonzalez.

126 pounds

The favorite: Kyle Bierdumpfel, Don Bosco Prep.

The contenders: Craig De La Cruz, Bound Brook; Christian Innarella, Delbarton; Peter Lipari, Bergen Catholic; Matt Noble, DePaul; Ryan Pomrinca, North Hunterdon.

The dark horse: Sal Profaci, Monroe.

The locals: Pomrinca.

The skinny: The deepest class of them all. Every name listed above is a legitimate contender. Bierdumpfel is an odd top seed given that he's lost to De La Cruz, last year's champ at 120. Pomrinca has not lost to De La Cruz; indeed he beat the Crusader in the R-5 final and is unbeaten at 126 this season. Pomrinca, now a junior, was seventh in the state as a freshman and would have medaled last year but for a broken hand. The win over De La Cruz earned Pomrinca a significantly easier path to the final, and no one is wrestling better. The only reservation we have with Pomrinca is that he wrestles a whole lot of exceedingly close bouts that could go either way. On the other hand, he wins almost all of them. So ...

The pick: Pomrinca.

132 pounds

The favorite: Anthony Giraldo, North Bergen.

The contenders: Mike Derin, High Point; Mohamed Farhan, Clifton; Mike Magaldo, Watchung Hills.

The dark horse: Mark McCormick, Camden Catholic.

The locals: Dylan Nace, Hunterdon Central; Max Nauta, Warren Hills. 

The skinny: A two-man bracket here with the unbeaten, 2013 126-pound champ and Rutgers commit Giraldo versus the once-beaten, 2012 120-pound champ and Oklahoma State-bound Magaldo. Unfortunately for Magaldo, that one loss is to Giraldo. Derin is red-hot and could push Magaldo in a semifinal. Nauta, a R-1 champ and state qualifier as a freshman, can outfunk anybody and has a good shot to medal. 

The pick: Giraldo. 

138 pounds

  The favorite: Ronnie Gentile, Paulsboro.

The contenders: Connor Burkert, St. Peter's Prep; Alex Murray, Watchung Hills; Gavin Murray, Cranford; Gordon Wolf, Lawrence.

The dark horse: William Povalac, Edison.

The locals: none.

The skinny: South Jersey lives! Gentile, whose sole loss is to Manheim (Pa.) Township's Cortlandt Schuyler in the Escape the Rock semifinals, is the overwhelming pick here mostly because he's indomitable on his feet. Burkert could give him a good go in the final. Gavin Murray might the the lightest-regarded unbeaten kid in the state, but he could make the final as well. Povalac will beat somebody he shouldn't. Not Gentile, though.

The pick: Gentile.

145 pounds

The favorite: David McFadden, DePaul.

The contenders: Carl Buttita, JFK-Iselin; Jason Gaccione, High Point; Dan Reed, Delbarton; John Van Brill, Clearview.

The dark horse: Zach Wilhelm, Southern Regional.

The locals: Collin Boylan, Hunterdon Central.

The skinny: Brilliant job of seeding here leaves McFadden and the unbeaten Van Brill, the two best wrestlers, in the same half of the bracket, which is too bad for Van Brill. The other half of the bracket presents somebody with an excellent chance to make an unexpected state final, and we like Gaccione to make the final a rematch of the Region 1 championship. McFadden won that, and he'll win this one too. 

The pick: McFadden.

152 pounds

The favorite: Jack Clark, St. Augustine Prep.

The contenders: Maaziah Bethea, Trenton Central; Gary Dinmore, Hunterdon Central; Ed Lenkowski, Clearview.

The dark horse: Mike Ciavarro, North Hunterdon. 

The locals: Ciavarro, Dinmore. 

The skinny: The good news for the Virginia Tech-bound Ciavarro is that he won't have to beat his nemesis Dinmore (5-0 against Ciavarro) to make the final. The bad news is that he will likely have to beat the 33-0 Bethea or 22-0 two-time National Prep champ (for his previous school, McDonogh (Md.) Clark to do so. Dinmore, meanwhile, has lost twice in consecutive state finals to South Plainfield's unbeaten 4-time champ Anthony Ashnault, and figured to get an easier draw than that a senior ... and in comes Clark, who beat Blair's fearsome Mason Manville in the Prep final last season. You have to feel for Dinmore, but the third time won't be the charm.

The pick: Clark.

160 pounds

The favorite: Jonathan Schleifer, East Brunswick.

The contenders: Brett Donner, Wall; Jordan Pagano, Bergen Catholic; Christian Stackhouse, Riverside; Josh Ugalde, Bound Brook.

The dark horse: Brian Matthews, Roselle Park.

The locals: Mike Sicola, North Hunterdon. 

The skinny: The Princeton-bound Schleifer lost in the final here to Roxbury's Dillon Artigliere last March, but he's not losing again. Relentless on his feet and defensively rock-solid, Schleifer will be very hard to stay close to, though Ugalde lost just 8-4 in R-5 final. Sicola has a decent shot at a medal, though he may be a year away.

The pick: Schleifer.

  170 pounds

The favorite: Dillon Artigliere, Roxbury.

The contenders: Luke Farinaro, Don Bosco Prep; Josef Johnson, Delbarton; Jake Kocsis, Phillipsburg.

The dark horse: Mike Fagg-Daves, Franklin. 

The locals: Joe Guzzo, North Hunterdon; Kocsis. 

The skinny: Kocsis is one of just two wrestlers this season (Johnson the other) to hold the Cornell-bound returning state champion Artigliere, who's won 83 straight bouts, to a decision this season, 5-3 in the R-1 final. No wrestler in the state has improved more over the last two seasons than Kocsis, but Johnson and Farinaro are formidable foes standing between the Stateliner senior and a rematch with Artigliere. Guzzo has a brutal draw, Kittatinny's Kieran Gerrity to start and if he wins, Farinaro. 

The pick: Artigliere.

182 pounds

The favorite: Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic. 

The contenders: Joey Balboni, David Brearley; Sam Button Mendham; Nick Costa, Brick Memorial.

The dark horse: Kyle Lynch, Raritan.

The locals: Kody Eichlin, Delaware Valley.

The skinny: They call him "Johnny Wrestling", and Beast of the East champion Sebastian, going for his third straight state title, lives up to the name with his sunny disposition and non-stop motor on the mat. A shoulder injury has limited him this winter but he should still have enough to hold off the increasingly impressive Balboni in the final. Eichlin could see Balboni in the second round; yikes

The pick: Sebastian.

195 pounds

The favorite: Anthony Cassar, Montgomery.

The contenders: Matt Correnti, Holy Cross; Cory Damiana, Lower Cape May; Robbie Maggiulli, Emerson-Park Ridge; Ralph Normandia, Franklin.

The dark horse: Kyle Stoll, High Point.

The locals: none. 

The skinny: The seeding here makes no sense, really, with Correnti and the unbeaten Cassar wrestling in a pre-quarterfinal; are you kidding? The top half of the bracket also has Maggiulli and 36-0 Ed Shockley of Millville. Normandia is 37-0 against everybody not named Cassar and since Cassar may not survive the killer bracket, Normandia looks pretty good. Like a champ.

The pick: Normandia.

220 pounds

  The favorite: Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea. 

The contenders: Zach Chakonis, Don Bosco Prep; Christian Jenco, Bergen Catholic; Mike Markulec, Hopewell Valley; 

The dark horse: Steven Hill, Parsippany Hills.

The locals: none.

The skinny: As good a wrestler as Dobzanski is, he's a better baseball player (has a scholarship to Louisville), but he can finish up a remarkable career on the mat as a two-time champion if he wins here. Chakonis pushed Dobzanski 5-4 in last year's 220-pound final and it should be a close one again this year, assuming Chakonis gets past Markulec, unbeaten against so-so competition, in the semis.

The pick: Dobzanski.

285 pounds

The favorite: Kevin Wilkins, St. Joseph's-Montvale.

The contenders: Armond Cox, St. Peter's Prep; Stephen Johnson, Bound Brook; Nicholas LaShell, Hanover Park; Noa Merritt, Pope John; Andrew Pacheco, Warren Hills; Andrew Stevens, Camden. 

The dark horse: Marek Tomanek, Delaware Valley.

The locals: Pacheco; Tomanek.

The skinny: Pacheco has pinned Wilkins and beaten Merritt and Tomanek (admittedly also lost to both, but the wins came later) so why the 33-2 Blue Streak junior is not seeded higher is beyond us. There's a whole lot of athletic ability here and more offense than usual with heavyweights. Pacheco can handle Cox, LaShell and Tomanek (who we like to medal) in the top half, and then use his power and his offensive skills -- he threw Wilkins and decked him in 30 seconds in a dual -- to beat Wilkins or Merritt in the final. If so, he'd be Warren Hills' first state champion since 1998 (Justin Colaluce) and 47th overall.

The pick: Pacheco.

Source and photo gallery: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/njsiaa_wrestling_tournament_a.html#incart_river

[myschoolispburg]

MISTAKE ON LAST POST! Tomorrow is not a half day.

Our feed of the school calendar was messed up. Tomorrow is not a half day. sorry for the false hope

[myschoolispburg]

LAST DAY OF HSPA TESTING / HALF DAY 3/7/2014

Tomorrow will conclude the HSPA testing for the Juniors and it is also a half day. Good luck.

[myschoolispburg]

LVH: Phillipsburg wrestlers' attorney says teens won't give statements to investigators

The Phillipsburg High School wrestlers whose photo with a hanging wrestling dummy prompted an investigation by law enforcement authorities won't be providing any statements to investigators, their attorney said today. 

Attorney Scott Wilhelm said he spoke generally of the investigation last Tuesday with Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke.

Phillipsburg police last week also inquired about interviewing the teens and Wilhelm said he decided not to allow it.

"No person should ever speak when they're a suspect in an investigation," Wilhelm said. "It's standard for a good criminal defense lawyer to say their clients won't speak with the police or prosecutors. Even if you say something benign or innocent, the prosecutor may twist that around."

Burke confirmed the investigation is ongoing and said Wilhelm had recently advised his office the wrestlers were invoking their Fifth Amendment right. Provisions of the amendment to the Constitution include protection from having to "answer for a ... crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury."

"He's just advised us that his clients will not be made available for interviews, which is certainly their right," Burke said. "It's not an unusual position for him to take."

While there is still no time frame as to when a decision will be made, the prosecutor said he didn't expect the investigation to last much longer. Burke said the probe had been slowed at the start as his office worked to coordinate efforts with Phillipsburg police and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

"Now, we're kind of moving forward in a normal course," he said.

Attorney: No crime here

Wilhelm said he remains convinced his clients — eight wrestlers whose photo led to three-day suspensions, sensitivity training and the ends of their wrestling season — didn't commit a crime.

"For a crime, you have to intend to commit a crime," said Wilhelm. "There was no intent here to commit any type of crime or any intent to harm anybody."

Wilhelm has speculated that the attorney general's office Division of Civil Rights will attempt to determine if there's evidence of a bias crime -- evidence he says doesn't exist.

"For a bias crime, they've got to show that they were intimidating a specific person or specific group because of their race, gender, sexual orientation or things of that nature," he said. "That clearly was not the case. This was just boys fooling around."

Wilhelm has said the dummy represented a Phillipsburg wrestler who was forced to wear the clothing and colors of Phillipsburg rivals -- a blue Kittatinny Regional singlet and a red Paulsboro T-shirt. The boys created a scene in the wrestling room in which the dummy had written a suicide note and hanged himself by the neck with a rope, Wilhelm said.

Two boys in the photo wearing hoods into a point were posing as executioners and not white supremacists, as many who saw the photo interpreted it, Wilhelm has said.

Social media firestorm

The photo, which surfaced publicly Feb. 17, created a firestorm on the Internet and across social media, which is where one of the wrestlers posted it earlier in the month.

Seven of the eight boys who were expected to wrestle in a district tournament Feb. 22 were forbidden from doing so, effectively ending their seasons. Disclosure of the photo came a day after the Stateliners won a state team championship and capped their first undefeated dual meet season in 44 years.

Wilhelm said he's been given no indication when the investigations might be concluded.

Reporter Matthew Bultman contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/03/phillipsburg_wrestlers_attorne.html#incart_river