From a New Jersey perspective, this is probably one of the biggest duals in the NJSIAA all season. I couldn’t imagine many more better top to bottom. Of course Delbarton vs St Joe’s Regional but they don’t wrestle during the season. So, I’m sure some folks in the state can point to the better ones elsewhere but this is about as good as a high school in-season dual gets.

From my national perspective, CBA leads by a slight margin with 3 ranked in the top 25 compared to Southern’s 2. And adding to that perspective, the best match of the dual looks to be 106. Now, Coluccio and Mason have wrestled once – at Powerade – where Coluccio won. That was 3-0 in the quarterfinals and we favor him again but that could flip tonight. Definitely one to watch.

Paul Kenny was our #1 at 113 until Powerade where he finished 3rd. His loss came in the semifinals and he’s won his last 5 matches since then: 2 in those consolations and 3 in dual meets. The toughest of those was Salvatore Borrometi in the St Peter’s dual. I expect him to dominate this one in front of his home fans but I suppose less than a fall is on the table.

Alex Nini is someone I’m really high on, and I give him the edge here of course, but people within the state could tell you this is anything but a walk in the park with Stout. He’s top 3 or so in the state and definitely on the outer edge of the top 25. Definitely another one to check out.

Henrich has been between 150 and 157. Wherever he is, he’s among the very best in the state. In fact, his only losses on the season have been to two out of state top 10 kids at 152. Here at 157, I expect a very commanding win for him. 

So when it comes to the national landscape, CBA would be expected to win 3 of the 4 matches. And while these are the bouts that have my attention, there are many more with big Garden State implications.

I’ll do my best to go through them as well as I can.

Let’s start by saying this dual is likely going to look and feel like 2 duals. Especially if they start at 106. I have CBA favored in 4 of the first 7 matches and winning 2 additional. 120 is maybe even slight edge to the visitor, but this ain’t my first rodeo (not even my 100th) and I’ve seen plenty of matches like this go to the home kid. Especially coming off what should be back to back wins for the home team and the gym has that electric feeling. Then I have Falcone winning what should be the single biggest toss up of the night. Again, owing to the home side. If this were at Southern, I go Manera.

I may be right and I may be wrong, we won’t know for another couple hours. What I do know is that the CBA line up is strongest from 106 to 150. And that’s where most of their wins will come from. In fact, that’s where I have all of their wins coming from because once they get to 157, Southern goes back to back with two of its best wrestlers. Then the momentum starts to go the other way and 175 should be closer but still have to like the Rams here. Then the final 3 weights include a forfeit at the end and leading up to that, 2 heavier weights that Southern is pretty strongly favored in.

These are the kind of weights where any sort of difference generally leads to pins. So, I have them as pins for Southern. Those 12 points loom large in the team score and the 2nd one pushes them one point above with the forfeit left. That’s where it’s locked up.

If the CBA big guys can keep it to decisions that would be huge for the Colts prospects. Of course, pulling out any of the other weights would be just as key. And the great thing about this sport is that even the most predictable has a way of surprising us.

The dual will be streamed on the CBA Network and I look forward to some high quality middle of the season New Jersey wrestling.