News Flash

It's déjà vu for Del Val and Raritan

NJSIAA SECTIONAL FINALS. Favored Terriers and Rockets to meet for the title a third
straight year.
Thursday, February 16, 206
By MIKE WEILAMANN
The Express-Times

There's an air of mystery surrounding tonight's Central Group 2 sectional final.

It's usually the case when Delaware Valley takes on Raritan in what's developed into a pretty good rivalry the last two seasons.

The Terriers once again host the upset-minded Rockets at 7 tonight when the NJSIAA sectional finals commence across New Jersey.

Del Val (19-3), the defending sectional champion, is one of five Express-Times area teams to host title matches.

"We're definitely peaking right now," said Del Val senior C.J. Inglin.

Del Val, ranked No. 10 in the region, is a favorite to win its second straight sectional crown and the program's 14th overall since 1983.

The Terriers are coming off impressive wins over defending Group 3 champ South Plainfield 36-22 a week ago and Iselin Kennedy 62-12 on Tuesday to advance to their third straight final.

Inglin (24-3) is the other side note this evening as the 152-pounder can become only the fourth Terrier to reach the 100-win mark.

Now at 99-24 overall, he would join Chris Kelly (111-35), Ricky Kurtz (101-33) and the late Dan Hutchins (109-27) on the school's exclusive list.

Raritan (19-3) returns to Alexandria Township for the fourth straight year and its third consecutive meeting with Del Val for the title.

Coach Rob Nucci's Rockets stunned the Terriers 30-28 to win their first sectional crown in 2004 and bowed 32-27 in last year's title match.

"It's developing into a rivalry and that's a compliment to our program," said Nucci, whose team also lost 56-12 to Del Val in the 2003 semis.

"From the first day of practice we think about getting to the sectional final against Del Val."

Nucci said his team will need a complete effort to make tonight's match as good as
the last two in this series.

"We have to wrestle a perfect match to win," he said.

One featured bout could involve Del Val junior and state medal winner Kris Sigafoos (25-3) should he meet up with two-time District 22 champ T.J. Mitchell (25-3) at 119.

The Rockets also feature district runner-up Billy Voutsinas (23-2) at 130 and district champ Dave Seidenberg (13-1) at 135. Rich Bryant (11-1) at 215 and district champ Jeff King (26-1) at 275 anchor the upper weights.

Sigafoos beat Voutsinas 8-7 thanks to a third-period cradle in a key bout last year.