A photo that appears to show seven Phillipsburg High School boys with a wrestling dummy hanging by its neck is under investigation. (Photo courtesy of lehighvalleylive.com)

By Matthew Stanmyre and James Kratch/The Star-Ledger

Officials from the Phillipsburg School District are investigating a controversial photo that appears to show seven males from the Phillipsburg High wrestling team posing with a wrestling dummy wearing a Paulsboro High T-shirt and hanging with a rope around its neck.

Six of the seven boys in the photo are wearing garnet-colored Phillipsburg jackets and two of the individuals have hoods pulled over their heads in a point.

Fierce rivals on the mat, Phillipsburg and Paulsboro boast two of the top wrestling programs in New Jersey. Phillipsburg, meanwhile, capped its first unbeaten season in 44 years and won the Group 4 state championship on Sunday.

Phillipsburg superintendent George Chando issued a brief press release this afternoon, calling the incident "a student matter dealing with minors."

"An investigation was undertaken and upon conclusion of the investigation, actions were taken by the District consistent with its policies," the statement read.

Chando offered no further explanation, and the extent of the actions taken are unclear.

Paulsboro superintendent Walter Quint — who said he has been in frequent contact today with Chando — said he expected discipline to be rendered.

"That's his responsibility and having talked to him I think he's going to take firm, prompt, decisive action," Quint said. "At the very least it was insensitive and unfortunate. This doesn't reflect the spirit of the rivalry that exists between the two schools." (More:Paulsboro school chief on Phillipsburg wrestling photo: 'Just plain wrong')

Chando and Phillipsburg athletic director Thomas Fisher did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment, and Phillipsburg wrestling coach Dave Post declined comment when reached by phone.

Quint said the imagery depicted in the photo was particularly troubling.

“It’s an insensitive image they used, to say the least,” Quint said. “There’s going to have to be some learning going on as to the inappropriateness of the imagery they chose to use. It’s an imagery that goes beyond saying to your rival, ‘You lost.’ ”

The wrestlers in the photo have not been identified, but any potential punishment could have major implications on postseason action. The District 1 seeding meeting to establish the tournament brackets is scheduled for Wednesday at Phillipsburg, and the school will host the District 1 tournament Saturday when the state individual postseason opens.

If Phillipsburg is missing wrestlers due to discipline, it could hinder its chances of winning its 42nd all-time district team title, as team points are kept at district tournaments.

The top three wrestlers in each weight class at the 32 districts statewide then move to one of eight region tournaments. The top three to emerge from regions at each weight then qualify for the NJSIAA Championships on March 7-9 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“Everybody’s upset, obviously,” said Dave Leone, a 1968 Phillipsburg graduate and diehard wrestling fan. “I hope this doesn’t tarnish the program, and the school and community can get past this.”

“Unfortunately, it was a bad decision made by a bunch of teenagers and now somebody is really going to pay the price for it.”