WEST ORANGE, NJ — Belleville High School wrestler David Guerra punched his ticket to Atlantic City.
Guerra, a senior, finished in fourth place in the 145-pound weight class at the Region 3 tournament at West Orange High School on Feb. 26, 28-29. As a result, he earned a berth in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on March 5-7. The top four finishers in each weight class earned berths in the NJSIAA tournament.
Guerra and senior teammate Hakim Fennell, who competed in the 160-pound class, received byes in the pre-quarterfinals and won in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals.
In the consolation semifinals, Guerra posted a pin over Irvington’s Zalyn Smith to reach the third-place bout, while Fennell dropped a tough 6-5 decision to Thomas Stigliano of Whippany Park to become eliminated, denying him a berth in the NJSIAA tournament.
Guerra then lost to Nutley’s Jacob Gonzalez in the third-place bout.
Seniors Joshua Dabon, Jostin Gomez and David Peterkin were the other BHS wrestlers in the region tournament, but they each were eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals. The region tournament consisted of the top three finishers in each weight class from districts 9, 10, 11 and 12. Belleville competed in District 10 in Randolph.
UPDATED
Guerro went 0-2 at the NJSIAA tournament on March 5 to become eliminated. He lost to Delbarton’s Andrew Troczynski, 10-8, in the first round and lost a tough 5-3 decision to Butler’s Justin Chrostowski in the consolation first round.
Region 3, at West Orange HS
Feb. 26
Pre-quarterfinals
126-pound weight class: Agostino Petrillo, Livingston, decisioned Joshua Dabon, Belleville, 7-2.
220: Mike Sierra, North Bergen, major decision Jostin Gomez, Belleville, 13-2.
285: Kevin Ramos, West Morris, decisioned David Peterkin, Belleville, 4-2.
Feb. 28
Quarterfinals
145: David Guerra, Belleville, pinned Jason Candelario, Madison, 4:16.
160: Hakim Fennell, Belleville, pinned Ryan Jackson, Morristown, 0:36.
Feb. 29
Semifinals
145: Eli Shepard, West Morris, decisioned David Guerra, Belleville, 7-4.
160: Thomas Stigliano, Whippany Park, decisioned Hakim Fennell, Belleville, 5-3.
Consolation semifinals
145: David Guerra, Belleville, pinned Zalyn Smith, Irvington, 5:52.
160: Evan Cannon, Randolph, decisioned Hakim Fennell, Belleville, 6-5.
Third-place
145: Jacob Gonzalez, Nutley, decisioned David Guerra, Belleville, 19-15.
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