BLOOMFIELD, NJ – The Bloomfield High School wrestling team enjoyed a solid showing at the Essex County Tournament at Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, Jan. 17-18.
The Bengals finished in sixth place in the team standings out of 21 schools. BHS had 104 points, two points shy of fifth-place Cedar Grove. Seton Hall Prep won the team title for the fourth straight year, amassing 256 points. West Essex was second with 238.5 points; Nutley was third with 124 points and Verona was fourth with 108 points.
The Bengals boasted eight medal winners out of 14 weight classes.
Junior Jeff Diaz and senior Kevin Adorno each placed third in their weight classes to lead Bloomfield.
Diaz pinned Edwin Louis of Irvington in 1:32 in the 285-pound heavyweight consolation.
Adorno decisioned Jon Bartley of West Essex, 6-4, in the 145-pound consolation.
Freshman Gerald Van Baelen and sophomore Zachary Andruchowitz each finished fourth; junior Jacob Febo, senior Paul Flores and senior Javon Whitehead each finished fifth and freshman Jaiden Morales took seventh in their weight classes.
Morales decisioned Zach Vera of Livingston, 7-2, in the 106-pound consolation.
Van Baelen lost by a 4-0 decision to Seton Hall Prep’s Gabriel Jimenez in the 113-pound consolation to take fourth place.
Febo pinned West Orange’s Damianlee Torres in 3:12 in the 120-pound consolation for fifth place.
Flores decisioned Seton Hall Prep’s Dean Musialowicz, 12-8, for fifth place at the 132-pound weight class.
Andruchowitz fell to Columbia’s Blake McGowan in the 170-pound class to finish in fourth place.
Whitehead pinned West Essex’s Vasili Tsilionis in 5:12 in the 220-pound class to place fifth.
The Bengals, under head coach Ryan Smircich, are enjoying a great season so far. They defeated Cedar Grove, 40-31, Jan. 15 to extend their winning streak to six matches and improve to a 12-3 record.
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