UPDATED: Irvington HS wrestler Nashawn Brooks advances to state finals in Atlantic City

IRVINGTON, NJ – Irvington High School wrestler Nashawn Brooks finished fourth in the 220-pound weight class at the NJSIAA Region 3 tournament held at West Orange High School, Feb. 21-23.

Brooks qualified for the NJSIAA state finals at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Feb. 28, March 1-2. The top four finishers in each weight class earned berths for the state finals.

Brooks won in the quarterfinals Friday, Feb. 23, before losing in the semifinals the next day. He then won in the consolation semifinals to reach the third-place consolation, where he lost to Warren Hills’ Nicholas Galka.

HIS had four other wrestlers compete at the region tournament, which consisted of the top three finishers from the district tournaments. Region 3 consisted of Districts 9, 10, 11 and 12. Irvington competed at District 10.

At the region tournament, junior Carl Banks finished in sixth place in the 132-pound division, losing to Columbia’s Cahlil Love Jr., 3-1, in the fifth-sixth place consolation bout.

Senior Brisner Xavier (145), senior Elton Jean Baptiste (182) and sophomore Edwin Louis (285) lost in the first round Feb. 21 to become eliminated. Junior Jamal Joseph (195) won in the first round, but lost in the quarterfinals and in the consolation quarterfinals to become eliminated.

NOTES – Brooks, a linebacker, signed a national letter of intent to play football at Wagner College. He also was named to the Phil Simms New Jersey North-South All-Star Game in June. Brooks was the Essex County Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler after winning the 220-pound title, Jan. 18, at Codey Arena in West Orange. Brooks also won the 220 title at the District 10 tournament.

Region 3

IHS results

First round, Feb. 21

132: Banks pinned Jason Wittlinger, Livingston, 3:33.

145: Peter Haverick, Nutley, decisioned Xavier, 7-4.

182: Zachary Andruchowitz, Bloomfield, pinned Jean Baptiste, 3:47

195: Joseph pinned Zach Rossow, Whippany Park, 5:37

220: Brooks, bye

285: Carson Grogan, Belvidere, decisioned Louis, 2-1.

Quarterfinals, Feb. 22

132: Banks decisioned Logan Nauta, Warren Hills, 8-3

195: Austin Paris, Livingston, decisioned Joseph, 4-3

220: Brooks, decisioned Andrew Mauricio, Kearny, 2-0

Semifinals, Feb. 23

132: Nicholas Raimo, Hanover Park, technical fall over Banks, 15-0, 4:09

220: Gage Armijo, Mendham, pinned Brooks, 1:22.

Consolation quarterfinals 

195: Nunzio Castaldo, West Orange, decisioned Joseph, 11-7

Consolation semifinals

132: Peter Tringali, Mendham, decisioned Banks, 5-3, sudden victory

220: Brooks decisioned Anthony Salvemini, Hanover Park, 10-6

Fifth-place consolation

132: Cahil Love Jr. decisioned Banks, 3-1

Third-place consolation

220: Nicolas Galka, Warren Hills, major decisioned Brooks, 16-4

Editor’s note: Carl Banks finished in sixth place, not fifth place, which was previously stated in this article.

  Irvington High School wrestling