IRVINGTON, NJ – Nashawn Brooks won the 220-pound weight class to lead the Irvington High School varsity wrestling team at the Essex County Tournament at Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, Jan. 17-18.
Brooks, the No. 2 seed, won by an 11-7 decision over Verona’s Cade Byrne, the fourth seed, in the final. Brooks, a senior, was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the ECT.
After pinning No. 15 seed Jalen Washington in 42 seconds in the first round, Brooks decisioned No. 7 seed Javon Whitehead of Bloomfield, 9-5, in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Brooks decisioned third-seeded Ben Rivera of Caldwell, 5-2.
Brooks also is a standout football player for the Blue Knights. A linebacker, Brooks has received scholarship offers from several colleges.
IHS wrestling head coach Kyle Steele was elated for Brooks at the ECT. “He is a great kid and i’m so happy he was able to achieve this goal,” said Steele, who also is an IHS assistant football coach. “It helps the program when someone as talented as Nashawn is one of the hardest workers in the room. I credit him and (IHS football head) coach Ashley Pierre with so many of the football players coming out for the wrestling team.”
Irvington finished ninth in the team standings among the 21 schools. Seton Hall Prep won the team title for the fourth straight year.
Irvington had five other medal winners.
Carl Banks, the No. 2 seed, finished second at the 132-pound weight class. In the final, Banks dropped a 9-4 decision to No. 1 seed Mike Ruane of West Essex.
Edwin Louis, the No. 5 seed, finished fourth at the 285-pound weight class. He was pinned by Bloomfield’s Jeff Diaz, the No. 3 seed, in 1:32 in the third-fourth place consolation.
Jamal Joseph, seeded ninth, decisioned sixth-seeded John Casale of Caldwell, 7-5, in the consolation to finish fifth in the 195-pound class. Elton Jean Baptiste, seeded seventh, took sixth in the 182-pound class, getting pinned by ninth-seeded Max Ruiz of Caldwell in 5:30 in the consolation.
Brisner Xavier, seeded fifth, finished eighth at the 145-pound weight class, losing to Cedar Grove’s William Messinger, seeded 10th, by a 6-2 decision in the consolation.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to include comments from head coach Kyle Steele. Rresults of the consolations have been corrected.
Photos by Mustafa Hooten/D1MediaPro.com
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