UPDATE: Nutley HS wrestler Darwin Pena earns fourth-place medal at state tournament in Atlantic City

NUTLEY – Nutley High School senior Darwin Pena enjoyed an amazing run at the state wrestling tournament, earning the fourth-place medal in the 152-pound weight class at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Sunday, March 6.

After winning all four matches in the wrestleback rounds on Saturday, March 5, Pena  decisioned Avery DiNardi of Holy Cross, 9-4, in the wrestlebacks semifinals on Sunday morning to advance to the third/fourth place bout. DiNardi, the Region 7 champion, had lost to Andrew Meyers of Toms River East in the semifinals on Saturday.

In the third/fourth place bout later on Sunday, Pena lost to Don Bosco Prep’s Dominick Mandarino in overtime, 7-5, in sudden victory fashion.

Pena finished his magnificent season with a 42-5 record.

Mandarino, a junior who won the Region 2 title, had lost to eventual champion Stephan Glasgow of Bound Brook in the semifinals on Saturday.

Pena became the highest finisher for NHS in the state tournament since John Monaco won the 158-pound state title in 1981. Monaco is the lone state wrestling champion in NHS history. It also marks the sixth straight season that a NHS wrestler has earned a medal at the state tournament.

Pena enjoyed an incredible run.

To start the tournament, Pena decisioned unseeded Brady Ford of Bergen Catholic, 6-1, in the preliminary round on Friday, March 4. Pena, unfortunately, dropped a tough 3-2 decision to third-seeded Lorenzo Ruggiero of Delsea in the pre-quarterfinals later that night.

Pena returned on Saturday and simply went on a roll.

First, he decisioned Colin Lex of Collingswood by a 17-2 technical fall in 3:17 in the wrestlebacks first round. Pena then decisioned junior and Essex County champion Aidan Monteverdi of Seton Hall Prep, 5-3, in the wrestlebacks second round to gain his 100th career victory.

Pena followed that with a 5-3 decision win over senior Daniel Hedden of South Plainfield in the wrestlebacks third round. Hedden, the Region 3 champion, was the No. 3 seed in the top bracket and fell to 33-7.

Pena then decisioned Newark Academy’s Steve Bonsall, 8-6, in the wrestlebacks quarterfinals. Pena avenged three losses to Bonsall this season (the Essex County Tournament semifinals on Jan. 22, 5-4,  Jan. 22; the District 14 Tournament final, 6-2, Feb. 20; and in the Region 4 Tournament final, 5-4, in double overtime, Feb. 27). Pena finished third in the ECT.