WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Nutley High School wrestling team had a great showing at the 45th Essex County Tournament at Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange Jan. 16-17.
The Raiders finished fourth overall in the team standings among the 21 scoring teams. Seton Hall Prep won the team title for the fifth consecutive season.
The Raiders had three wrestlers advance to their respective finals. They each lost to finish in second place: senior Peter Haverick in the 152-pound weight class; junior Salvatore Mainiero in the 160-pound class and junior Billy Searle in the 285-pound heavyweight class.
Nutley had other medal winners.
Jacob Gonzalez, a senior, took third place in the 145-pound class and senior Nicolas Polewka took fourth place at 220. Franco Graffeo, a freshman at 106; junior Vincent Negra, at 113; and junior Anthony Haines, at 170, each took sixth place.
Team standings: 1. Seton Hall Prep, 259.5 points. 2. West Essex, 227. 3. Livingston, 146. 4. Nutley, 131. 5 tie. Caldwell, 106. West Orange, 106. 7. Irvington, 99. 8. Belleville, 90. 9. Cedar Grove, 89. 10. Bloomfield, 67. 11. Millburn, 62. 12. Verona, 52.5. 13. Columbia, 49. 14. Newark Academy, 46. 15. Orange, 39. 16. Montclair, 29. 17. Newark Collegiate, 12. 18. Glen Ridge, 11. 19 tie. Barringer, 8. Newark East Side, 8 21. Weequahic, 2
Nutley medal finishes
FINALS
152: Alex Jones, West Essex, pinned Haverick, 3:45.
160: Jack Wilt, Seton Hall Prep, decisioned Mainiero, 11-5.
285: Bardhyl Gashi, West Essex, decisioned Searle, 5-1.
THIRD-PLACE
145: Gonzalez pinned Zalyn Smith, Irvington, 0:33.
220: Ben Rivera, Caldwell, pinned Polewka, 3:28
FIFTH-PLACE
106: Joey Macrino, West Essex, decisioned Graffeo, 5-2
113: Robert Crofford, Seton Hall Prep, pinned Negra, 1:26
170: Luke Shaeffer, Caldwell, pinned Haines, 1:58
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