MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE – This season’s Columbia High School varsity wrestling team faced a very competitive schedule while being composed of mostly underclassman and inexperienced wrestlers.
The final record of 9 wins and 16 losses is evidence of a team that was undermanned and inexperienced. However, with a few more individual match wins, the record could have easily been at .500.
Nevertheless, many wrestlers had successful seasons, placing in tournaments and finishing with winning season records.
Led by the three captains – Kevhan Bent, Mansky Charles, and Ralph Ravix – and two fine freshmen in Devin Rocha and Blake McGowan, the Cougars throughout the season continued to compete despite a number of illnesses and injuries as well as vacant weight classes.
At the two holiday tournaments – Irvington Blue Knights and Rahway Holiday – the Cougars entered wrestlers in less than the 14 weights, but still placed four and seven wrestlers, respectively.
In the Essex County Championships, which included 22 teams, the Cougars placed 11th while only entering 10 wrestlers, but having four place in the tournament. The team’s finish was highlighted by Bent, who won the 285-pound championship; and Rocha’s fourth-place finish at the 120-pound weight class.
“The hope for the future of the team is that of our 19 wrestlers, only three will be lost to graduation,” CHS head coach Hal Garwin said. “Our young wrestlers showed promise on the varsity mat and most certainly in the non-varsity tournaments that we entered. At the West Orange King of the Mountain Freshmen Tournament, we had two wrestlers place first, and at the West Orange JV Tournament, we had a first, two seconds, a third and a fourth. Also, at the Kinnelon JV Colt Shoot Out, we had two firsts, a second, and two thirds.
“As always, I am grateful for the leadership, dedication and spirit of Coach (Eugene) Kline. His knowledge and expertise continues to help our wrestlers improve and grow in the sport. This year we were fortunate and grateful to be able to add another member to our staff. Coach (Joel) Rosario was a tremendous help and gave us and the team a presence in the building. His caring attitude and enthusiasm was a much welcomed addition, as was his willingness to work out with the wrestlers who often needed a workout partner since our roster was so limited.”
CHS varsity wrestlers
- Joaquin Tianga – 106-pound weight class, freshman.
18 wins, 11 losses.
Fourth place at Irvington Blue Knights Tourney.
Third place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
First Team, All-Super Essex Conference-Colonial Division.
- Devin Rocha, 120-pound weight class, freshman.
25 wins, 9 losses.
Fourth place at Essex County Championships.
Third place at Irvington Blue Knights Tourney.
Second place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
Third place at Kinnelon Colt Shootout.
First Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Sam Wren-Harden, 132-pound weight class, junior.
11 wins, 18 losses.
Second Team, SEC-Colonial.
- Aamier Bonhomme, 138-pound weight class, freshman.
9 wins, 14 losses.
Fouth place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
First place at West Orange King of the Mountain Freshmen Tourney.
Second Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Zafar Cantine, 145-pound weight class, junior.
6 wins, 8 losses.
Fourth place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
First Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Blake McGowan, 152-pound weight class, freshman.
18 wins, 9 losses.
Fourth place at NJ District 10 Tourney.
Seventh place at Essex County Championships.
Fourth place at West Orange King of the Mountain Tourney.
First Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Hunter Dallison, 160- and 170-pound weight classes, sophomore.
10 wins, 11 losses.
Second Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
Akil Debruhl, 160- and 170-pound weight classes, sophomore.
9 wins, 11 losses.
Second place at West Orange King of the Mountain Tourney.
- Anayo Egwuonwu, 182-pound weight class, senior.
4 wins, 1 loss.
First place at Kinnelon Colt Shootout.
Second Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Ralph Ravix, 195- and 220-pound weight classes, junior.
16 wins, 5 losses.
Second place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
First place at West Orange King of the Mountain Tourney.
Second place at Kinnelon Colt Shootout.
Second Team, All-SEC-Colonial Division.
- Emanuel Jackson, 195- and 220-pound weight classes, junior.
13 wins, 6 losses.
Third place at Irvington Blue Knights Tourney.
Second place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
Seventh place at Essex County Championships.
Second Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Mansky Charles, 220-pound weight class, senior.
16 wins, 9 losses
First Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Kevhan Bent, 285-pound weight class, senior.
22 wins, 8 losses.
First place at Essex County Championships.
Second place at Irvington Blue Knights Tourney.
Second place at Rahway Holiday Tourney.
First Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
CHS Junior Varsity wrestlers
- Roan Price, 145- and 152-pound weight classes, freshman.
3 wins, 2 losses. Varsity: 1 win, 6 losses.
- Ebuka Egwuonwu, 170-pound and 182-pound weight classes, freshman.
5 wins, 6 losses. Varsity: 6 wins, 7 losses.
First place at West Orange King of the Mountain Freshmen Tourney.
First Team, All-SEC-Colonial.
- Tristan Rocke, 182-pound weight class, junior.
2 wins, 4 losses. Varsity: 3 wins, 8 losses.
Third place at West Orange King of the Mountain Tourney.
- Jabriel Salaam, 285-pound weight class, junior.
8 wins, 0 losses. Varsity: 4 wins, 0 losses.
First place at West Orange King of the Mountain Tourney.
First place at Kennelon Colt Shootout.
- Galileo Hetherington, 285-pound weight class, sophomore.
5 wins, 2 losses. Varsity: 1 win, 0 losses.
Third place, Kinnelon Colt Shootout.
- Charles Byrd, 285-pound weight class, sophomore.
5 wins, 2 losses.
Second place at West Orange King of the Mountain Tourney.
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