Columbia HS wrestlers excel at Junior State Championships

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE A contingent of Columbia High School wrestlers enjoyed excellent showings at the  the NJ Junior State Wrestling Championships on March 13 at the Sun Center in Trenton.

Wrestlers had to qualify in the top three in one of several regional qualifiers. This event is part of USA Wrestling.

Freshman Blake McGowan won the 152-pound weight class. Freshman Devin Rocha took third at 126; freshman Joaquin Tianga was fourth at 100; and sophomore Hunter Dallison took seventh at 160.

This age group division of the Junior Championships included mostly freshmen with some young sophomores. Other age groups included Bantams, Midgets, and Intermediates.

The CHS wrestlers were in the oldest age group of cadets.

“It is certainly a nice achievement to place and a real measure of future success in high school; certainly a fine performance by Blake and Devin,” said CHS head coach Hal Garwin.