Columbia High School Cougar wrestlers opened their 2016-17 season with a fine performance at the first of two holiday tourneys. The grapplers finished a strong second at the eight-team tournament to favorite Irvington at the Irvington Christmas Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 17.
The team entered 11 wrestlers in the 14 weight classes , placing seven. Senior Captains Sam Wren-Harden and Ralph Ravix led the young squad by placing second at 138 pounds and first at 220 pounds respectively.
Ravix won two of his matches by first-period falls.
Sophomore 152-pound Blake McGowan also took first with dominating performances in his matches. First=year varsity heavyweight Galileo Heatherington placed second, losing to a returning district place-winner from Irvington.
Winning third-place medals were 132-pound sophomore Devon Rocha , 160-pound freshman Ben Morris , and 182-pound junior Hunter Dallison, with 120-pound freshman CJ Love placing fourth.
Others wrestling for the Cougars were 106-pound AiIen Learned, 145-pound Lennert Kussner, and 170-pound Bernie Mercier.
The Cougars, under head coach Hal Garwin, wrestle at Irvington on Wednesday, Dec. 21, and Friday, Dec. 23, at Orange with JP Stevens. The team finishes the first month of competition on Dec. 28 at the Rahway Holiday Tournament.
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