Columbia HS wrestling team split matches; Essex County Tournament and CHS Hall of Fame Day loom

MAPLEWOOD – This past week, the Columbia High School varsity wrestling team visited two Super Essex Conference rivals, Millburn on Jan. 12 and Weequahic on Jan. 13. The grapplers split the meets. Millburn defeated Columbia, 49-30. Columbia defeated Weequahic, 48-18.

At Millburn, the Cougar winners were 106-pound Joaquin Tianga and 220-pound Mansky Charles, each by forfeit; and 120-pound Devin Rocha, 152-pound Blake McGowan and 285-pound Kevhan Bent, each by fall. Also wrestling for the Cougars were 132-pound Sam Wren-Harden, 138-pound Aamier Bonhomme, 145-pound Roan Price, 182-pound Tristan Rocke and 195-pound Ralph Ravix.

At Weequahic, CHS winners were Tianga, Cameron Buckham, and Rocha by forfeits; Bonhomme by fall, McGowan by fall, Ravix by technical fall, Bent by fall, and Abuka Egwuonwu by decision. Also wrestling were Wren-Harden and Price.
The Cougar grapplers next wrestle at the Essex County Championships, today and Friday, Jan. 21-22, at the Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange.

Columbia will enter nine wrestlers in the 14 weight classes: 120-pound Rocha, 12 wins, 4 losses; 132-pound Wren Harden, 5 wins, 8 losses; 138-pound Bonhomme, 5 wins, 8 losses; 152-pound McGowan, 5 wins, 2 losses; 160-pound Hunter Dallison, 5 wins, 4 losses; 170-pound Akil DeBruhl, 4 wins, 9 losses; 195-pound Emanuel Jackson, 9 wins, 3 losses, or Ravix, 4 wins 3 losses; 220-pound Charles, 6 wins, 3 losses; and 285-pound Bent, 13 wins, 3 losses.

The CHS wrestling program will hold its Hall of Fame Day and Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Between the quad meets with Bernards, Union, and Newark East Side, the youth wrestling program coaches, past and present, will be honored. The ceremony will be held at about 11 a.m. after the first round of matches that start at 9:30 a.m.
At around 4 p.m. at O’Reilly’s Pub on Millburn Avenue in Maplewood, a reception will be held honoring the coaches. A donation fee will be charged for the reception.