West Orange HS wrestlers Victor Lopez and Brian Velez enjoy good efforts at state tournament in Atlantic City

WEST ORANGE – West Orange High School wrestlers Victor Lopez and Brian Velez enjoyed good efforts at the state tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, March 4-5.

The preliminary round and pre-quarterfinals took place Friday, March 4. Lopez, unseeded in the bottom bracket, decisioned seventh-seeded Anthony Capece of Cranford, 6-3, in the preliminary round. Lopez then lost to second-seeded Christian Rivera of Christian Brothers Academy by major decision, 10-2, in the pre-quarterfinals.

Velez, the No. 8 seed in the top bracket, was pinned by unseeded Micah Clark of St. John Vianney in 1:09 in the preliminary round.

On Saturday, Lopez pinned Chris Caban of Lodi in 2:00 in the wrestlebacks first round. Lopez decisioned Jacob Falleni of Lenape Valley, 2-1, in the wrestlebacks second round, but lost to Bergen Catholic’s Carmen Ferrante, 7-1, in the wrestlebacks third round to finish with a 36-4 record this season.

Velez lost to Kyle Nothnagel of Phillipsburg via pin in 1:19 in the wrestlebacks first round to finish with a 25-12 record this season.

Lopez competed in the state tournament for the second straight year.