WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange High School varsity wrestling team enjoyed an impressive showing at the District 12 tournament held at Becton Regional HS in East Rutherford, Feb. 16.
The Mountaineers finished in third place out of 10 teams in the team standings. WOHS had 164.5 points. West Morris won the team title with 246 points and Warren Hills was second with 186 points.
The Mountaineers boasted three individual champions: James Benjamin (126-pound division), Edgar Moreno (138), Colin Morgan (160).
Brian DiPalma (170), Adonis May (182), and Nunzio Castaldo (195) each took second and Damianlee Torres (120) took third place.
The seven WOHS wrestlers advanced to the Region 3 tournament hosted by WOHS, Feb. 20, 22-22. The region tournaments consist of the top three finishers in each weight class from the district tournaments. Region 3 consists of District 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Khalief Ransom (145) and Ari Rosu (152) each finished in fourth place for the Mountaineers.
District 12 tournament
WOHS results in finals and third-place consolations
Finals
126: James Benjamin, West Orange, major decisioned Stephen Malia, Warren Hills, 15-3.
138: Edgar Moreno, West Orange, major decisioned Alex Samara, Madison, 10-1.
160: Colin Morgan, West Orange, decisioned John DeVito, West Morris, 7-4.
170: Shane Exley, Belvidere, pinned Brian DiPalma, West Orange, 1:46.
182: Luke Stefanelli, West Morris, decisioned Adonis May, West Orange, 3-2.
195: Jonathan Padilla, Newark East Side, pinned Nunzio Castaldo, West Orange, 3:47.
Third-place consolations
120: Damianlee Torres, West Orange, pinned Matt Hernandez, Madison, 3:33.
145: Nick Samara, Madison, pinned Khalief Ransom, West Orange, 3:53.
152: Max Greenwood, Rutherford, pinned Ari Rosu, West Orange, 1:18.
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