The Verona High School wrestling team defeated Belvidere High School in western New Jersey yesterday in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament.
Wrestling at 106 pounds, Michael Garcia continued his win streak with a 19-4 technical fall over Hunter Lensi. Frank Riggio (132) pinned Gage Gares in less time than it took to announce their match, and John Gabriele (145) also added to his pin count with win over Justin Kane in 1:39.
Gabe Breitenbach (152), Nick Riggio (160), John Pavia (170) and Bill Fauerbach (182) all won by decision, with Breitenbach’s being the decisive win in the 35-30 victory.
The Belvidere win was the tenth straight for Verona, which included a massive quad Bloomfield, Columbia and Princeton. Verona went 58-16 over Bloomfield, 40-37 over Columbia and 55-15 over Princeton. Sam Zamloot (113) got a 12-3 major decision for over Bloomfield’s Jacob Febo and pinned Princeton’s Mikyo Kalabacos, while Dean Palmer (120) pinned both his Bloomfield and Columbia opponents. Nick Riggio scored a 15-6 major decision over Columbia’s Blake McgGowan, while younger brother Frank Riggio got a 9-1 major decision over Dominic Riendeau-Krause of Princeton. There were also pins for Garcia and Tyler DaCosta.
The next NJSIAA match will be Wednesday, February 7, with Verona facing #1 seeded Roselle Park in that town at 7 p.m.
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Photos copyright Joanna Breitenbach. Used by permission.
