Wrestling: National powerhouse Blair defeats No. 3 Bergen Catholic

Perennial national powerhouse and No. 1 in Rofkin’s national rankings Blair took a 35-25 victory over Bergen Catholic, in Oradell.

The loss was the Crusaders’ third of the season, which drops the team’s record to 12-3.

The match, which started at 144, was an evenly contested affair, and Bergen Catholic held a 21-20 lead until Blair secured an 15-point swing by winning 120, 126 and 132 back-to-back-to-back before Bergen Catholic’s August Hibler, the No. 3 in NJ.com’s 138-pounds individual rankings, won the final bout of the match with a 14-3 major over William Dekraker.

Leo DeLuca started the decisive run with a pin over Brian Melamud at 120, while Marc-Anthony McGowan followed up with an 18-3 tech over Noah Kochman before Matthew Lopes made it a 35-21 lead with a 13-5 major over Riley Halal.

At heavyweight, Blair’s Carter Neves earned a 7-0 decision over No. 6 in NJ.com’s individual 285-pound rankings Benjamin Shue. Peter Snyder earned a 5-1 sudden victory over Justin Onello at 175, Blair’s Lorenzo Norman took a 24-8 tech over Nick Bernik at 165, and at 150 William Henckel edged out a 4-3 decision over Christopher Bacchioni, the No. 5 in NJ.com’s 150-pound rankings.

Pantaleo Varga gave the Crusaders six points at 190 with a first-period pin over Liam Kilrain. No. 7 at 106 Nathan Braun took 13-3 major over Benjamin Koch.

Aidan Wallace, the No. 3 in NJ.com’s 157-pound rankings worked a 15-0 tech fall over Barry Nortman Jr.. Seach Hibler edged out a 6-2 decision over Ryan Meier at 113, and Ryan Ford, the No. 4 in NJ.com’s 144-pound rankings recorded a 6-4 decision over Logan Rozynski.

Anthony Fricchione, the No. 6 in NJ.com’s individual rankings, did not compete for Bergen Catholic.

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