Knights shoot to top of Red Division

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Victor Ilnytskyi steps in front of his opponent to gain leverage.

BY NICK FERRANTE
          The 11-5 boys wrestling team finished second in the GMC Tournament and moved to first place in the Red Division with big wins against schools like Monroe, Piscataway, Edison, Clifton, and Bridgewater-Raritan during the season, proving their resilience and determination against tough opponents and rivals.

          Gavin Young finished first and David Peoples, Dominic Paulino, and Zachary Florio took second place in their respective classes. “Expectations were high for both the team and individual performances. We set big goals heading into the tournament, and we were very happy with the outcome finishing second overall in team points and first among public schools,” said Jake Tenebruso, who recently hit the 100th career win milestone.

          A total of eight wrestlers earned points for the team by placing in the top six. “The team is in that wrestling room every day focused on nothing but getting better every day,” stated Florio.

          Tenebruso placed third, Griffin Nugent and Aiden Roman placed fourth, and Victor Ilnytski placed fifth. “It was a strong performance across the board, and everyone wrestled phenomenally.

          The wrestlers constantly work to maintain positive attitudes and positive conditions for each match. “I’ve never been part of a group so locked in at practice, and that intensity we have in the room translates on the mat at duels and in tournaments,” said Florio.

Temiloluwa Odumbo looks for an opening in a match against an Edison challenger.

          The team currently sits in first place in the GMC Red Division with a 6-0 division record. “Our team is filled with incredibly talented, hardworking, and dedicated wrestlers, and I have complete confidence in each and every one of them!” said Tenebruso.

          Many underclassmen, including sophomores Young and Nugen proved themselves this season. “A lot of guys with no varsity experience stepped up big this year, and that’s a testament to how hard they worked and the kind of program Old Bridge wrestling is,” added Florio.

Gavin Young uses his body weight to restrain his opponent’s arms.

          The team will face off against GMC Tournament Champions St. Joseph’s today at home at 5pm with the regular season GMC Championship on the line “I’m proud of the team’s hard work and dedication. We have bigger goals ahead and are gearing up for a great postseason,” said Tenebruso.

Posted on 2/6/25

Photos provided by Lors Photography