CBA Postseason Wrestling Preview
This Colts wrestling team took on some of the top-ranked teams in the state and country during the regular season. They lost tough matches against the three-ranked Bergen Catholic and second-ranked St. Joe’s Montvale, as well as Southern and St. Peter’s Prep. However, they are seeking revenge with the postseason beginning tonight.
In the Non-Public A team state tournament, the Colts are the sixth-seed and will take on eleven-seed Don Bosco Prep tonight, February 7, at Bergen Catholic. Later, the winner will take on the three-seed Bergen Catholic to determine who will compete in the semi-finals. The semi-finals take place on February 9 and the finals will take place on February 12 at Rutgers. The Colts are looking to prove all of the haters wrong as they try to knock off the top wrestling teams in New Jersey
In addition to the Team-State Tournament, the Individual-State Tournament occurs in March at Boardwalk Hall. This is arguably the biggest tournament of a high school wrestler’s career. All of the hard work in the offseason and during the season comes down to this.
Julian George, a returning state finalist from last year, looks to snag the 144-pound state title. He is the number-two ranked wrestler at 144 pounds in New Jersey and has a very good shot of standing at the top of the podium before heading off to Wisconsin to wrestle for the Badgers next fall.
Zander Silva, who is committed to Princeton, placed third in the state last year at 157 and has come back this year out for blood. He is once again the third-seeded 157-pounder in the state and looks to end his high school career at that number-one spot.
Tyler Barret, another Ivy League commit, placed third in states last year at 150 pounds and has wrestled a great season up to this point, winning a handful of nail-biters. He looks to continue this hot streak going into states while ranked fifth in the 150-pound weight class.
Robert Canterino, an absolute powerhouse and force at 215 pounds, knocked off the recently ranked one-seed AJ Fricchione and put himself on the rankings at the six-seed. Going into individual states, it is going to take everything he has to win the tournament with a loaded weight class, but Canterino can make it happen.
Alex Nini, the number-two ranked 138-pounder took a big leap from last year after placing fourth at 120 pounds. He has wrestled many tough matches against top-ranked opponents thus far and has been extremely successful to this point. If he wants to stand atop the podium though, he will need to beat the returning state champ, Tyler Vasquez from Delbarton.
Bobby Duffy has certainly lived up to the hype he has gained throughout the season. Duffy, who is now the four-seeded 113-pounder in the state, was able to knock off Patrick O’Keefe, a returning state finalist. Although Duffy is still a freshman, he has as good a shot as anyone to win the state finals at 113.
It is going to be an exciting couple of weeks for the Colts on the mat…
