Hunterdon Central rolls to Caldwell Wrestling Tournament title
The Hunterdon Central High School wrestling team crowned six individual champions on the way to capturing the Caldwell Tournament title on Saturday.
A complete tournament bracket for all weight classes can be found below or by clicking here.
Complete Caldwell Tournament Results
The Red Devils, who had 13 total placewinners, amassed 227 team points.
READ: Saturday's wrestling tournament results from across the state
Kittatinny placed second (172) and host Caldwell (163) was third in the eight-team field.
Hunterdon Central dominated the lower weights, winning individual titles from 106 through 132 pounds.
“It’s nice that they can push each other each day,” Hunterdon Central coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm said.
Brett Ungar (106), Colton Washleski (113), Jack Bauer (120), Anthony Romaniello (126) and Hunter Graf (132) won their respective weight classes. Lukas Bakerian claimed the 220-pound championship for the Red Devils.
Bauer, a junior and a two-time state qualifier, and Graf, a senior and a former state medalist, did their jobs and lead the way in practice for the younger guys.
“They’re guys that we count on in every tournament or dual meet to do well,” Cantagallo-Rohm said.
Beyond those two, there were some question marks in the lower weights. Ungar and Washleski, two freshmen, were making their varsity debuts and Romaniello has moved up three weight classes from last season.
“We had some relative unknowns and it was nice to have them jump right into the lineup and pick up some wins for us," Cantagallo-Rohm said. "We’re excited about the potential for this upcoming season.”
Bakerian, who will be the Red Devils’ 195-pounder, bumped up a weight class and scored a dramatic 6-4 victory in the 220-pound finals via a takedown off a scramble in the final five seconds. Bakerian seems much improved after cracking the lineup as a freshman last season at 195.
“He scrapped and clawed and came out with a nice win in the finals against a tough kid,” Cantagallo-Rohm said. “I think this goes a long way to build confidence.”