Park wrestling wins N2, G1 championship

The 2022 North 2, Group 1 sectional champions

Put another year on the banner.

The Panthers went into Hasbrouck Heights on Feb. 9, held the Aviators to four earned wins, won 45-30, and came home to a siren-blaring escort from Roselle Park’s police and fire departments with the North 2, Group 1 sectional championship trophy buckled in soundly on the bus.

The sectional final started at 138 and, at the turn following the heavyweight bout, RP was down 21-30. But Hasbrouck Heights would not celebrate another win on the mat as the Panthers’ lighter weights rattled off five victories in a row beginning with Matthew Griffin’s pin at 106 to start the comeback about a minute into the second period.

Then Brandon Scott (113) tied the match 30-30 following a solid 8-2 victory. Sal Randazzo put the Panthers ahead for good with a 4-point major decision at 120 before Nick Torino (126) official grounded the Aviators with a pin less than 30 seconds into the second period to make the overall score an overwhelming 40-30 headed into the last match.

For good measure, Mayson Harms (132) added a dominating technical fall to make the final 45-30.

You can see results of each individual contest on nj.com but remember the match started at 138 so the running score is incorrect. Additional coverage at northjersey.com. 

Ryan Leiva set the tone early with a 44-second pin to start the match at 138 to give the Panthers an early 6-0 lead. After giving up a pin at 144, RP coaches made some tactical moves to limit Heights’ point total in the upper weights. First, Angel Mejia moved up a weight class to 150 and flattened his man in 37 seconds. Then, before his opponent knew what had happened, Julian Colon (157) scored a 14-second pin.

RP forfeited and gave up 6 at 175, the usual home of John James Ranieri. However, Ranieri got moved up to 190 and used his skill on the mat to overcome the weight difference, taking his points when available and defending any offensive attempts to notch a 4-2 decision. The additional three points Ranieri earned here put the Panthers up 21-18. Although the Aviators scored 12 points the next two matches, it wasn’t enough to overcome RP’s onslaught at the lower weights.

Got great RP sports news? Send it and some pics to chad.hemenway@gmail.com and we’ll post it on the site.

The Roselle Park Panthers will travel to Kittatinny on Friday for the state Group 1 semifinal.