The Verona High School wrestling team took home three top medals from the Essex County Wrestling Tournament over the weekend. The team finished in 10th place overall, just a half point behind Livingston.
Paul Scully advanced easily through his early rounds in the 132-pound group. But his finals match against Brendon Seyfried of Newark Academy went into overtime, where Seyfried took the win.Joe Ballantyne and Mark Riggio both got third place finishes, at 113 and 170 pounds respectively.
The VHS team entered a wrestler in every weight class in the tournament, which began Friday night at the Codey, but faced some tough matches early on. Brian Wagner pinned his opponent in his first pigtail match, but then fell to a Nutley wrestler who was the No. 2 seed in his group. Chris Virgadamo also won his pigtail match before losing to a Cedar Grove wrestler who won the tournament in that weight class. Billy Giuliano, who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed in his group and won his first match, but lost his next. He came away with sixth place in the event.
The team has back to back meets with Cedar Grove and Glen Ridge today and tomorrow, an away match at Orange High School on Friday and a three-way meet with Bernards and East Side high schools on Saturday.
Photos copyright Donna Giuliano. Used by permission.
