It’s been quite a month for Jake Ferry. The Verona High School wrestling senior finished second at 150 pounds at the District 10 championship, after scoring his 100th career win there. And yesterday, Ferry punched his ticket to the state wrestling championship after taking second place at the Region 3 tournament.
In his Regions opener, Ferry pinned Finn McKeon of St. Benedict’s Prep in 2:31. Ferry had another pin in the quarterfinals, this time Caldwell’s Ben Lattimer in 5:51. He scored a pin again in the semifinals, eliminating West Essex’ Nick Janish in 5:25. But he could not carry that energy through the finals, falling to Bergen Catholic’s Jayden Iznaga in a 15-0 decision.
Three other VHS wrestlers had competed their way to Regions, where they had opening round wins before ultimately coming up short.
Joel Gonzalez, who had taken second at 144 pounds at Districts, defeated North Bergen’s Alvin Mercader 8-4 in the opening Region 3 round. But he fell in the quarterfinals to Reid Clausi of West Essex. In the consolation semifinals, Gonzalez fell to Anthony Moreno of St. Mary’s Rutherford.
Jesse Wagner, who wrestles at 126, also took second place at Districts. He opened his Region 3 appearance with a 1-0 decision over Hanover Park’s Christian Cesaro. But in the quarterfinals, he was pinned by Pope John High School’s Dalton Weber.
Heavyweight John Stockelberg, who took third place at the District tournament, pinned Isiah Rodriguez of Cliffside Park in the opening Regions round in 3:46. He then lost his quarterfinal to Gavin McGill of Rutherford, 3-1. In his consolation semifinal, Stockelberg was pinned by Bloomfield’s Gabriel McCulloch.
The state wrestling championship begins Thursday in Atlantic City.
