Seton Hall Prep standout senior wrestler Brenden Calas of Clark is now one win away from capturing a third state championship after defeating Alex Baider of Cherokee 3-1 in Saturday’s 120 pound semifinals.
Calas will next take on Bound Brook’s Craig De La Cruz in Sunday’s final.
Calas won the 103 title as a sophomorein 2011 and the 113 crown as a junior in 2012.
The Brearley Balboni brothers – both juniors – each lost in the semifinals. John Balboni lost to Dillon Artigliere of Roxbury 7-2 at 160, while Joe Balboni was downed by Ethan Ramos of Hawthorne 11-5 at 170
Calas was the only wrestler from Union County to reach the finals.
The 14 wrestlers that qualified from Union County high schools were all eliminated before the finals, with some gaining wrestleback matches to see if they can place among the top eight in their weight class.
– JR PARACHINI