The Roselle Park wrestling team produced a big Union County Conference-Watchung Division victory Wednesday night , Jan. 17 as the Panthers defeated Cranford 33-25.
It was the first Watchung Division match for Roselle Park, which is now 1-0 in the division and 10-1 overall.
Cranford slipped to 1-1 in the division and 5-2 overall.
Cranford edged Roselle Park 187-185 Saturday, Jan. 13 at Union to capture its fourth consecutive Union County Tournament championship.
Roselle Park’s Abel Crespo came back from being down a point entering the third period to beat Cranford’s Kyell Roper 4-3 in the match’s final bout at 160. Crespo’s win clinched the bout for the Panthers.
Down 30-25 going into the last bout, Cranford needed to win by technical fall to gain five points and have the match end in a tie or by pin to win the match by one point.
Roselle Park junior Mark Montgomery, who just won his second UCT championship, was moved up to 132 and won by forfeit.
This was Roselle Park’s biggest regular season victory in some time.
The victory was also Roselle Park’s 999th in program history. The Panthers will first attempt to gain win No. 1,000 Friday, Jan. 19 at Watchung Division foe Scotch Plains. The match has a 7 p.m. starting time.
Roselle Park will then be competing in Bergen County this Saturday – Jan. 20 – in the 6th Annual Marine SSGT Joe D’Augustine Charity Wrestling Tournament sponsored by the Waldwick/Midland Park Jr. Wrestling Association.
Competition is scheduled to commence 8:30 a.m. at Waldwick High School’s gymnasium.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and $3 for students.
Proceeds will be donated to: The Staff Sergeant Joseph D’Augustine Memorial Fund (please make check out to: SSJDMF).
Waldwick/Midland Park is the host team. The other schools wrestling are Ramapo, Butler, Passaic County Tech, Roselle Park, Eastside, Bogota/Weehawken and Union City.
Food will be served in the cafeteria from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For any donations or contributions please mail to:
Staff Sgt. Joseph D’Augustine Memorial Fund
PO Box 192 Waldwick NJ 07463
Contact Mark DeLaura at 201-681-0170
Please make check out to: SSJDMF