Photos
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West Orange senior Anthony Angelone (left) could not stay with St. Peter’s Prep Armond Cox in the 220-pound final, falling 18-9 at Region 4 at West Orange High School on Saturday. Despite finishing second, Angelone received a bid for this coming week’s state finals in Atlantic City. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Steven Benitiz (left) battled with Nutley’s Vinny Mainiero for most of the third-place match at 170 pounds, but got caught in the end as Benitiz was pinned with 32 seconds left in the match at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Steven Benitiz (right) battled with Nutley’s Vinny Mainiero for most of the third-place match at 170 pounds, but got caught in the end as Benitiz was pinned with 32 seconds left in the match at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Steven Benitiz (right) battled with Nutley’s Vinny Mainiero for most of the third-place match at 170 pounds, but got caught in the end as Benitiz was pinned with 32 seconds left in the match at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Credits: Edward Kensik
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Livingston junior Jason Estevez (right) had another battle on his hand against Montclair’s Donte Washington and dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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Livingston junior Jason Estevez (right) had another battle on his hand against Montclair’s Donte Washington and dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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Livingston junior Jason Estevez (bottom) had another battle on his hand against Montclair’s Donte Washington and dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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Livingston junior Jason Estevez (right) had another battle on his hand against Montclair’s Donte Washington and dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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Livingston junior Jason Estevez (right) had another battle on his hand against Montclair’s Donte Washington and dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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Livingston junior Jason Estevez (top) had another battle on his hand against Montclair’s Donte Washington and dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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The Livingston coaches give Jason Estevez (right) some tips on his battle against Montclair’s Donte Washington. Estevez dropped the Lancers wrestler, 4-1, in the 132-pound battle at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Estevez lost to Washington in the district final, but defeated the Montclair wrestler to win the Essex County title. Despite the loss Estevez moved on to his third state finals. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Desalegne Fried was aggressive against St. Peter’s Prep’s Armond Cox in the 220-pound final at West Orange High School in the Region 4. Fried would drop an 18-9 decision, but would still earn a bid to the state finals this week at Atlantic City. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Desalegne Fried (right) was aggressive against St. Peter’s Prep’s Armond Cox in the 220-pound final at West Orange High School in the Region 4. Fried would drop an 18-9 decision, but would still earn a bid to the state finals this week at Atlantic City. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Desalegne Fried (right) was aggressive against St. Peter’s Prep’s Armond Cox in the 220-pound final at West Orange High School in the Region 4. Fried would drop an 18-9 decision, but would still earn a bid to the state finals this week at Atlantic City. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Desalegne Fried (left) was aggressive against St. Peter’s Prep’s Armond Cox in the 220-pound final at West Orange High School in the Region 4. Fried would drop an 18-9 decision, but would still earn a bid to the state finals this week at Atlantic City. Credits: Edward Kensik
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West Orange’s Steven Benitiz (right) battled with Nutley’s Vinny Mainiero for most of the third-place match at 170 pounds, but got caught in the end as Benitiz was pinned with 32 seconds left in the match at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Credits: Edward Kensik
Livingston, West Orange Wrestlers Punch Ticket to State Finals in Atlantic City
Sunday, February 26, 2012 • 7:36am
WEST ORANGE, NJ - When it came to the finals and third place matches, the West Orange and Livingston wrestlers did not have a good Saturday.
All of the Mountaineers and Lancers wrestlers lost their last match of the day at Region 4 at West Orange High School. Despite falling in the last matches of the day, two West Orange wrestlers and a Livingston wrestler garnered a trip to Atlantic City this week in the state finals.
West Orange's Desalegne Fried (138) and Anthony Angelone (220) along with Livingston's Jason Estevez (132) made the finals of their weight class, but all came out of the six minutes with a loss and second place.
Livingston's Tommy Heller (113), West Orange's Jordan Velez (120), Steven Benitiz (170) came up just short of grabbing a trip to AC after losing in the third place match in their weight classes.
For Estevez this was the third match against Montclair's Donte Washington. Estevez defeated him to win the Essex County title, but dropped the most recent two bouts including the 5-1 verdict in the 132-pound final on Saturday.
"I was trying to wrestle my match," said Estevez. "He (Washington) just had it today...There was one point where I almost had a takedown."
Of the matches the toughest loss was Fried who was tied with Rutherford's John Boyle in the 138-pound final at three heading into the second period. Fried cut into Boyle's lead to 6-4 in the third period, but could not get any closer.
For Fried, making the state final was his absolute goal. "I'm so excited," said Fried who used to practice against Boyle at the same club. "I just lost by two points."
The trip to Atlantic City could not come at a better time since for Fried. He's a senior and this is last ride through the wrestling tournament. This is the third trip to the state final for Estevez.
Both Estevez and Fried did it the hard way by having to win on Wednesday in a preliminary bout.
Region 4 final and third place matches: (the top three qualify for the state finals next week at Atlantic City)
113
Third place match
Billy Bici, Passaic Valley defeated Tommy Heller, Livingston, 9-2
120
Third place match
Ryan Burkert, St. Peter's defeated Jordan Velez, West Orange, 14-1
132
Final
Donte Washington, Montclair, defeated Jason Estevez, Livingston, 5-1
138
Final
John Boyle, Rutherford defeated Desalegne Fried, West Orange, 6-4
170
Third place
Vinny Mainiero, Nutley defeated Steven Benitiz, West Orange pin, 5:28.
220
Final
Armond Cox, St. Peters Prep defeated Anthony Angelone, West Orange, 18-9
