Bridgewater-Raritan High School is a finalist in the state group wrestling tournament—the program’s first-ever berth.
Bridgewater-Raritan punched a ticket to the NJSIAA Group 5 state wrestling tournament championship match when Coach Kyle Murphy’s vigorous team scored a thrilling 36-33 victory over Monroe Township High School in the semifinals Friday evening, February 14, at Vaughn Stapelton Gymnasium in Bridgewater.
Matt McCann’s pin at 3:10 at 157 pounds rallied Bridegwater-Raritan to victory in the final bout of the evening. Monroe had led, 33-30, entering the final match.
The five public school group and the two non-public group championship matches will be wrestled on Sunday, February 16, at Jersey Mike’s Arena on the Rutgers University campus in Piscataway.
Bridgewater-Raritan will wrestle in the second half of the state championship doubleheader at 2:30 p.m., when it will face a rugged challenge in pursuit of the Group 5 state trophy—-Southern Regional High School.
Southern advanced to the Group 5 state final with a dominating 65-12 victory over Passaic County Technical Institute on Friday, February 14 in Manahawkin.
Southern, which is ranked No. 8 in the state, will bid to win its second straight Group 5 state championship.
Bridgewater-Raritan and Southern will wrestle in the Group 5 final at the same time on February 16 at 2:30 with the Group 4 and Non-Public A state title matches. The Group 1, 2 and 3 and the Non-Public B finals are set for 12 noon.