7417 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047

Thursday, January 12, 2012

WRESTLING:Garrido's pin puts North Bergen in the driver's seat

North Bergen's Devin Garrido.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

NORTH BERGEN – As a freshman in an important dual meet between two of North Jersey's top public school wrestling programs, Devin Garrido's only job was to stay off of his back and avoid getting pinned and giving up bonus points. It wasn't going to be easy an task when facing this year’s BCCA champ Joe Trovato of Paramus. But Garrido, North Bergen’s freshman 106-pounder, did not seem to feel the pressure, he saw it as just another match. What happened during that match not only changed the complexion of a hotly-contest bout between two of North Jersey’s top teams, but it sent shock waves through the wrestling community as well. Down 4-1 early in the second period, Garrido turned Trovato to his back and the crowd to its ear with one of the more surprising pins seen this year to date. That was the second of five consecutive pins that gave North Bergen the lead for good, lifting the Bruins to a 39-28 victory over Paramus on Wednesday night at North Bergen High School. Paramus got off to a quick start with back-to-back pins at 170 and 182 from Mustafa Aslami and Matt Tozzi for a 12-0 lead. However, that lead did not last long with North Bergen answering back with pins by BCCA champ Eric McMullen at 195 and Nick Garcia wrapped around a 7-3 win at 220 pounds by Jose Nobleza of Paramus. MORE...

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