West Essex High School Wrestlers Capture State Championship

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A group of standout wrestlers from West Essex High School have earned a special commendation for capturing the 2019 NJSIAA Group 3 State Championship.

The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently honored the West Essex High School Wrestling Team for their athletic victory during a presentation in Newark.

West Essex High School is part of the West Essex Regional School District, which includes Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland.

According to a joint news release from the freeholders:

“The West Essex Knights Wrestling Team finished the season with a record of 22 victories and 4 losses. They closed out the season with an 18-match winning streak and triumphed over Ocean Township in the semifinals and Delsea High School in the finals to win the Group 3 State Championship. In addition to winning the state championship, they were also the TCNJ Pride Tournament Champions, District 5 Champions, and had six individual Essex County Champions. The Knights were also led by an equally successful coaching staff. Assistant Coach Greg Ruggiero was named the Assistant Coach of the Year District 5, and Head Coach Mike Markey was named the Essex County District 5, Region 2 Coach of the Year, the New Jersey State Coach of the Year, and the NJ.com Coach of the Year.”

Markey credited the members of the team for representing the community in a positive fashion.

“As proud as we are for the season we had, we are prouder of the young men that these boys are,” Markey said.

The commendation ceremony was sponsored and presented by District 4 Freeholder Leonard Luciano and Freeholder At-Large Patricia Sebold.

Sebold offered greetings to the team on behalf of the board, and congratulated them on their successful season.

“These young men have brought great distinction and honor to the county of Essex and the towns of Essex Fells, Fairfield, Roseland and North Caldwell by winning the Group 3 State Championship,” Sebold said. “They have shown that with hard work, sacrifice, and teamwork, the end result of being champions becomes an attainable goal.”

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