The North Bergen High School wrestling team, known as the Bruins, has a rich history of success within the Hudson County Interscholastic League and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). This article highlights some of the most outstanding wrestlers from North Bergen and the surrounding areas, recognizing their achievements and contributions to the sport.
All-Decade Wrestling Team
As 2019 drew to a close, NorthJersey.com looked back on the best athletes to come through Bergen and Passaic counties in the last decade, and presented the All-Decade Wrestling Team.
Anthony Giraldo: A Bruin Legend
Anthony Giraldo, from the North Bergen Class of 2014, set a high standard for future Bruins. This lower-weight wrestler achieved a remarkable 4-for-4 record at the Bergen County tournament and secured two gold medals in Atlantic City. These were groundbreaking achievements for a North Bergen wrestler, foreshadowing a successful career at Rutgers.
Giraldo finished his high school career with an impressive 160-10 record, winning his last 81 bouts and all 44 as a senior.
Other Notable Wrestlers
Besides Anthony Giraldo, a number of wrestlers from schools near North Bergen have achieved outstanding results. Here are some of them:
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- Sammy Alvarez (St. Joseph, Class of 2019): A three-time state finalist, winning the 126-pound title as a senior with a career record of 136-11 before heading to Rutgers.
- Kyle Bierdumpfel (Don Bosco, Class of 2016): With one state championship and three silver medals, Bierdumpfel earned a 123-15 record, along with four district and three region titles.
- Ricky Cabanillas (DePaul, Class of 2019): A star middleweight with 112 wins, Cabanillas won gold in 2018 and now wrestles at Brown.
- Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2019): A two-time state champion, ranked No. 1 in the country at 195 pounds, now wrestling for Cornell.
- Eric Chakonis (Don Bosco, Class of 2017): A two-time state heavyweight champion with a record of 111-31.
- Zack Chakonis (Don Bosco, Class of 2015): A three-time state finalist and 2015 heavyweight champion with a career record of 146-10.
- Joe Grello (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2016): A state champion in 2015 and 2016, with a record of 118-20.
- Shane Griffith (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2018): A consistent winner with three state titles and four trips to the final, now at Stanford.
- Razohnn Gross (Don Bosco, Class of 2013): A two-time state champion with a record of 127-18.
- Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2020): A state champion as a sophomore and a three-time Cadet World Team member, committed to Penn State.
- David McFadden (DePaul, Class of 2015): A two-time state title winner with a Passaic County record of 161 wins, later a three-time All-American at Virginia Tech.
- Kevin Mulligan (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2016): A two-time state champion with a record of 138-30.
- Johnny Sebastian (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2014): A three-time state champion with 144 career wins.
- Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2016): A four-time state champion with a record of 159-0, later a national champion at Rutgers.
Additional Wrestlers Recognized:
- Peter Acciardi (Don Bosco, Class of 2018)
- Gerard Angelo (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2018)
- Kyle Cochran (Paramus, Class of 2017)
- Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2019)
- Luis Gonzalez (Don Bosco, Class of 2014)
- Nick Gravina (Northern Highlands, Class of 2013)
- Brandon Kui (DePaul, Class of 2017)
- Sal Mastriani (Don Bosco, Class of 2012)
- Luke Mazzeo (Emerson/Park Ridge, Class of 2019)
- Connor Melde (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2012)
- Mickey O'Malley (Hasbrouck Heights, Class of 2018)
- Joe Orecchio (Don Bosco, Class of 2011)
- Ethan Ramos (Hawthorne, Class of 2013)
- Jonathan Tropea (St. Joseph, Class of 2016)
- Joe Trovato (Paramus, Class of 2015)
- Nick Babin (Emerson/Park Ridge, Class of 2020)
- John Boyle (Rutherford, Class of 2012)
- John Burger (New Milford, Class of 2017)
- Nicky Cabanillas (DePaul, Class of 2019)
- Mohammed Farhan (Clifton, Class of 2016)
- Luke Farinaro (Don Bosco, Class of 2014)
- Carmen Ferrante (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2018)
- Nick Kayal (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2020)
- Pete Lipari (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2015)
- Dominick Mandarino (Don Bosco, Class of 2017)
- Dominic Mainiero (Queen of Peace, Class of 2017)
- Connor O'Neill (DePaul, Class of 2020)
- Sam Schneider (Emerson/Park Ridge, Class of 2016)
- Shane Sosinksy (Northern Highlands, Class of 2017)
- Wade Unger (Bergen Catholic, Class of 2019)
North Bergen High School Athletics
The North Bergen Bruins compete in the Hudson County Interscholastic League, under the supervision of the NJSIAA. The school's athletic facilities include Bruins Stadium, used by the track, tennis, football, and soccer teams, located in James J. Braddock Park.
With 1,852 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019-20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range. The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V North for football for 2024-2026, which included schools with 1,317 to 5,409 students.
The football team competes in the Liberty Red division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.
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Football State Championships
The North Bergen High School football team has a history of success, winning multiple North I Group IV state championships:
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- 1977: Won against Henry Snyder High School (6-0)
- 1978: Won against Passaic Valley High School (28-14)
- 1984: Won against Ridgewood High School (37-3)
- 1988: Won against John F. Kennedy High School (14-13)
- 1990: Won against Hoboken High School (3-0 in overtime)
- 1997: Won against Wayne Valley High School (33-10)
- 2011
| Year | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Henry Snyder High School | 6-0 |
| 1978 | Passaic Valley High School | 28-14 |
| 1984 | Ridgewood High School | 37-3 |
| 1988 | John F. Kennedy High School | 14-13 |
| 1990 | Hoboken High School | 3-0 (OT) |
| 1997 | Wayne Valley High School | 33-10 |
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