When Devin Garrido was just 6 years old, his father, Javier, brought him for the first time to compete in the North Bergen Recreation wrestling program. As it turned out, Devin really didn’t like it.
Garrido was also a soccer player when he was younger, but found that sport wasn’t much to his liking as well.
“My father then said he was taking me to do martial arts,” Garrido said. “At first, I didn’t want to do it either, but the more I did it, the more I liked it.”
Garrido became involved in judo at a young age and he quickly moved up the ranks. By age 9, Garrido was competing in national tournaments and earning his share of medals.
In 2009 and 2010, Garrido placed second in the United States Junior Olympics national championships for his age bracket and weight class.
Last July, at the same competition held in Irving, Texas, Garrido won first place in the age 14-15 category and 47 kilogram (103 pounds). Yes, the kid from North Bergen was actually a junior national champion in judo.
“I never thought it was possible,” said Garrido, who is currently a freshman at High Tech High School. “I worked hard to get where I got.”
After entering High Tech, Garrido received encouragement from his cousin, Anthony Giraldo, to try out for the North Bergen wrestling team. Giraldo has been a mainstay on the Bruins for the last two years and last season, Giraldo earned a medal at the NJSIAA state tournament in Atlantic City, placing fourth in the entire state at 112 pounds.
“I saw what Anthony was doing, getting stronger and winning a lot of tournaments,” Garrido said. “I was interested in trying to do the same thing. At first, it was a little awkward, because I didn’t know what I was doing.”
North Bergen wrestling coach and athletic director Jerry Maietta had no idea what to expect from the freshman martial artist.
“I knew he was a competitor,” Maietta said. “When he started out with us in the summer, I knew he had already been in the fire already with judo. From a competitive standpoint, he was ready. I guess he watched Anthony do so well last year that it was worth a shot. Wrestling was definitely in his background, but judo is his thing.”
Maietta believes that there is a correlation between the two sports.
“I definitely think there’s a cross training approach to both,” Maietta said. “I’ve had a couple of kids who did judo over the years and a lot of them were strong with their legs and their balance.”
But Maietta had no idea how that would translate to Garrido’s success on the mat.
“I really had no clue,” Maietta said.
When the season began in mid-December, Garrido wasn’t even a part of the Bruins’ regular lineup. He was not part of the squad that participated in the George Jockish Bergen County Tournament during the Christmas holidays.
However, Garrido got his first chance against a talented wrestler from Nutley, Anthony DeLorenzo, who already had established himself as one of the best 106-pound wrestlers in Essex County.
“In his first match of the year, Devin pinned the kid,” Maietta said. “We kind of didn’t expect that.”
Then, Garrido’s biggest challenge came when he faced Bergen County Tournament champion Joe Trovato of Paramus in a dual match last week at North Bergen High School. Maietta was just hopeful that Garrido would stay off his back and give the Bruins a chance to topple one of Bergen County’s premier squads.
“As it turned out, Devin did better than that,” Maietta said.
Garrido nailed a headlock and put Trovato to his back in 1:47, giving the Bruins the impetus to knock off the highly ranked invaders from Paramus, 39-28. It was Trovato’s first loss of the year.
“I just went into the match hoping to do my best and whatever happened, happened,” Garrido said.
Last Saturday, Garrido did it again, defeating Anthony Cruz of Passaic Valley, the top-ranked 106-pound wrestler from Passaic County, 13-3, leading the Bruins to another team victory, improving to 7-0 overall.
Three wins, all against the top-ranked wrestlers in their respective counties. Not bad for a wrestling newcomer.
For his efforts, Garrido has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
For the season, Garrido now owns a perfect 9-0 record with seven pins.
Needless to say, the whole thing is a surprise to everyone.
“I am surprised,” Garrido said. “I never would have imagined all this could happen. I just wanted to do whatever I could to help the Bruins. I never thought this. I didn’t even know they were good wrestlers. I just went out there and tried my best.”
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Maietta said. “I knew he could do well, but he’s exceeding what we expected. He has a very good work ethic. He’s also not the most physically imposing kid.”
Not many 106-pound kids are.
Garrido thinks that his judo and Brazilian jujitsu backgrounds have helped him. He trains at two different locations for each form of martial arts, going to Edgewater to a place called The Academy to study jujitsu and heading to Fair Lawn regularly to Kokushikai Judo Academy to study judo.
“I do have a tight schedule, but the judo schedule gets busy in the spring and summer,” Garrido said. “Right now, I’m going to wrestling to help my team more. My judo has helped with wrestling in terms of being on the floor, trying to escape. There are take down moves that are similar to judo. It’s helped me with technique and with my stamina. My strength is something I have to work on.”
Right now, it appears as if Garrido needs little help in the sport – except for recognizing how good he already is.
“It’s pretty funny when he comes off the mat,” Maietta said. “He really has no idea how to react. It’s like a breath of fresh air. He’s winning and comes off the mat unfazed. It’s pretty exciting. He’s been a perfect fit.”
Garrido doesn’t know how far wrestling will take him.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “I didn’t expect any of this.” – Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEKFrom judo to wrestling, without missing a beat
