GUTTENBERG – Anthony Giraldo achieved something Sunday afternoon that had never been done in the history of Hudson County wrestling.
The Guttenberg resident and High Tech High School senior, who wrestles for North Bergen, won the NJSIAA 132-pound state championship at Boardwalk Hall, defeating Mike Magaldo of Watchung Hills, 3-1, in the title bout.
In the process, Giraldo became the first wrestler from Hudson County to ever successfully defend a state championship and the first-ever to capture two NJSIAA state crowns. Giraldo was the 126-pound state champion a year ago.
Giraldo used a three-point move — a one-point escape and a two-point takedown — in the second period to defeat Magaldo, a long-time rival. Giraldo’s win enabled him to finish the season with a perfect 41-0 record.
Giraldo had defeated Magaldo earlier this season by a similar 3-1 score on Jan. 18 in a dual meet. The two wrestlers have gone head-to-head several times, dating back to grade school.
Giraldo is one of only five Hudson County wrestlers to ever win a state title. John Bott, a teacher at North Bergen High, is another. But Giraldo becomes the first to win two state crowns. – Jim Hague
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