Middletown, NJ—For the second straight season, the spotlight at the N.J. Catholic School Duals shined brightest on St. Peter’s Prep and Bergen Catholic — and once again, the outcome came down to the final bouts.
In a rematch of last year’s marquee clash, NJ.com No. 3 St. Peter’s Prep rallied late to defeat No. 6 Bergen Catholic, 30–28, on Friday at Christian Brothers Academy. The victory sends the Marauders into the tournament’s gold pool for the third consecutive year and keeps their early-season momentum intact.
Late Surge Turns the Tide
Bergen Catholic carried a 25–19 advantage into the upper weights, putting St. Peter’s Prep in a must-win situation over the final stretch. The Marauders responded with three consecutive victories at 165, 175, and 190 pounds to flip the team score and seize control.
Senior state medalist Joey Ruiz started the push with a composed 3–0 decision. Josh Piparo followed with a dominant 18–3 technical fall, providing critical bonus points. Two-time state medalist Anthony Verdi then secured a 7–2 decision to complete the swing and give SPP the edge heading into the final bout.
At 215 pounds, senior Carmen Marano delivered the finishing touch. Needing to avoid a big loss to protect the narrow lead, Marano stayed off his back in key moments to preserve the two-point victory and seal the 30–28 final.
Strategy and Lineup Adjustments
St. Peter’s Prep entered the dual without sophomore middleweight Enzo Triola, who was sidelined by illness. The coaching staff adjusted the lineup, inserting senior John Barron at 120 pounds and shifting several wrestlers to create favorable matchups.
The moves largely paid off. Laudan Henry bumped up to 150, while Robby Rodriguez and Christian Ramirez slid into new spots in the lower weights. Though not every adjustment produced ideal results, the overall strategy generated enough wins — and bonus points — to tip the balance.
Rodriguez’s 4–3 decision over sophomore state medalist Matt Mulligan proved especially significant in a dual filled with razor-thin margins.
Bonus Points Prove Decisive
In high-level dual meets, bonus points often determine the outcome, and this matchup was no exception. A second-period pin by Borrometi over senior state medalist Sowzy Tsay supplied a major boost for the Marauders and helped counter Bergen Catholic’s earlier successes.
St. Peter’s Prep also showcased its depth in a lopsided 81–0 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas earlier in the day, while Bergen Catholic handled the same opponent 76–0. The near-identical results only underscored how evenly matched the two rivals were entering their head-to-head clash.
Gold Pool Awaits
With the win, St. Peter’s Prep improved to 6–0 and advanced to the gold semifinals, where top-ranked Delbarton awaits. The Green Wave has won each of the first two Catholic Duals titles, including victories over the Marauders in prior championship matches.
As for Bergen Catholic, the narrow defeat adds another competitive chapter to a growing rivalry that continues to define Non-Public A wrestling.
Once again, when St. Peter’s Prep and Bergen Catholic shared the mat at the Catholic Duals, the outcome hinged on the smallest of margins — and once again, the Marauders found a way to finish.
