February 20, 2012

Prep's Alexander Richardson became a four-time District 16 champion on Saturday. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

For the fourth-time in their careers Alexander Richardson and Anthony Pafumi can call themselves District Champs.

The two four-time champions led a group of eight St. Peter's Prep wrestlers to win titles in Saturday's NJSIAA District 16 Championships this Saturday at North Bergen High School.

Richardson and Pafumi were not the only Marauders to make a return trip to the winners' circle. Senior Francisco Colom won his third-straight district title and Ryan Medina his second.

Richardson won at 145 pounds this year after winning at 135 in 2011, 125 in 2010 and 119 as a freshman in 2009. Pafumi won at 170 pounds for the second-straight year after previously winning at 160 as a sophomore and 152 as a freshman. Colom repeated at 152 after winning at 140 in 2010. Medina is a two-time champ at heavyweight.

The Prep quartet wasn't the only repeat winners, North Bergen sophomores Luis Gonzalez (113) and Anthony Giraldo took home their second district crowns. Both moves up a weight class from a year ago with Gonzalez won at 103 and Giraldo at 112. Eric McMullen (195) won his second-district title. McMullen, a transfer from Paulsboro was a District 29 champ in 2011.

In total, St. Peter's Prep dominated with eight champions to easily out-distance North Bergen 306-187.5 for its fourth-straight team championship.

Bayonne's Andro Mossad took home the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler honors after he pinned St. Peter's Prep's Pete Hilburn at 3:15 in the 138-pound final.

The top three finishers in each weight class will advance to the Region 4 tournament at West Orange High School. Below are the results of the Championship and Third Place matches as well as the complete team standings.