Seton Hall Prep wrestling looked to improve their impressive year at the Essex County Tournament. Entering the tournament 8-2 had multiple one seeds and contenders to win their weight class. Prep Wrestling finished third as a team and had three winners at the County Tournament.  

Joel Walker ’23 fell short of winning due to a medical injury and finished 8th at the 215-pound division. At 132 pounds Chase Carroll ’23 finished 6th; Jack Tierney ’24 finished 5th at the heavyweight 285-pound division; Anthony Cerreto ’23 placed 5th at the competitive 165-pound division; and Cody Aniche-Farrell ’25 placed 5th at 150 pounds. Seton Hall Prep had six wrestlers who finished top three in their weight classes. Nick Orejola ’25 placed 3rd at 144 pounds; Logan Brzozowski ’24 and Brandon Bauer ’24 were close to winning their weight classes in remarkably close final matches, both finishing second. At 113 pounds SHP’s captain and Cornell signee Joe Sciarrone ’22 was the favorite. Joe dominated all day and ended up winning his weight class with a final score of 6-3 in the final match. The wins kept coming for the Pirates as standout sophomore Carlo Vanvolkenburgh ’24  won the 120-pound division as the favorite. Finally, Seton Hall Prep star and Ohio State commit, Stephen O’Neil, Jr. ’23 won the 157-pound division as the top seed.

He said, “Winning my weight class is a great feeling, but it’s just a stepping stone in the main goal that I and the team have for the season, competing in the state tournament. I wish I had won more dominantly because that is the brand I am trying to establish here at Seton Hall. Every day I just try to improve.”

Stephen is not only a top wrestler on the team but is also an instrumental leader for the team: “I just want us to be consistent. Having trust in what we are doing and why we are doing it. Embracing every day and every part of the process. Most importantly, I want us to have fun with it and enjoy it every day.”