The Old Bridge wrestling team achieved a historic victory by capturing its first title at the Greater Middlesex Tournament, ending St. Joseph of Metuchen’s three-year dominance. The Knights secured this milestone on March 15, 2024, by winning two weight classes, thanks to strong performances from wrestlers Temiloluva Odumba and Zachary Florio.
As the tournament progressed, Old Bridge evaluated its position and realized that the championship was within reach. Coach John Post encouraged his athletes to focus on their individual matches rather than the overall team score. This strategy proved effective, particularly for Odumba, who entered the finals after a decisive 18-6 victory over Metuchen’s top seed, Daniel Montemurro. In the final bout, Odumba claimed the 190-pound title with a close 7-5 decision against second-seeded Felipe Granadiero of South River. Remarkably, Odumba defeated four higher-seeded opponents throughout the tournament.
Post noted the mental shift that Odumba demonstrated throughout the season. “He’s shown some flashes of brilliance. It’s been our top goal this season to get him to believe,” Post said. The coach highlighted that Odumba initially started at 175 pounds but gained confidence as the season progressed.
Following Odumba’s victory, Florio added to Old Bridge’s success by winning the 215-pound weight class. He secured his championship with a dominant 20-10 major decision over Wilfredo Villalongo from Carteret, completing the tournament with three pins in earlier matches. These early finishes became crucial when the team scores were calculated.
Despite St. Joseph’s having five champions, Old Bridge’s overall performance, including advancing 13 wrestlers into the semifinal round, made a significant difference. The Knights’ triumph was a testament to their depth and ability to secure bonus points throughout the tournament.
“This is a huge milestone for us,” Post said. “We have a lot of depth, and we got a lot of bonus points early. We felt like we were a better tournament team.” The school, formed in 1995 from the merger of Madison Central and Cedar Ridge High Schools, celebrated this historic win, which marked a significant achievement in its athletic history.
Though Old Bridge experienced setbacks at 106 and 113 pounds, where top-seeded David Peoples and Gavin Young fell short, the team had already secured the title. The final two weight classes saw St. Joseph’s Julian Arango and Nico DeRado win their respective brackets, but Old Bridge had effectively locked in the championship by then.
Looking ahead, Post expressed aspirations beyond this victory. “Winning the Red Division was important, but we didn’t reach that goal. We’re still looking to compete in the sectionals. We know Jackson and Monroe are out there and we’re looking at them,” he stated.
This historic win for the Old Bridge Knights underscores their resilience and determination, setting a promising tone for future competitions.
