Union's Azeredo A Highlight
During An Exciting Region 4

UNION - Although his spot was securely firmed for a second straight trip to Atlantic City, Union senior Ariel Azeredo this time wanted to go as a Region 4 champion.

Azeredo's obstacle in the 144-pound final was top-seeded Laudan Henry of St. Peter's Prep, who he just happened to have lost to by the shutout score of 11-0 in the 144 final at the District 13 Tournament held at Millburn seven days prior.

There was no way Azeredo was going to succumb to the favorite this time.

"I didn't want second place," said Azeredo, who in his same home gym earlier this year repeated as the 138-pound Union County Tournament champion. "He beat me 11-0 the first time we wrestled. This was personal."

In, perhaps, the most anticipated match of the afternoon and what turned out to be a highly-dramatic finish, Azeredo stayed with Henry this time and scored points late to pull out an improbable 7-6 triumph.

For the first time Azeredo heads to Atlantic City a region champion.

"It was grit, hard work and believing in myself," Azeredo said.

Azeredo became Union's first region champion in 10 years. Union's last region champ was senior David Brown in 2016 when Brown captured the heavyweight crown in the same Union gym in the Region 3 Tournament.

Azeredo heads to the NJSIAA Tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City with a 39-4 record. Azeredo went 0-2 in the NJSIAA Tournament last year. If he wins at least one match he will have a 40-win senior season, which is rare.

However, Azeredo does not have designs on winning just one match this coming week.

"I thank God," said Azeredo, who was immediately surrounded by his family moments after his historic victory. "I prayed before the match."

The NJSIAA Tournament commences Thursday, May 12 with the preliminary and pre-quarterfinal rounds, continues Friday, March 13 with the quarterfinals and semifinals and concludes Saturday, March 14 with the finals. Wrestleback rounds will also be contested Friday and Saturday.

Union County's last state champion was Westfield senior Christian Barber at 152 in 2011.

Union's last state champion was senior Mike Ferroni at heayweight in 1988.

Azeredo had no doubt the outcome against Henry, a state finalist in 2024 when he placed sixth at 126, was going to be different. Azeredo didn't care that Henry was committed to wrestling next at Hofstra or that he was from a parochial school or that he had just lost twice this year.

"We had a game plan," Azeredo said. "i was down in the beginning, but I didn't let that faze me. He was heavy on top, but I figured out a way to ride him."

Henry, who was also seeking his first region crown, heads to Atlantic City with a record of 28-3.

Azeredo placed third at 138 pounds in last year's Region 4 competition at Union High School's Louis J. Rettino Gymnasium.

"He was so motivated," said Region 4 Coach of the Year Dino DeBellonia, the head coach at Union. "Throughout the tournament he was determined to win that match.

"Ariel was tough, poised and he put himself in a good position to win that match against Henry."

For the first time under DeBellonia's 17-season tenure as Union head coach the Farmers have three wrestlers who advanced to the NJSIAA Tournament.

The other two are also seniors. Nicholas Bertolotti placed second at 190 and Obreight Ingram was third at heavyweight.

"They've all been here since the 9th grade and have stayed with it through all the ups and downs," DeBellonia said. "Today was a positive finish here for all of their hard work.

"Their performances are a reflection of the positive energy generated from the community. We're looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish next."

If not for injuries to seniors Aidan Cross and Enzo Tammaro and Ethan Flores getting sick before the Bayonne match, Union might have had greater representation in AC.

"There was potential for more," DeBellonia said. "All of our kids did a great job. For us to have three kids moving on to the state tournament is a great thing for our program. Ariel came back to beat a kid he lost to 11-0. His confidence was there."

Cranford senior Luke Scholz captured his first region crown, winning 157. In the championship match Scholz, the second seed, defeated top-seeded Joseph Ruiz of St. Peter's Prep 7-6. Scholz improved to 31-2.

"This was a lot of fun today," said Scholz, who earlier this year became a four-time UCT champ.

Scholz still feels the sting of losing in the Beast of the East at the University of Delaware in December.

"In the beginning of the season I needed my offense to be a little better," Scholz said.

"Here is Scholz's strategy for AC: "I'm not thinking about the matches at all. I just want to go out and have fun and score points. This means everything to me. I've been working all my life for this. I fully believe I can."

Cranford senior Michael Daly also won as the second seed by beating the top seed in the final, capturing the 120 championship. In overtime, Daly was awarded a 2-1 sudden victory when Robert Rodriguez of St. Peter's Prep was called for stalling.

Of Union County's five Region 4 champions at Union, Daly was the only one to win a second region championship. Daly was the 106-pound Region 4 champion at Union in 2024.

Daly heads to AC this time with a 36-3 record.

"I wrestled my match, but I was disappointed I didn't get a takedown," Daly said of his win against Rodriguez. "This is another good stepping stone for me."

Daly's strategy for the states: "don't wait for my opponent to make the first move."

St. Peter's Prep senior Carmen Marano of Kenilworth, the top seed at 190, captured his first region championship with a win by technical fall and two pins. Marano's father, Carmen Marano, Jr., was a standout two-way lineman on Union's 11-0 North 2, Group 4 state championship football teams his junior and senior seasons of 1991 and 1992. Marano Jr. is a 1993 UHS grad.

This is the third time Marano is going to the states. Marano qualified as a third-place finisher his freshman season in 2023 and as second-place qualifier last year.

"I think I could get on the podium," Marano said. "That's my goal, to get as high on the podium as possible."

Marano said that winning his championship at the school his father attended was, "amazing."

"Heart and grit is what they teach us at St. Peter's Prep," Marano said. "Break down your opponent mentally."

Roselle Park freshman Jake Appello went 2-1 as the second seed at 106 to qualify as second-best. Appello heads to AC for the first time with a record of 30-5.

Dan Appello, coached by father Sam Appello at Roselle Park, won three Region 3 championships at Union in 1999 at 103, 2000 at 112 and 2002 at 125. Appello's senior season in 2002 he finished third in the state at 125.

Cranford's last state champion was senior Pat Hogan at 171 in 2006. Hogan won Region 3 championships at UInion in 2004 at 152, 2005 at 160 and 2006 at 171.

2026 REGION 4 AT UNION
FINALS:
138: 1-Giovanni Schinina, St. Peter's Prep, Sr., dec. 2-Jack Abramson, Pingry, Jr., 5-4. 
144: 2-Ariel Azeredo, Union, Sr., dec. 1-Laudan Henry, St. Peter's Prep, Sr., 7-6.
150: 2-Anthony Borrometi, St. Peter's Prep, Sr., dec. 1-Braeden Valley, New Providence, Sr., 3-0.
157: 2-Luke Scholz, Cranford, Sr., dec. 1-Joseph Ruiz, St. Peter's Prep, Sr., 7-6.
165: 1-Josh Piparo, St. Peter's Prep, Jr., dec. 2-Lukas Katsigiannis, Pope John, Jr., 11-4.
175: 2-Cole Dunham, Pope John, Sr., tiebreaker 1-Anthony Verdi, St. Peter's Prep, Sr., 6-5.
190: 1-Carmen Marano, Sr., St. Peter's Prep, pin 7-Nicholas Bertolotti, Union, Sr., 1:18.
215: 3-Paul Boyle, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Sr., pin 1-NIck Mignone, Pope John, Sr., 1:31.
HWT: 1-Trent Levas, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr., pin 2-Raymir Brighton, Plainfield, Sr., 3:01.
106: 1-Cayden Wadle, North Hunterdon, Jr. maj. dec. 2-Jake Appello, Roselle Park, fresh., 13-3.
113: 1-Matty Ortega, Johnson, Jr., dec. 2-Owen Fol, North Hunterdon, soph., 4-1.
120: 2-Michael Daly, Cranford, Sr., sudden victory 1-Robert Rodriguez, St. Peter's Prep, soph., 2-1.
126: 4-Christian Ramirez, St. Peter's Prep, soph., maj. dec. 2-Reid Buzby, North Hunterdon, Sr., 13-2
132: 1-Anthony DiAndrea, Watchung Hills, Sr., dec. 2-Salvatore Borrometi, St. Peter's Prep, soph., 10-5.
Region 4 Coach of the Year: Dino DeBellonia, Union.

THIRD-PLACE AND FOURTH-PLACE QUALIFIERS:
138: 5-Kieran Raley, North Hunterdon, Jr., dec. 4-Armani Maglione, Iselin Kennedy, Jr., 4-1.
144: 5-Joseph Stanzione, South Plainfield, Sr., 6-Adreian Harris, Rahway, Sr., :45.
150: 3-Ethan Delacruz, Bound Brook, Jr., tech. fall 4-Daniel Gonzalez, Rahway, Sr., 17-1 (3:22).   
157: 3-Braydan Lombreglia, Jr., Pope John, pin 11-Youssef Elgarhi, Bayonne, Sr., :25.
165: 3-Matt McGann, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr., tech. fall 4-Ryder Vorndran, Brearley, Sr., 17-1 (4:35).
175: 3-Kwabena Morgan, Bound Brook, Sr., pin 4-Joey Acinapura, Cranford, Sr., 2:55.
190: 3-Artun Kurgezmis, Watchung Hills, Sr., dec. 6-Finn Cavanaugh, Pingry, Sr., 5-3.
215: 2-Owen Dandeo, North Hunterdon, Sr., forfeit  5-Christian Garcia, Elizabeth, Jr.
HWT: 3-Obreight Ingram, Union, Sr., pin 4-Anthonu DeSimone, North Hunterdon, Sr., 1:05.  
106: 5-Ronnie Rodriguez, St. Peter's Prep, fresh., dec. 3-Daniel Berardi, Westfield, Sr., 4-2.
113: 5-Phillip Griffin, Rahway, soph., pin 3-Andrew Adell, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr., 5:59.
120: 5-Jacob Richardson, Watchung Hills, Jr., dec. 3-Jaeczer Evans, Rahway, Sr., 4-3.
126: 1-Dalton Weber, Pope John, Sr., pin 5-Nicholas Campanelli, St. Thomas Aquinas, soph., 1:14
132: 3-Aidan Yarussi, North Hunterdon, Jr., dec. Aidyn Herrera, Somerville, Jr., 11-4.

Union head coach Dino DeBellonia:
2025 and 2026: Union County Coach of the Year.
2026: District 13 at Millburn and Region 4 at Union Coach of the Year.

UNION COUNTY NJSIAA TOURNAMENT QUALIFIERS:
A total of 62 wrestlers from Union County high schools qualified for Region 4 at Union out of districts 13, 14, 15 and 16. A total of 18 of those grapplers advanced to this week's NJSIAA Tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Wrestlers from 11 Union County high schools qualified for the season's final competition.

Here's the breakdown with each wrestler's Region 4 seed:
RAHWAY INDIANS (4)
144: 6-Adrian Harris, Sr., fourth
150: 4-Daniel Gonzalez, Sr., fourth
113: 5-Phillip Griffin, soph., third
120: 3-Jaeczar Evans, fourth
CRANFORD COUGARS (3)
157: 2-Luke Scholz, Sr., first
175: 4-Joey Acinapura, Sr., fourth
120: 2-Michael Daly, St., first
Daly also won at 106 in 2024.
UNION FARMERS (3)
144: 2-Ariel Azeredo, Sr., first
Azeredo is Union's first region champion
since senior David Brown won the heavyweight title
at Region 3 at Union in 2016.
190: 7-Nicholas Bertolotti, Sr., second
HWT: 3-Obreight Ingram, Sr., third
JOHNSON CRUSADERS (1)
113: 1-Matty Ortega, Jr., first
ROSELLE PARK PANTHERS (1)
106: 2-Jake Appello, fresh., second
BREARLEY BEARS (1)
165: Ryder Vorndran, Sr., fourth
ELIZABETH MINUTEMEN (1)
215: Christian Garcia, Jr. fourth
WESTFIELD BLUE DEVILS (1)
106: 3-Daniel Berardi, Sr., fourth
PLAINFIELD CARDINALS (1)
HWT: 2-Raymir Brighton, Sr., second
SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD RAIDERS (1)
215: 3-Paul Boyle, Sr., first
NEW PROVIDENCE PIONEERS (1)
150: 1-Braeden Valley, Sr., second