Magaldo Takes State Wrestling Title

During the Watchung Hills Regional wrestling team's regular season, sophomore Mike Magaldo beat almost every opponent he faced in the 120-lb. weight class, but three times he wrestled and three times he lost to Troy Heilman, of South Plainfield.

It almost seemed inevitable the two would battle once again this year, as both advanced through their weight class bouts in Atlantic City, and sure enough, they did.

But this time turned out differently, with Magaldo having Heilman's number. He won in a 5-1 decision to take the state title, Sunday.

The win is a perfect cap to the team's, and Magaldo's, terrific season—Watchung Hills finished the season ranked 16 in the state, and had three wrestlers entered in the state tournament (132-lb. Matt Coppola, also a returning state finalist, fell Friday night, while 145-lb. Mike DeVito fell in the second round of wrestlebacks, Saturday).

Magaldo joins four other Watchung Hills wrestlers with state titles: Fred Pauser, who won in 1959 at 178 lbs.; 160-lb. Mike Gatti, who claimed the title in 2004; Alex Caruso, also a 160-lb. champion, in 2006; and two-time titlist Brendan Ard, who won at 171-lbs. in 2008 and 2009.