2-25-2024 6:00pm

DiEduardo and Hnasko qualified for state wrestling tournament in Atlantic City

Donnella Tilery Editor

Two wrestlers from Bridgewater-Raritan High School—Matthew DiEduardo and Brady Hnasko—are headed to Atlantic City to compete in the state tournament.

Each placed in the top of his weight class at Region 4 to earn the right to wrestle for a state championship when the NJSIAA Tournament is held this Thursday, February 29 through Saturday, March 1, at the famed Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The Region 4 Tournament was concluded on Saturday, February 24, at Union High School, where DiEduardo, a junior, placed second at 150 pounds and Hnasko, a senior, finished fourth at 120 pounds.

DiEduardo had advanced to the Region 4 final where he was pinned by Rhett Washleski of Hunterdon Central Regional High School in 2:51. That second-place effort was a huge achievement for DiEduardo, who had placed third at District 14 on February 17.

Hnasko fell in the Region 4 title bout by a 2-0 decision against Pingry School’s Matteo Littman. Hnasko finished third at District 14.

DiEduardo will bring a 32-9 record and Hnasko will carry his 26-17 record to the state tournament in Atlantic City.

Two qualifiers for the state tournament from Bridgewater-Raritan is an improvement from last year when just Danny Smith, a senior in 2023, had advanced to Atlantic City.

Bridgewater-Raritan, under Coach Kyle Murphy, had advanced to its first state sectional team tournament final since 2016 this year when the Panthers wrestled in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 title bout. Bridgewater-Raritan, which finished with a 20-8 record this winter, was defeated by powerful Phillipsburg High School, 57-13, in the state sectional final.