Bridgewater-Raritan High School is a state sectional wrestling champion for the first time since 2016.

An aggressive and physical style resulted in a 36-point lead after seven bouts that sparked Bridgewater-Raritan to a 57-13 victory over Bayonne High School in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 state tournament championship match on Wednesday, February 12.

An energetic crowd at Bridgewater-Raritan’s Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium watched Bridgewater-Raritan live up to its No, 1 seed while it secured its first state sectional title since its current head coach, Kyle Murphy, was a senior on that Panther team. Bayonne was the No 3 seed in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5.

Now, Bridgewater-Raritan will focus on the Group 5 state championship and the next step–the semifinals—will be wrestled on Friday, February 14, at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School.

Bridgewater-Raritan’s foe will be Monroe High School, which upset top-seeded Old Bridge High School in the Central Jersey, Group 5 state sectional final.

"This championship is a credi to my staff, my family, our administration, our fans, and of course, to our wrestlers," Coach Murphy said moments after he hoisted the state sectional championship trophy at center mat.

The Group 5 state championship will be held on Sunday, February 16, at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway. All five public school group championship bouts and the two non-public school finals will be wrestled on Sunday at Rutgers.

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