Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25:
The Firebird wrestling team soared to victory at the NSCHSAA League Tournament on Sunday, February 9th.
The team wrestled hard earning a total of 434 team points, 71.5 points ahead of runner-up and league rival Chaminade, to secure the title of League Champions.
Seniors “Jackal” Joe Estrella (152 lbs) and “Juggernaut” Jonathan Hoffman (170 lbs) both won gold in their respective weight classes, going undefeated in the League Tournament.
Seniors Elijah “Conquering” Carrington, “Jackhammer” Jack Barkley, “Lethal” Luke Chernaski, and “Indestructible” Isaiah Gittens and Juniors Nicolas Biribitzer and “Catastrophic” Chris Parisi all wrestled tough to take the silver medal.
Freshmen Chase Colon, Isaiah Griffin, and Brendan Barkley, Junior Mark Chernaski, and Senior Luke Fifield all took home a bronze medal for third place in the tournament.
Jonathan Hoffman earned the award for the most pins in the least amount of time and Chase Colon had the fastest pin of all the wrestlers who competed with a ten second pin.
Captain and League Champion Jonathan Hoffman is looking forward to the team’s showing at the state tournament this Saturday, saying, “We are praying for an excellent performance at Catholic States and excited for the good competition we will face.”
Twenty three of the thirty wrestlers who competed placed top six in their weight classes and will be competing once again this Saturday at Monsignor Farrell High School in the NY CHSAA State Championships.
