Two Bridgewater-Raritan Wrestlers Earn State Medals at 2026 Tournament

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Two Bridgewater-Raritan High School wrestlers earned medals at the 2026 NJSIAA State Wrestling Tournament.

For the first time under the leadership of coach Kyle Murphy, the team saw multiple wrestlers reach the prestigious podium in Atlantic City.

Juniors Trent Levash, seeded seventh at heavyweight, and Matt McCann, seeded 13th in the 165-pound division, secured sixth and eighth-place finishes at the tournament at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on Saturday.

Wrestlers at the state tournament receive medals for finishing in the top eight of their weight classes.

Levash navigated a challenging path to the podium after being eliminated from championship contention in the state quarterfinals.

He secured his spot by pinning his opponent in 1:29 before earning a 16-9 decision victory on Friday night.

On Saturday, Levash faced tough competition, ultimately falling in the fifth-place bout to Nicholas Duarte of Hillsborough High School. Levash ended his season as a sixth-place state medalist.

McCann experienced a dramatic run in the consolation round, also known as the blood round, where a single match determines medal eligibility.

After trailing by seven points in the first period, McCann rallied to score 10 unanswered points, eventually securing a sudden victory with a takedown at 6:57. This performance earned the Panthers their first medal of the weekend.

McCann later faced competition from Point Pleasant Boro and Christian Brothers Academy, ultimately finishing in eighth place.

Senior Andrew Adell also represented Bridgewater-Raritan at the state tournament, competing at 113 pounds. Adell finished the tournament with a 1-2 record, including an upset victory by technical fall against a wrestler from the Delbarton School.

This match marked the final win of Adell's high school career.

The success of the state tournament follows a strong team campaign for Bridgewater-Raritan, which included a successful defense of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 state sectional title.

Looking ahead, the program expects to build on this momentum.

Both Levash and McCann are slated to return for the 2026-27 season. They will serve as leaders for a team aiming to secure a third consecutive state sectional title, with both athletes positioned as potential contenders for state championships next March.