N.J. Wrestlers Show Support for Newtown at 33rd Caldwell Tournament

The 33rd Annual Caldwell 8th Grade and Under Wrestling tournament took place on Sunday at James Caldwell High School. The event attracted 335 wrestlers from all over the tri-state area and included state and county champs from various areas. Caldwell had 35 wrestlers compete from ages 7 to 13. 

In attendance were 13 wrestlers from the Newtown, Conn. Youth Wrestling Association. Their teammate, Jack Pinto, was a victim of the recent Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  

The Caldwell Wrestling Club, co-sponsors of the event along with the West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Department, collected donations for the Pinto Family, which exceeded $2,500. Also collected were five boxes of wrestling gear from many of the towns represented to distribute to all the Newtown wrestlers so that they feel the love and support from their wrestling friends in New Jersey.

Donations came from all over New Jersey (Caldwell, Verona, Cedar Grove, West Essex, Scorpions Wrestling School, Kearny, Passaic Valley, Montville, Nutley and many others).

Cedar Grove Coach Mike Brown and the Cedar Grove Wrestling community donated $1,100 dollars as well as a huge box of gear.

Caldwell Wrestling Club President Tom Caravela said he received the following note from Newtown Wrestling Coach Chris Bray after the Tournament.

We had a great day of wrestling today...thank you! Please thank all of those involved for their thoughtful generosity toward the Pinto family & our Newtown Youth Wrestling family. Such kindness to complete strangers is truly overwhelming! We feel our brothers in New Jersey standing next to us.

Local Place Winners in Caldwell 8th Grade and Under Wrestling Tournament 

1st:

Kayla Jones

Darren Jones

John Casale

2nd:

Carmen Cecere

Jack Goldbach

Luke Schaffer

Kyle Schaffer

Jerry Jones

Christian Dalla Riva

3rd:

Greg Polone