On January 17-18, the Cresskill High School wrestling team competed at the Bergen County George Jockish Tournament, one of the toughest tournaments in the county. Two Cresskill wrestlers, Hugo Tsurushima and Trevel Griffin found the podium, representing the team.
Sophomore Hugo Tsurushima placed 8th at 113 pounds, marking the second time he has placed at the George Jockish Tournament. Last season, Hugo placed 8th at 106 pounds, as he moved up a weight class this year. Wrestling in a competitive bracket, Hugo beat different towns like Bergenfield, Garfield and Leonia/Palisades Park to finish at 8th. Tsurushima won his first match in the round of 32, then later unfortunately got knocked out in the round of 16, but followed up with 2 consolation match wins to secure his placement. Even while facing older and more experienced wrestlers, he stayed confident and continued to compete until his final match.
Senior Trevel Griffin also finished strong, standing on the podium at 6th place at 150 pounds. This was the first time Trevel has placed in the George Jockish Tournament, marking a big achievement in his final year. Just like Tsurushima, Griffin won in the round of 32 match, before dropping in the round of 16 with a loss. From there, Griffin put together an impressive run, winning 3 consecutive consolation matches to stay alive. After a setback late in the consolation match, Griffin responded with a win to secure 5th place. After an early loss, Griffin bounced back well and went on a strong run throughout the consolation bracket to earn his spot on the podium.
Overall, the performances from Tsurushima and Griffin were a big positive for the Cresskill wrestling program, showing future promise for the young sophomore wrestler, and the upside of Griffin in his final year. The two displayed impressive reliability and resilience, giving each of their matches their greatest effort.
