Magaldo to Compete for State Championship

After his 3-0 tiebreaker win over Max Rodgers, of Delbarton, a victory that earned him a chance at the 112-pound title on Sunday, Mike Magaldo of Watchung Hills talked first and foremost about the skill of his opponent.

“We switched on and off a lot,” he said of his match with Rodgers. “It could have gone either way. He’s a really good wrestler. I knew I had the two back points, so I just tried to hold on. It was a good match.”

Despite his post-match humility, Magaldo’s performance was worthy of praise on Saturday, as the Warren-area wrestler grappled his way to a finals appearance on the last day of the state wrestling tournament in Atlantic City Sunday.

Magaldo started his day with a victory over Jared Staub of Hamilton West in a quarterfinal match that saw the him score a pin at the 5:42 mark. His match against Rodgers was less one-sided, with Magaldo getting his win in a tiebreaker.

He will face Anthony Ashault, of South Plainfield, for the 112-pound weight class championship on Sunday.