Christian Brothers Outlasts St. Peter’s Prep in Electric Showdown
coverage by: AJ Morales
In a dual meet that felt like a postseason preview, Christian Brothers Academy walked into Jersey City and left with a statement win, edging St. Peter’s Prep 34–29 in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. With both programs ranked inside the top three and the bout streamed nationally as part of FloWrestling’s Live in America series, the atmosphere matched the stakes from the opening whistle to the final heavyweight bout.
The tone was set immediately in the lower weights, where CBA wasted no time building momentum. Santino Edgar opened the night with a dominant technical fall at 106, and moments later Shiloh Joyce ignited the Colts’ bench with a first-period pin at 113. Those early results forced St. Peter’s Prep into chase mode right away, though the Marauders responded with grit. John Barron’s major decision at 120 and Christian Ramirez’s hard-fought win at 132 steadied the match, and Sal Borrometi’s pin at 138 swung momentum fully back toward the home side, tightening the dual and energizing the crowd.
The middle weights became a chess match, with both staffs making calculated lineup decisions. Robert Duffy’s decision at 144 gave CBA breathing room, but St. Peter’s answered again behind Laudan Henry and Joseph Ruiz, keeping the dual within striking distance as the night pushed toward its final stretch. When Josh Piparo delivered a technical fall at 175 and Anthony Verdi followed with another at 190, the scoreboard flipped dramatically and St. Peter’s Prep surged ahead, putting real pressure on the Colts with just two bouts remaining.
That pressure only sharpened Christian Brothers’ response. At 215, Brock Oizerowitz delivered a massive technical fall to erase the deficit and set the stage for a winner-take-all heavyweight bout. With the gym buzzing and everything on the line, Rutgers commit Tyler Palumbo stepped onto the mat knowing exactly what was required.
Palumbo embraced the moment with the calm of someone who has been there before. “The mindset was it’s just another wrestling match,” he said after the dual. “I was put in a familiar position last year, so I have some experience with closing matches. I just wanted to get the job done for the team.”
He did just that, controlling the bout from the start and pulling away for a technical fall that sealed the 34–29 victory. Bumping up to heavyweight didn’t change his approach. “When I bump up to HWT there’s not really any changes in my wrestling,” Palumbo explained. “I know my opponent will be bigger, but I trust technique and cardio to win those matches.”
The win was a showcase of what separates elite teams in February. Christian Brothers capitalized on bonus points early, survived the inevitable swings in the middle of the lineup, and delivered when the dual demanded composure most. It was a reminder that in matches between programs of this caliber, the margins are razor thin and every decision matters.
Even with the spotlight and significance of the moment, Palumbo was quick to keep the focus forward. “This is a good win for us, but it’s February 6th. The job isn’t finished yet,” he said. “We just need to keep this momentum with us for the postseason.”
If this dual was any indication, both Christian Brothers and St. Peter’s Prep are on a collision course for March. On this night, the Colts proved they could handle the pressure, make the right moves, and close when it mattered most.