Highlanders place sixth at Dover wrestling tournament
West Milford. West Milford High athletes highlighted strong performances across multiple sports, with Jeffrey Papienuk winning a wrestling title, the combined hockey team posting a 9-8 win over Ramsey, and boys and girls basketball teams gearing up for the 2025-26 season.
| 15 Dec 2025 | 04:58
The West Milford High wrestling team boasted three finalists and one individual champion in senior Jeffrey Papienuk, as the Highlanders placed sixth at the Dover Holiday tournament on Saturday afternoon in Dover Township.
Union, with six finalists and one champion, won the event with 215.5 points. The Highlanders finished with 122.5 points, 15 points behind fifth-place Wayne Hills.
Papienuk recorded a pin in 1:57 over Issa Manasra of Wayne Hills to claim the 215-pound title. Other finalists for West Milford included Colton Naccara, who suffered a 12-2 loss to Randolph’s Tyler Davis in the 165-pound final and Nick Triverio, who lost by injury default to Emmanuel Samaniego of Randolph in the 175-pound final.
A year ago, the 215-pound Papienuk won his first state District 3 championship and placed fourth at Region 1 to earn a trip to the NJSIAA State Tournament in Atlantic City.
West Milford, 8-17 in dual meets last year, is slated to take part in the Kochakji Duals at home on Tuesday, Dec. 23 beginning at 3 p.m.
Ice Hockey
Timmy Riche totaled six goals and two assists, Max Diee added two goals and four assists and Joe Barroquerio collected a goal and seven assists to spur West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes to a 9-8 victory over Ramsey on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne.
The Highlanders trailed, 6-5, after two periods before outscoring Ramsey, 4-2, in the final stanza. Matt Montena anchored the defense for West Milford with a 36-save performance.
West Milford/Pequannock/Pompton Lakes then suffered its first loss of the season - dropping a 9-1 decision to ninth-ranked Ridgewood on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Ice Vault. Diee had the lone goal for the Highlanders with Montena halting 52 shots, which matched his career high.
The Highlanders are slated to meet Wayne Hills on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Ice Vault at 8 p.m., Passaic Tech on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Ice Vault at 6:15 p.m. and Lakeland on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at the Ice Vault at 8:15 p.m.
