Ramapo High School’s men’s wrestling team has just finished its 2025-2026 winter season and brought some impressive hardware back with it. For the first time in school history, Ramapo’s wrestling team concludes its season by celebrating a state sectional championship, capped off by senior Branden Causillas. With just four bouts to go against top-seeded River Dell, 2-seeded Ramapo faced a 15-point deficit. Only one win in the final four bouts was necessary for River Dell to take home the title. However, Ramapo’s senior CJ Anzaldo, freshman Ethan Brantly, and sophomore Anthony DeLorenzo won three consecutive matches to keep the season alive.
In the end, Ramapo senior Branden Causillas was responsible for the final victory of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Team Tournament championship, laying down a pin at the 4:57 mark of the 157 bout finale match. A huge comeback by the resilient Ramapo Raiders secured them a 35-28 victory and the school’s first-ever Section 1, Group 3 championship.
Causillas reflects on the match, stating, “Honestly, the first thing I felt was just relief and excitement at the same time. All the work I did during the week coming up to that moment, the early mornings, the tough practices, is what pushed me to secure that title for the team. When the whistle blew, I looked over at my coaches and teammates, and that’s when it really sank in that I had made history for Ramapo Wrestling.” An exciting moment for Causillas and the team that will hold a special place at Ramapo High School forever. Additionally, when asked about his future, Causillas exclaimed, “Right now, the plan is to continue wrestling in college. I love the sport too much to give up on it, and I’m not ready to be done yet,” adding that, “Winning the state title was an amazing moment, but I see it more as motivation to keep improving and see how far I can go at the next level.
Along with the sectional title, Ramapo hit several other marks and accolades over the course of the season. For starters, senior CJ Anzaldo recently hit a personal milestone, solidifying his 100th career win for Ramapo wrestling. Anzaldo spoke about his accomplishment, “The first thing I felt when that match ended was that my hard work is really starting to show. This was a goal that I set for myself as a freshman and a wrestling milestone, so it made me really proud to achieve this. I am definitely looking forward to seeing my name added to the banner in the gym.”
Additionally, senior Gino Gorga and freshman Ethan Brantly took home county championships in their own respective weight classes, and among a season full of record breaking and victories, Ramapo High School men’s wrestling has seen more success than ever before.
