Senior Brandon Ribeiro, an exceptional wrestler, announced his commitment to Ithaca College on Saturday via Instagram.
Ribeiro, who wrestles in the 126 lb class, is a dominant wrestler who is best recognized by his swift takedowns and relentlessness on the mat. His determination and ability to push his body in high-pressure situations allowed him to play a big role in the Blue Devils’ success during the season. Some of Ribeiro’s most notable accomplishments during the season include his 3-1 win in his match against Cranford on Feb. 3 and his 17-9 win in his match against Phillipsburg.
“You won’t get anything by taking the easy route, and that’s what I learned this season,” said Ribeiro. “You can’t half-rep anything if you’re trying to reach your goals. You gotta be a dog. You gotta give 100 percent on everything, conditioning, when we go live, and during wrestling matches.”
Ribeiro will be joining the Bombers next fall, a private college that competes at the Division III level in the Liberty League. Ithaca is located in Ithaca, N.Y., and has one of the most competitive collegiate wrestling programs, ending last season with an impressive 14-3 record and placing second in the regional tournament.
“The number one thing that caught my attention at Ithaca was the connection there was between the team,” Ribeiro said. “I felt very welcomed and it felt like I was already on the team when I went on my visit. Everyone on the team does everything together and has strong bonds with the older and younger guys. I also liked the coaching staff a lot because we connected quickly.”
Ithaca was quick to notice Ribeiro’s wrestling skills. While Ribeiro placed second in districts, he placed an impressive fourth in regions, highlighting his ability to compete at a high level.
Ribeiro owes much of his wrestling success to not only the Westfield wrestling program, but also to his hard-working teammates and coaches because “the Westfield wrestling team has had a major impact on me as a person. It helped prepare me for the real world and my future. It helped me realize what a grind really is.”
The Westfield wrestling program strives to make its athletes more disciplined and push them to be the best they can be. Head coach Glen Kurz understands the long-term goals his wrestlers are trying to achieve, so he is determined to help them with the recruiting process. With this dedicated help, Ribeiro was able to achieve one of his biggest goals and is super excited.
“I’m always grateful for having Coach Kurz as my coach,” Ribeiro said. “He knew what my goals were and helped me achieve them so now I’m very happy to carry on the tradition of hard work at Ithaca since he wrestled there as well.”
With his long list of achievements on his back, Ribeiro is more determined than ever to make a statement at Ithaca and show his true potential as a wrestler. “I’m looking forward to having fun with my teammates, being around new people and being in a different atmosphere of wrestling.”
