The Montclair wrestling community celebrated the life of the late Montclair High School all-state wrestler, Katon Washington. Shown is the front of the t-shirts that all of the meet wrestlers wore in honor of Washington. (PHOTO COURTESY MIKE FREEDMAN)

September 23, 2022 was a dark day for Montclair High School’s wrestling community.

During the early morning hours on that day, Mounties star grappler Katon Washington, was shot to death on a street in the city of Orange. He was 28.

By the time he graduated from Montclair High School in 2012, Washington was an all-state wrestler and medaled in Atlantic City with an eighth-place finish at 132 pounds. He was the first Mountie wrestler to reach the regionals and to medal in the state finals.

Katon Washington (COURTESY MICHAEL FREEDMAN)

Thirteen months later, the Montclair community, led by high school head wrestling coach Ryan Corbosiero, came out to honor Washington as part of a first Katon Cup tri-meet at Montclair High School with Columbia and St. Mary of Rutherford high schools on Jan. 31.

Columbia High School head wrestling coach Mike Freedman was Washington’s head coach while at Montclair. St. Mary head coach Rickey Redd was one of Washington’s assistant coaches during his days as a Mountie.

Columbia would win the tri-meet by beating both Montclair and St. Mary of Rutherford and garner the first Katon Cup trophy.

But the night was more than just wins and losses.

The Montclair wrestling community celebrated the life of the late Montclair High School all-state wrestler, Katon Washington, last week at the first Katon Cup wrestling meet. Shown is the back of the t-shirts that all of the wrestlers at the Jan. 31 meet wore in honor of Washington at Montclair High School. (PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL FREEDMAN)

Before the tri-Meet, Montclair High School unveiled a wrestling singlet of Washington in a frame to be displated in the Montclair High School gym for all to remember Washington’s life.

Freedman said Washington was more than just a wrestler. He was a leader during the four years on the Montclair High School wrestling team.

“Katon was super special to the Montclair wrestling community,” said Freedman. “He was my only four-year captain I ever coached. I have never had a freshman captain before or since him in my 19 years as a head coach.”

During his four years on the mat at Montclair, Washington accumulated almost 100 victories during his time. Freedman thought he was an even better ‘coach’ while still a student athlete.

“He was great on the mat, but an even better person off the mat,” said Freedman. “He made me a better coach because he motivated me every day. Having someone like Katon, I had to study the sport as much as possible, so I wouldn’t let him down.”

Montclair High School unveiled a framed wrestling singlet to honor the late Montclair High School all-state wrestler, Katon Washington]. The unveiling took place on Jan. 31 before the first Katon Cup wrestling meet at the high school. (EDWARD KENSIK/STAFF)

Redd, who was one of the assistant coaches for the Mounties during Washington’s years, said that his approach on the mat was stellar and that he pushed hard to excel.

“It was a pleasure coaching an athlete like that. His attitude toward the sport was second to none,” said Redd. “Katon had a great work ethic and always was striving for perfection.”

After Washington graduated from Montclair High School, he would come back and help coach young Montclair wrestlers.

All the teams at the Katon Cup wore black t-shirts in honor of Washington. The front of the shirts featured a photo of the wrestler coming off the mat after a victory. Displayed on the back: ‘In Loving Memory, Katon Washington’ and an artist’s illustration of a bust of Katon.

The first Katon Cup was originally slated for the end of the 2022-23 season, but was cancelled due to a rash of illness that affected the Montclair team.

For 2024, it was the first Katon Cup but not the last. Washington’s memory will be remembered for generations to Montclair wrestlers to come.

Montclair freshman Mason Mackay (top) has control over St. Mary’s Daniel Figueroa as Mackay won the 120-pound bout, 10-5, at Montclair High School. The Mounties won the dual match, 45-33, as part of the first Katon Cup tri-meet to honor the late Montclair all-state wrestler, Katon Washington. (EDWARD KENSIK/STAFF)

“It’s an honor to be included in the Katon Cup and happy that Coach Freedman and Coach Corbosiero were able to get this going,” said Redd. “We will now get a chance to honor and remember Katon on a yearly basis.”

Edward Kensik writes sports coverage for Montclair Local.