Ben Markulec is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Virginia Military Institute. Prior to enrolling in the school in 2018, Ben Markulec graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School in NJ, where he was senior captain of the school's varsity wrestling team.
The Hopewell Valley Central High School Bulldogs wrestling team continued its regional dominance in 2018-19 by winning its ninth consecutive Mercer County Tournament championship. The team finished the year with a win-loss record of 21-6 and, over the course of the past dozen years, boasts an impressive Colonial Valley Conference record of 152-4.
This year's team went undefeated in conference play, ultimately reaching the sectional finals before coming within one tenth of a second from earning a trip to the group championships. The Bulldogs also won their first district team championship. For all their accomplishments, the team was named Times of Trenton Wrestling Team of the Year.
It wasn't much of a surprise that the Bulldogs earned the honor given the tradition of the wrestling program. What was surprising, however, was how the team earned the award. Hopewell Valley had a large contingent of first-year wrestlers and one of its starters was forced to miss the Central Jersey Group 3 final due to injury.
The Hopewell Valley Central High School Bulldogs wrestling team continued its regional dominance in 2018-19 by winning its ninth consecutive Mercer County Tournament championship. The team finished the year with a win-loss record of 21-6 and, over the course of the past dozen years, boasts an impressive Colonial Valley Conference record of 152-4.
This year's team went undefeated in conference play, ultimately reaching the sectional finals before coming within one tenth of a second from earning a trip to the group championships. The Bulldogs also won their first district team championship. For all their accomplishments, the team was named Times of Trenton Wrestling Team of the Year.
It wasn't much of a surprise that the Bulldogs earned the honor given the tradition of the wrestling program. What was surprising, however, was how the team earned the award. Hopewell Valley had a large contingent of first-year wrestlers and one of its starters was forced to miss the Central Jersey Group 3 final due to injury.
