Michael Ahern (Class of 2017) Paul VI High School A 1989 graduate, Ahern won three District 28 Championships, three Region 7 Championships and was named the outstanding wrestler in Region 7 in ’89. Ahern made three state tournament appearances with a 7th place finish in ’88 and 6th place at 119 pounds in ’89 being his best finish. Ahern graduated with a high school career record of 101-25 before enrolling in Elizabethtown College, where he went on to excel. Among his many achievements at the college level include winning numerous tournaments, including three Middle Atlantic Conference championships, the last of which earned him the conference’s outstanding wrestler award.  A four-time Division III qualifier, Ahern concluded his college career with a record of 122-16, the all-time school wins total which still stands today. In ’93, Ahern was named Male Athlete of the Year at Elizabethtown, and his credentials there earned him induction into their hall of fame in 2013. His college career over, Ahern dedicated himself to coaching where he continued to excel. His coaching career began at Penns Grove High School in ’95, where, under his tutelage, the team captured the Tri-County Classic Conference Championship, and he was named District 31 and Tri-County Coach of the Year.  Ahern took over as head coach at Sterling High School from 1996-2002.  He was named as the District 30 Coach of the Year in ’98, and his teams captured Group II South Jersey Championships in ’01 and ’02. Ahern moved on to take over as head coach at Haddon Heights for a period of five years. His combined coaching career wins total was 120-133. Along this successful journey, Ahern coached 22 district champions, 9 region champions and 3 state champions. Ahern is very proud of starting the Camden County Tournament with fellow Hall of Fame coaches, Chuck Klaus (’11) and Chris Ormsby (’15).  He also takes pride in starting the George Maier Invitational Tournament, which is hosted at Haddon Heights High School. Ahern cites his career highlights as being named the outstanding wrestler for his Region 7 title win over Chee Santone in ’89. Ahern adds that being in the corner for his three state champions (Mark Manchio, Ivan Wiggins and Alex Thompson) were memorable moments in his career. Currently, a social studies teacher at Clayton High School, Ahern lives in Blackwood where he shares time with his daughter, Aubrey (8) and spends time with long-time girlfriend, Kim Mannino.

Al Aires (Class of 2011) Jackson Memorial High School A 1980 graduate of Central Regional High School, Aires was a two-time District 25 and two-time Region 7 champion. In his junior year he won his first two matches in the state tournament 13-4 and 10-7 before losing a criteria decision in overtime in the semifinals to eventual state champion Keith Alston of Neptume. Aires lost his third-place bout 3-1 and finished the season 26-3. As a senior he carried a 25-0-1 record into the state tournament and was seeded No. 1. Aires was upset 7-4 in overtime to eventual state runner-up Phil Gotlick of Westfield. Aires finished with a career record of 89-9-1. A two-time high school All-American in baseball, Aires finished with nine varsity letters competing in football, wrestling and baseballl. He went on to Gloucester County College wwhere he eraned All-American honors and compiled an 83-4 record. He graduated from Temple University in 1985 and was 50-15 competing for the Owls. As a coach at Jackson Memorial, he was a five-time District 24 Coach of the Year and the Region 6 Coach of the Year in 2000. He compiled a career coaching record of 159-58-1 and had 55 District and 15 Region 6 champions. He had 15 state placewinners, including three state champions. His teams won seven District 24 and two Divisional Championships and one overall Shore Conference title. He previously was inducted into the Region 6 Hall of Fame along with the Central Regional Hall of Fame.

Joe Alexander (Class of 2012) Delsea Regional High School A 1999 graduate, Joe distinguished himself by winning four District 31 titles, a Region 8 title, and two state titles. After qualifying for the state tournament at 103 pounds as a freshman, success seemed in the future for this young wrestler. He did not disappoint, winning a Region 8 title as a sophomore, and capping off a 33-1 1997 campaign by earning decisions against his state tournament opponents of 3-0, 10-4, and 7-3 before scoring a 7-4 victory over Bob Piccone of Phillipsburg in the state final at 103 pounds. This was followed by another outstanding year that saw Alexander compiling state tournament wins of 12-1, a fall in 3:54, a 5-1 decision, a 5-0 decision, and culminated with a 4-2 decision over highly-regarded Mark Manchio of Sterling to earn his second state crown at 112 pounds. In 1999, Alexander once again reached the state finals with decisions of 6-3, 5-0, and 8-2 before dropping his state final match by a point to the wrestler he defeated for his second title the year before, thus capping an outstanding high school career with a 126-11 record. Along the way Alexander garnered high school All-American status in freestyle four times as a state runner-up and a three-time champion. His fondest memories from his high school career include recalling how he jumped into the arms of Hall of Fame coach, Steve Iles after his state finals victory in 1997, and shaking his father's hand after his victory in the state tournament in 1998. He credits Delsea's coaching staff, faculty and administration for their unyielding support which led to his success. Upon graduation from Delsea Regional, Alexander moved on to the University of Virginia, where he was a two-time runner-up in the ACC Tournament in 2001 and 2003, and an ACC Tournament champion in 2002. Joe was injured a lot in college. He had three knee surgeries within a year and half, slipped a disk in his neck along with a host of other injuries.

Doug Arena (Class of 2011) Paul VI High School The 1987 Paul VI graduate had a memorable 33-0 senior campaign on the way to a 58-8-1 career record. In his senior year Doug was a District 28, Region 7 and, ultimately, a state champion at heavyweight. After opening the state tournament with a 7-6 decision and 3:56 fall, Arena defeated top-seeded and 26-0 Robert Coward of Newton in the semifinals 6-4. He completed his undefeated season with an 8-8, 1-1 overtime win decided on criteria No. 5 (Doug's escape in overtime out-weighed his opponent's stalling point with seconds remaining) to decision Ives Viola of Colonia. The win over Viola capped a season that also featured Arena battling returning state runner-up Deron Dobzanski of Paulsboro in late January in a match-up of unbeaten heavyweights and unbeaten teams. After nearly pinning Dobzanski in the second period, Arena won his bout 12-5 as Paul VI lost a thrilling 23-22 dual meet. Doug went on to wrestle at East Stroudsburg Unversity, finishing with a 25-18 record that included a semifinal match with Kurt Angle of Clarion (a three-time NCAA finalist and a national champion in 1990 and 1992) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament. Arena served as as assistant coach for Camden Catholic (1993-1995) and Paul VI (2008-2011).

Steve Anuszewski (Class of 2013) Paulsboro High School Anuszewski, a 1976 graduate of Paulsboro High School, was a two-year varsity starter and was a District 29 runner-up before being sidelined with an injury his senior year. Upon graduation Anuszewski attended and competed for Western Maryland College, and earning a 6th place finish in the MACs before he graduated in 1980 where he assumed an assistant coaching position at his college alma mater for one year. Although, his wrestling career as a competitor over, Anuszewski began his service to the sport of wrestling. Anuszewski served as an assistant coach at Woodbury for four years and has been a volunteer assistant coach at Paulsboro from 1986 to the present. Anuszewsi has been the clerk and announcer at District 29 from 1988-1999 and has served as the Region 8 Ranking Chairman and Region 8 Seeding Committee Clerk from 1991 to the present, and from 2000 to the present, he has been the District 29 Tournament Director. In 2000 Anuszewski chaired the NJSIAA District Realignment Committee. Anuszewski has been a member of the NJSIAA State Team Wrestling Championship�s Seeding Committee since 1999, and from 2002 has been the Tournament Clerk of the NJSIAA Wrestling Championships. He has also served as the site manager of the state�s hydration testing from 2006 to 2011. From 2008 Anuszewski has been the Director of the Border Battle/Vogeding Tournament. Anuszewski helped take the lead working with Escape Sports and the NWCA and Track Wrestling to improve wrestling through technology. He has worked to help develop the NJSIAA Tournament into its present-day format. In 2007-08, Anuszewski served the National Wrestling Coaches Association as a NJ State Representative, and has served as Intermat�s N.J. State Representative from 2003-08. A most memorable moment in Anuszewski�s career came when Paulsboro�s 1999 team defeated Phillipsburg 28-27 in their infamous �Pit.� Another highlight came when, in 1991-92 Anuszewski witnessed Matt Suter and Larry DeVault win State Championships. Steve was instrumental in founding the Paulsboro Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. Overall, Anuszewski has been involved with wrestling for over forty years.

John P. Atkinson (Class of 2017) Rahway High School A 1953 graduate, Atkinson wrestled three years at the varsity level for Rahway before moving on to compete for Rutgers University, but was drafted into the Army Security Agency (ASA) shortly after entering college.  Atkinson, a Korean War vet, proudly served his country in the ASA as a decoder of classified information.  Upon completing his tour, 1953 – 1956, in the ASA, Atkinson attended Springfield College for a year before going into business with his father, then working for Delta Airlines in Florida for ten years.  It was after his tenure with Delta that Atkinson moved to Woodbury, NJ, where his wrestling odyssey began.  Over the past 41 years Atkinson has dedicated himself as a youth coach in both baseball and wrestling and as a scorekeeper and timer at all levels of high school wrestling.  Aside from watching his sons compete in wrestling for Woodbury, Atkinson recalls his little league baseball team winning 53 straight regular season games as highlights of his sports career. He also served as a soccer, baseball and softball official for 10 years.  As a result of his many years of scorekeeping at Woodbury, Atkinson became a household name, which led to his working as a scorer at the junior college level at Gloucester County College for two years and as a multi-year District 29 scorer as well as the scorer for the South Jersey Group Championships.  Not content to stop volunteering at the local level, Atkinson moved on to serve as a timekeeper at the NJ State Group Championships held at the Pinebelt Arena and the N.J.S.I.A.A. State Individual Championships where he acted as the tournament’s announcer, registration clerk and as a timekeeper.  Indeed, Atkinson’s prowess in these capacities at the various levels led to well over fifteen years of service to the state of NJ at the highest levels.  Atkinson complemented his volunteer work by serving as a tireless worker for the Woodbury Booster Club for over 20 years and as a Platinum Club member of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame, serving on the organization’s executive committee for another dozen years.  His countless hours of volunteer work on numerous wrestling fronts has distinguished Atkinson as the gold standard for the word, “contributor.”  Participating on Rahway’s 1953 runner-up team in the NJ State Team Championships stands out as a most memorable moment in Atkinson’s wrestling career and also being recognized by the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.  Retired as a salesman from Simonik, an agent of Allied Van Lines, Atkinson lives in West Deptford with Marjorie, his wife of 59 years.  They have five children: John (55), Jeff (53), Steven (52) and twins, Tracey and Janet (45).

Gregory Austin (Class of 2017) Ocean City High School A 1999 graduate, Austin captured three District 32 Championships, one Region 8 Championship and earned two trips to the NJSIAA Tournament.  In 1998, wrestling at 125 pounds, Austin won a 10-3 decision over Bill Heverly of Camden Catholic, before dropping a 3-0 decision to Jason Mercado of Pitman.  This loss put Austin in the wrestlebacks, where he won by forfeit over Josh Tresslar of Belvidere.  The ensuing match resulted in a narrow 4-2 loss to Gary Mickolay of Lenape Valley, but earned Austin 7th place honors.  Up two weight classes the following year (135), Austin reeled off a pre-quarterfinal technical fall over Ray Weed of Absegami, 18-2 (4:32), and then followed with a quarterfinal 11-3 major decision over Ken Rodriguez of Bound Brook.  In the semifinals, a 7-4 victory over Dave Miller of Lenape earned Austin a berth in the finals.  Austin lost a heart-breaking 11-7 match to Chris Bitetto of Hackensack to come away as the silver medalist and a career record of 105-14.  Austin continued his education and wrestling career at Rutgers University.  Once again, Austin demonstrated prowess on the mat, placing all four varsity years in the prestigious E.I.W.A. Tournament, but it was his two fourth place finishes in ’02 and ’03 that qualified him for the Division I NCAA Tournament at 149 pounds.  Though Austin did not place in the tournament, he finished his collegiate career with an impressive record of 106-44.  Unable to step away from wrestling, Austin has been volunteering as an assistant at Ocean City High School as often as his job permits.  Austin cites winning a Region 8 Championship and finishing as the state’s silver medalist in ’99 as highlights of his wrestling career. He is also very proud of his two trips to the Division I NCAA Tournament. Many of Austin’s memorable moments in the sport come from what he has learned from competing at the Division I level, and he recalls how two losses at the hands of NCAA Champions, Michael Lightner of Oklahoma and Jared Lawrence of Minnesota have helped him in his perspective of how to succeed in life through perseverance.  Austin is employed by the State of New Jersey. He lives in Upper Township, NJ with his wife, Kristen, and their two children, daughter, Blake (4) and son, Carter (2).

Herb Baptiste (Class of 1980) Woodbury High School A 1943 graduate, Baptiste was unbeaten in two years of varsity competition in 1942 and 1943 under Coach Cliff Rubicam. Baptiste became South Jersey's first two-time state champion, winning by fall as a junior and 9-3 his senior year. In addition to his success in wrestling, Baptiste was considered one of the finest football players of his time. After serving in the Armed Forces, Baptiste attended Virginia State for two years before settling down in Woodbury and joining the work force.

Anthony (Butch) Barber (Class of 1988) Paulsboro High School After losing in the District 7 tournament as a junior, Anthony (Butch) Barber capped an impressive career by winning the state heavyweight championship in 1961. Along the way to winning the state title, Barber was able to avenge his only loss during his senior season with a victory over Pennsville's Olaf Drozdov in the South Jersey Championships. During the dual meet season, Drozdov beat Barber, 4-3. Barber, a 197-pounder who also played football and baseball, then reeled off 10 consecutive pins, won the District 15 title and beat Drozdov 7-2 in the Region 4 finals in the first year of regional competition in the state. Barber won his state semifinal in the Rutgers University gymnasium by fall before winning by decision over John lllengwarth of Roselle Park, 1-1, 3-0 in overtime in the state finals. Barber sustained just two losses in the last two years of his three-year varsity career. Coached by Ed Pszwaro, a member of the first class of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame, Barber continued his wrestling career in AAIJ competition during the summer of 1961 following his graduation from Paulsboro. He went on to defeat all comers, including college wrestlers, to win the Middle-Atlantic States heavyweight championship.

Gene Barber (Class of 1997)  Absegami High School A 1969 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Barber compiled a 36-5-I varsity record under Hall of Famer Sam Evangelista. He won a District 29 title (and received the tournament�s Outstanding Wrestler Award) and placed third in Region 4 as a senior. Barber went on to Camden County College under coach Dennis Hurley (a Hall of Fame inductee In 1990) and compiled a 53-5 record in two seasons, twice winning Region XIX championships and placing second in the Junior College Nationals as a sophomore. Barber continued his wrestling at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) where he compiled an 80-5-0 record in two seasons. He finished third in the NCAA Division III nationals and second in the NCAA Division I nationals his senior year. He was a four-time All-America recipient (for Camden CC in 1971, for a third-place finish in NCAA Division III in 1972 and for his NCAA College Division and NCAA University Division placements in 1973). In 20 years as a head coach at Absegami through the 1997 season, Barber�s teams compiled a record of 276-84-3 and won six district titles and seven Cape-Atlantic League titles. Barber's Braves won the South Jersey Group 3 title and finished third in the state in 1997. The Braves were selected the No. 1 team in South Jersey and recipient of the Courier-Post Cup.

Robert G. (Scoobie) Baylor (Class of 1991) Paulsboro High School A 1965 graduate, Baylor became as dominant a heavyweight on the South Jersey scene as Hall of Fame inductees Herb Baptiste of Wood bury, a 2-time state champ, and state champions Stanley "Bones� Howard and Anthony �Butchie� Barber of Paulsboro. Baylor lost one varsity dual meet in three years and was a three-time District 15 champion on the way to a 40-5-1 record. Baylor started as a sophomore for Ed Pszwaro, won Region 4 and was second in the state. The following year Baylor, a standout in football (All-South Jersey Group 3) and track (South Jersey record 58-81/2 with the 12-pound shot put, which stood until 1971), lost in the Region 4 semifinals Coach Sam Evangelista got his big guy ready in Baylor�s senior year and Baylor again won Region 4 and advanced to the state finals. There he lost to returning state champ Pete Jilleba of Madison 7-3. Baylor went to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and was a 4-year starter in football and was a team co-captain and All-conference (CIAA) in 1969.

Brandon Becker (Class of 2016) Kingsway Regional High School A 2003 graduate of Kingsway, Becker was a four-time District 31 Champion, a two-time Region 8 Champion, a winner of the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament and a four-time state place winner.  Entering the N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament at 130 pounds at the Meadowlands as a freshman, Becker lost to the defending State Champion in his first match, but wrestled back to claim 5th place honors.  Competing his sophomore year in the State Tournament in Atlantic City at 140 pounds, Becker advanced to the semi-final round before dropping a decision to the eventual State Champion but once again, wrestled back to earn the bronze medal.  Becker’s junior campaign at 145 pounds, again, wrestling in Atlantic City, Becker had his best finish.  He won by fall in 5:35, won a 9-4 decision, won again by fall (5:42) then defeated Ocean City’s Joe Galante via an 8-2 decision to capture the elusive gold medal.  In Becker’s final trip to Atlantic in ‘03, he was upset by the eventual State Champion in the quarter-final round, and  once again, he wrestled back to earn the bronze for the second time by besting Justin Koehler of Phillipsburg, 3-0 in the consolation finals.  Becker graduated in ’03 and closed out his high school career with a record of 143-12 before moving on to Indiana University, where he wrestled in the Big 10 Conference, arguably the toughest conference in the nation.  At Indiana, Becker was a 4th place finisher in the Midlands Tournament in ’07 before earning runner-up honors in both the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Big 10 Tournament in ’08.  Becker’s college career record was 119-36 with all matches being wrestled at 157 pounds.  Included in these victories were 3 Division I All-American finishes.  Becker’s All-American finishes included 5th place in ’05, 7th place in ’06 and 4th place in ’08, a feat achieved by only an elite few in South Jersey.  Becker says his successes were unforgettable, but states that the most memorable things he took from the sport were the bonds he formed with his competitors, coaches and teammates, the lasting friendships he made and the opportunities he was afforded through the sport.  Becker does consider earning a Beast of the East title, his State Championship and his 3 All-American finishes as career highlights.  After graduating in ’08 with a degree in General Studies, Becker served as a coach on the staff at Rutgers University for two years before spending two more years at his college alma mater.

Troy Bennett (Class of 2014) Paulsboro High School A 2000 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Bennett was a four-time District 29 Champion and a three-time Region 8 Champion.  During Bennett’s sophomore campaign at the N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament in ’98, he earned 5th place honors at 189 pounds.  Bennett defeated Camden’s Kendalle Gibson, 9-6 and Delaware Valley’s Bob Brunner, 5-1, before dropping his semi-final match to the defending State Champion, Damion Hahn of Lakewood.  Unfortunately, Bennett lost a rematch to Kendalle Gibson in the wrestle backs, 7-5, but he rebounded by pinning Almeen Swint of Irvington in 2:27, to earn a 5th place medal.  The following year, again at 189 pounds, Bennett ran off decisions of 13-1, 6-1 and 7-0 before losing to his nemesis, Damion Hahn, of Lakewood in the State Finals.  The year 2000 saw Bennett move up to 215 pounds, and once again, N.J.S.I.A.A. honors were destined for him as he reeled off a 7-3 decision, followed by an :18 fall and a 5-1 decision before losing his State Final match to Hunterdon Central’s Mike Carr, 5-2. Bennett finished his high school career with a record of 126-12. Bennett was always proud of his N.J.S.I.A.A. achievements; however, always a team player, he cites his Paulsboro team’s back-to-back #1 finishes in the state in ’99 and ’00 as the highlights of his career.  Bennett credits his team’s victory over Phillipsburg in ’99 in their gym, infamously dubbed “The Pit,” as being his most memorable moment in his wrestling career.  Upon graduating from Paulsboro, Bennett accepted a football scholarship to Temple University where he played four years. Bennett finished at Temple in 2004.  Troy lives in Deptford, and serves as a law enforcement officer in Logan Township.

Victor Bernardino (Class of 2011) Paulsboro High School A 1989 graduate, Bernardino was a three-year varsity starter and three-time All-Colonial Conference selection. He was a two-time District 29 champion (at 103 and 125 pounds) and a Region 8 runner-up in 1989 after finishing third in 1988. Bernardino, the team captain, culminated a 33-3 campaign in 1989 with a second-place finish in the state tournament. After wins of 12-2, 11-6, 4-3 and 7-6, Bernardino lost 4-3 to Tom Walsh of Paul VI in the state final to finish up an 83-16 career. He continued his wrestling at Franklin & Marshall College and had a career record of 82-21-3 before graduating in 1994. He was a two-year team captain and wass ranked 15th in the country by Amateur Wrestling News his junior year and 11th as a senior. Among his tournaent wins were the Millersville Invitational two times, Central Jersey Open twice and the Bloomsbug Invitational. Bernardino also finished sixth, fourth, and first in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships. He represented the USA in the Rackozy Cup in Budapest, Bulgaria, and finished third. He was F&M's Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 and Co-Wrestler of the Year by the SJWCOA.

Ron Biglin (Class of 1988) Haddonfield High School Biglin made the most of just one year of scholastic wrestling when he capped his senior season at Haddonfield in 1957 by winning the 168-pound state championship, Ironically, Biglin, who was coached by Hall of Famer Bill Frantz, lost his first match of the season wrestling at 183 pounds. He would not lose again, winning his next three matches at 183, before dropping down to 168. Biglin beat Fred Shortman of Fair Lawn by referee�s decision in the state semifinals, then won the state title with a 3-2 overtime decision over Charles Welsch of Bound Brook. Biglin served a hitch in the Marine Corps and then entered the work field. He started his own company in the construction field.

Jerry Bisignano (Class of 1987) Lenape High School A 1966 graduate of Lenape High School, Bisignano was a two-time district and regional champion under Hall of Famer Hank Schnepf. The amazing Bisignano was just one of many outstanding wrestlers to come out of the Lenape program. A four-year letter winner, Bisignano won 41 straight dual meet matches, losing only as a freshman. He recorded 31 pins in his career, including 11 in the first period while producing a sparkling 66-7 career mark. Twice Bisignano, a 130-pounder, advanced to the state semifinals and twice he lost to the eventual state champion. He lost to Passaic�s David Pruzanski, 10-2, during his junior year and then to East Brunswick�s Leonard Cassidy, 3-1, his senior year. Bisignano continued wrestling at the University of Arizona for a year and a half before a knee injury ended his career. He graduated from Arizona in 1970. Bisignano later turned to coaching, helping with his community�s midget wrestling program starting in 1984.

Labe Black (Class of 2013) Absegami High School Black was a four-time District 32 Champion and a four-time Region 8 Champion on his way to amassing a career high school career record of 142-3. Black won a State Title as a freshman in 1997, and then earned a 145 pound 3rd place finish in the State Tournament in 1998 before winning two more N.J. State Titles in 1999 and 2000. Labe claims his first State Title as a freshman, wrestling at 140 pounds, was one of his most memorable moments during his high school career. On his way to that first place finish, Black earned an 8-4 pre-quarter decision over Mike Davidson of Highland, a 7-2 quarter final decision over Jeff Cies of Pope John, a 5-4 semi-final decision over Nick Harrington of Hunterdon Central, then capped off his run with a 7-6 decision over Nick Pellegrino of Point Pleasant Boro in the Finals. Black�s final two State Championships both came at 152 pounds. In the state-final matches, Black won by decision over Ralph DeNisco of St. John�s 7-3 in 1999 and 3-2 over Nick Roy of Wall Township in 2000. Upon graduation from Absegami in 2000, Black wrestled four years of varsity between the University at Buffalo, SUNY, and Rider University before graduating in 2006. More of Black�s most memorable moments from his wrestling career include wrestling as a youth for the Galloway Recreation Wrestling Club; Team Hammer, coached by the late Miles Hahn; Team Foxcatcher, and Renegade, coached by Hall of Famer, Dale Bonsall. Coaches Miles Hahn, Dale Bonsall and his Absegami High School coaches, including Hall of Famer Gene Barber, were an integral part of Black�s success. Black singles out Bob Booth, as well as his father, Ed Black as inspirations for him to continue to stay involved in the sport and he credits his long-time workout partner, Mtume Goodrum, for making him a better wrestler. Labe is very proud of Absegami�s dominance from 2002 through 2004, and is humbled to have the privilege to participate in the inception of such an era..

Thomas J. Blaszczyk (Class of 2000) Washington Township High School A 1974 graduate, Blaszczyk was a District 30 and Region 8 champion in 1973 and 1974. His senior year he culminated a 47-16-2 varsity career with a second- place finish in the state at 129 pounds. Blaszczyk continued his wrestling career at Camden County College where he compiled a 63-6 record and won the Garden State Conference, Mid-Atlantic and Region XIX titles in 1976 to qualify for the junior college nationals. An All-South Jersey selection as a senior in high school, Blaszczyk was a junior college honorable mention All-American in 1976 at 134 pounds. He later continued his education at Millersville University, earning his bachelor�s degree in 1994. The MVP at Washington Twp. in 1974 and Camden CC in 1976, Blaszczyk became a history teacher at Lancaster Catholic High School in Lancaster Pa. He was an assistant wrestling coach at Penn Manor H.S. in Millersville, Pa. from 1993-95 and became the head wrestling coach at Lancaster Catholic in 1996. He served as vice-president of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Wrestling Coaches Association. Blaszczyk considers winning the regional the first time (1973) by scoring five points with 14 seconds remaining, and making the state finals his senior year among his most memorable scholastic moments. He says he could not have accomplished what he did as a schoolboy wrestler without Jim Gorman and his coaching staff at Washington Township. He also credits Coach Larry Fanellj for his success at Camden County College and his achievements on the scholastic and college level from the support of his parents, William �Chief� Blaszczyk and his mother Dorothy.

Jerry Boland (Class of 2016) Camden Catholic High School A 1994 graduate, Boland amassed a career record of 128-15-4, won 3 district titles, 2 regional titles and qualified for the N.J.S.I.A.A. State Tournament 4 times.  Boland’s greatest success came his senior year when he placed 4th in the state at 112 pounds.  As the # 12 seed that year, Boland bested Bo Carlson of Washington Twp, 14-4, before upending two unbeaten wrestlers, the # 5 seed, Joe LaMalfa of Highland, 12-6,  and the # 4 seed, Jason Silverstein of Ramsey, 4-3, before suffering a 16-12 loss to the # 1 seed and defending State Champion, Pete Poretta of Phillipsburg in the semi-finals. Wrestling back, Boland avenged his region final loss by defeating the # 8 seed, James Butera of Hamilton West, 4-3, then suffered a loss in the consolations for 3rd place honors to Dave Esposito of JFK Iselin.  Upon graduating in ’94, Boland had success on the mat at Lycoming College, where at 118 pounds, he was a three-time MAC finalist, a two-time finalist in the East Regional Tournament and was an NCAA Division III All-American. He totaled a collegiate career record of 98-34 before graduating from Lycoming in ’98 with a BA in Psychology & Elementary Education and later added a MA degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Boland served as an assistant coach for 6 years at Camden Catholic and Shawnee before becoming head coach at Cinnaminson for 4 years before returning as head coach at his alma mater for 3 years. His combined head coaching record was 146-36.  During his coaching career, Boland coached multiple individual State Champions and place winners and won 3 Parochial Group State Championships. One of Boland’s most memorable moments was serving as Lycoming’s team captain the year they went undefeated, won the Division III National Duals and earned the # 3 ranking in the country. Boland cites coaching alongside his brothers, Jim and Brian, during his head coaching tenure and watching his sons wrestle their first matches as moments he treasures. After stepping away from high school coaching, Boland has stayed involved by serving as a youth coach in the Marlton Rec Council, coaching at the Wrecking Crew Wrestling Academy and serving as a varsity official since 2013-14.

Dale Bonsall (Class of 1995) Collingswood, West Chester, Foxcatcher A 1957 graduate of Collingswood where he compiled a modest 39-16-2 record and finished third in South Jersey his senior year under Hall of Famer Sam Coursen, Bonsall went to West Chester University where he was 38-14-1 and fourth in the Pennsylvania State College Conference championships his senior year. Bonsall, who was co-captain of his senior teams in high school and college, has been involved in wrestling for over 40 years. Following graduation from WCU in �61, Bonsall coached seven years in the Haverford (PA) School District, with five of those seven teams undefeated. He was an assistant coach at West Chester University for 17 years, helping produce one All-American and three East Coast Confertence championships. He was head coach at West Chester in 1987 before the university dropped the sport. While an Associate Professor at West Chester, Bonsall was director of the Foxcatcher Junior Program (ages 7to 23) in Newtown Square, PA starting in 1987. His teams won two national AAU championships and numerous scholastic freestyle championships. His 1993-94 Team Renegade produced five Eastern AAU champions and won three team titles in scholastic competition. Bonsall, an avid rowing enthusiast, competed for the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, won a variety of prestigious lifeguard rowing races and was inducted into the South Jersey Rowing Hall of Fame in Ventnor.

Michael J. Booth (Class of 2013) Camden Catholic High School A 2000 graduate of Camden Catholic High School, Booth was a four-time District 27 Champion, a four-time Region 7 Champion and a four-time New Jersey state place winner while wrestling for Hall of Fame coach, Gary Papa. Booth began his succession of school boy accomplishments with a 7/8 finish his freshman year at 103 pounds. This was followed by earning runner-up status his sophomore year at the same weight. He advanced to the finals before bowing out to Tom Noto of South River via a 6-2 verdict. Moving up two weight classes to 119 pounds his junior year, Booth dropped his pre-quarter final match to the eventual runner-up, but wrestled back to take 4th place honors. Competing at 130 pounds his senior year proved to be the best year of Booth�s career. At the State Tournament, he won a 5-1 decision over Jordan Hicks of Willingboro, a 9-6 decision over Dennis McSweeney of Lyndhurst, a 9-8 semi-final decision over Frank Edgar of Toms River East, then capped off his 126-8 high school career with a 10-1 decision over the defending State Champion, Dave Cordoba of Kearny to claim the N.J. State Title. Upon graduation from Camden Catholic, Booth went on to wrestle at the University of North Carolina, where he compiled a record of 33-39 and garnered runner-up honors in the ACC before graduating in 2005. He considers winning a N.J. State Title in 2000 as the highlight of his wrestling career. Other memorable moments in his wrestling career were wrestling for Hall of Famers, Dale Bonsall, Gary Papa, as well as his college coach, C.D. Mock. Booth sites being able to compete on the same high school team with his older brother, Rob a very memorable experience, along with receiving the family support he received from his father and mother, his sisters, his grandparents and his aunt and uncle. Of the many memories Booth cherishes is being able to sit down and have dinner with the late, former wrestling legend, Dave Schultz, after a team practice at Team Foxcatcher.

Warren J. Bowne, Jr. (Class of 1987) Collingswood High School, Camden Catholic, Bishop Eustace A 1957 graduate of Collingswood High School, Bowne had spent over a quarter of a century in wrestling by his induction date. At Collingswood Bowne was a three-year member of the varsity team, finishing third in 1956 state championships at 103 pounds. He continued wrestling in AAU competition after high school and served as Coach Sam Coursen�s �unofficial assistant� at Collingswood for many years. He won the First Colonies wrestling championship at 123 pounds in 1964 and was the Baltimore YMCA champion at 114.5 pounds the same year. Bowne accepted his first coaching assignment at Camden Catholic High School and was the head man there 15 years. After stepping down as coach for two years, Bowne took over a struggling program at Bishop Eustace Prep, turning in a 9-10 mark in his first year after the school was 12-25 in the two previous years. Bowne compiled a sparkling 186-89-4 record in his first 18 years of coaching, 10th on the all-time win list among South Jersey coaches. He had just two losing seasons in that span. His teams won five South Jersey North Conference championships and finished runner-up four times and won five Christmas tournament titles, finishing second three times. He led Camden Catholic to the first state Parochial A championship in 1980 and his Bishop Eustace team won the South Jersey Parochial B title in 1987. He coached 26 district and five regional champions in his first 18 years. Bowne, the 1974 Region 8 Coach of the Year and an inductee in the Camden Catholic Hall of Fame in 1984, served as a member of the Executive Committee of Region 7 and 8, was elected Secretary of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization at its inception in 1980.

Peter Brandt (Class of 2018) Paulsboro High School A 1987 graduate, Brandt was a two-time District 29 Champion and a two-time Region 8 silver medalist, thus qualifying him twice for the N.J.S.I.A.A. State Championships in Princeton’s Jadwin Gymnasium.  Brandt’s first appearance in Jadwin Gym in ’86 proved to be his best finish as he captured runner-up honors at 170 pounds.  On his way to the finals in ’86, he won an 18-4 major decision over Randy Wertz of Cedar Ridge, a 10-5 decision over Lamont Jackson of Elizabeth, a fall (3:54) over Phillipsburg’s Tom Miers and an 11-8 decision over Rich Green of Burlington.  In the match for the gold, Brandt fell to Bob Martin of Brick Memorial.  Encouraged by his success, Brandt earned his way back to Jadwin the following year, again at 170 pounds.  He won his first match via a 9-3 decision, but then lost a tough 5-2 decision to Darin Farrell of Madison Central.  In the wrestlebacks, Brandt reeled off two decisions (18-6 and 5-4) and a fall (4:27) before losing for the second time to his Madison Central nemesis, thus finishing a very respectable 5th and amassing a career high school record of 69-11-2. Upon graduation, Brandt entered Kean University to continue his education.  During his years at Kean, Brandt wrestled and was a New Jersey Athletic Conference Champion winning his qualifier in 1990 and had a career college record of 57-17.  After graduating in 1991, Brandt began his career as a special education teacher.  He continued his love of the sport of wrestling by serving as an assistant coach, where his coaching odyssey took him to West Deptford for one year, to Burlington Twp for six years, and to Eastern Regional High School for six years.  He had to step away from coaching when he accepted a position as an assistant principal in the Egg Harbor Township School District.  Pete then moved on to become the principal of Lindenwold High School in 2009, a job in which he remains today.  Brandt considers wrestling in the state finals at Jadwin Gymnasium as one of his career highlights, but adds that seeing his entire ‘86 team in the District 29 individual championships was also a defining moment for him. He recalled avenging a previous year’s loss to Vineland’s Rich Scarpa by pinning him in front of a capacity crowd at home and seeing his team defeat Paul VI High School in front of a packed house as being most memorable.  Brandt remains as principal at Lindenwold High School, but remains involved with the sport as an N.J.S.I.A.A. official, where he has seen action at the district, region and state levels. He also serves as the cadet supervisor for new officials.  Brandt and his wife, Denise, live in Sicklerville with their two daughters, Cara (12) and Avery (7).

Nicholas Bridge (Class of 2018) Absegami High School A 2004 graduate, Bridge was a two-time District 32 Champion and a two-time Region 8 Champion.  Bridge qualified for the N.J.S.I.A.A. State Wrestling Championships four times and placed on three of those four occasions (5th, 3rd and 1st).  As a sophomore, Bridge won his first two matches before dropping a 5-3 OT decision to C.J. Mays of Oakcrest.  In the wrestlebacks, Bridge lost his bid to finish 3rd, but won by fall in 2:55 over Sal Irrizary of Don Bosco to take home 5th place honors at 112 pounds.  The following year, wrestling at 119 pounds, Bridge advanced to the semi-final round by recording a 0:58 fall and an 8-7 decision.  In the semis, Bridge lost a close 3-1 decision to Joe Bubenheimer of Woodbridge, but came roaring back, winning a 14-3 major decision over Patrick Berger of Rumson-Fairhaven for the bronze medal.  He rounded out his junior year by earning the silver medal at the FILA Cadet Nationals in Freestyle.  As a senior, he moved up to 125 pounds and once again sought the elusive gold medal.  Bridge received a bye in the first round of wrestling in Atlantic City before winning by a 9-1 major decision over Cinnaminson’s James Saxon and by a 17-2 technical decision (4:47) over Paul Galipeau of Parsippany.  In the semi-final round, Bridge won a 6-3 decision over a tough Matt Rizzo of Lakewood.  Bridge came away as the N.J.S.I.A.A. State Champion by winning in the finals over Derek Francavilla of Scotch Plains, by a 9-5 OT decision.  Bridge finished his schoolboy wrestling career with a record of 131-25.  Upon graduation in 2004, Bridge entered Cornell University where he pursued his education and his career on the mat, accumulating a record of 34-33 in the always tough E.I.W.A. Conference.  In 2008, Bridge graduated from Cornell and pursued a career as an attorney.  Bridge cites finishing his four-year varsity career at Absegami with an undefeated team (90-0-1) and winning four consecutive State Group Championships as highlights of his wrestling career.  He also states that being on the Absegami team which defeated Easton, Pennsylvania’s team, which at the time was ranked as the #1 team in Pennsylvania, was a truly memorable moment.   Currently an attorney for Compass Group USA, Bridge lives in Philadelphia.

Ryan Bridge (Class of 2017) Absegami High School A 2003 graduate, Bridge was a four-time District 32 Champion, a three-time Region 8 Champion and a three-time NJSIAA state place winner, finishing 3rd, 1st and 1st.  As a sophomore (’01), Bridge impressed at 119 pounds winning a 5-4 decision over Anthony Leardi of Butler for the bronze medal.  In ’02, Bridge began his season by winning the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament at 125 lbs.  He followed that success at the NJSIAA State Tournament in Atlantic City by winning the opening round by fall in 0:59 then won the following round by fall in 2:37, before winning via an 18-3 technical fall in the semifinals.  This semifinal win pitted Bridge against his bronze medal opponent from ‘01, Anthony Leardi (Butler), whom he defeated by a 4-3 decision. Bridge capped an undefeated season with his first NJSIAA State Championship.  At 130 pounds in ’03, Bridge opened in Atlantic City with a pair of falls (3:09 and 3:11) and in the semifinals brought Boardwalk Hall to its feet by winning in ultimate ride out over fellow inductee, Ivan Wiggins of Sterling.  In the finals, Bridge avenged a Region 8 setback (a 12-6 decision) to Jarred Mercado by winning a 3-2 decision, earning his second NJSIAA State Championship and completing his high school career with a record of 136-11.  Bridge attended Cornell University prior to entering the Marine Corps, where, while serving, became a member of the All Marine Corps Wrestling Team and won an Armed Forces Championship in ’09.  With his military service completed, Bridge finished his college career at Stevens Institute of Technology, where once again, he was a standout wrestler, winning All-American honors on two separate occasions and being named to the school’s President’s List. He finished out his collegiate career with a record of 32-7. Bridge cites going undefeated his junior year and winning his first state title as the highlight of his career.  He goes on to state that his high school team’s victory over the country’s #1 ranked team, Easton High School (Pennsylvania) at the University of Delaware was one of his most memorable moments of his career.  After graduation, Bridge served as an assistant coach at Morris Hills High School, but plans to move on to assist at Delbarton for the upcoming 2017-2018 season. Currently, a business analyst at Jeffries, LLC in Jersey City, NJ, Bridge was recently married and resides in Denville, NJ with his bride, Kristy.

John Browning (Class of 2002) Cherry Hill West High School A 1980 graduate, Browning was a two-time Highland Christmas Tournament champion and three-time finalist and two-time District 27 champ and Outstanding Wrestler recipient in the districts. A two-time All-South Jersey selection (108 pounds as a junior, 115 pounds as a senior), Browning placed 3rd, 2nd and 1st in Region 7 competition. He was 3rd and 2nd in two trips to the state tournament during a 74-14 career (including a 30-1 senior season that included a 7-6 loss to Kevin Jacoutot of Madison Central). He was captain of his team his last two years. In 1983 Browning joined the staff at Cherry Hill East as freshman coach and guided the team through an unbeaten season. A year later he moved up to the JV level with the kids and his team went unbeaten once more. He spent three more years on the staff before business and family commitments consumed more of his time. Among his most memorable moments were the intense matches he had with Riverside�s Dana Whitehouse in consecutive district and regional finals. Browning considers his career highlight the state semifinal his senior year when he trailed 5-3 with 30 seconds remaining before he took his opponent down and pinned him to advance to the state finals.

Joe Burke (Class of 2015) Buena High School A 1990 graduate of Buena High School, Burke was a two-time District 31 runner-up and a 3rd place finisher in Region 8 before hitting his stride at the collegiate level.  Burke began his college career at Wagner College in New York, where, as a true freshman, he won the New England Conference Championships and qualified for the Division I NCAA Tournament. In his first trip to the NCAA Tournament, he dropped a pigtail bout to Nick Garone of Old Dominion. Due to Garonne’s failure to win his next match, Burke was not qualified to advance.  The next year (92) Burke transferred to Seton Hall and again winning the New England’s qualified him for the NCAAs. He lost an opening round match to Troy Sunderland of Penn State, 7-4 and during his first consolation match Burke was called defensively pinned, while leading by a score of 10-0.  The following year (’93), Burke again won the New England Championships qualifying him for the NCAAs.  This time Burke made a statement by defeating #3 seeded Torrae Jackson of the host school, Iowa State by a 1-0 decision, setting the stage for Burke to earn 4th place All-American honors at 150 pounds.  After taking a red shirt year in ’94, Burke came back at 158 pounds in ‘95, and again qualified for the NCAAs by winning the Big Northeast Conference Championships.  This time Burke was the #1 seed in the weight class largely in part to his having earned All-American honors in ‘93.  Burke ran off decisions of 8-4 and 7-3 over Wyoming’s Brandon Alderman and Clark Conover of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, respectively, before yielding a heart-breaking, one-point loss on a takedown at the buzzer to Ohio State’s Eric Smith.  Not discouraged, Burke came roaring back to take 3rd place honors, making him a two-time All-American and Seton Hall’s most decorated wrestler.  Burke concluded his college career with a total record of 148-20-1. Burke cites his two-time All-American status as the highlights of his career; but, as the tournament’s #12 seed in ’93, he points to his upset victory over #3 seeded Torrae Jackson of Iowa State as his most memorable moment in the sport, because not only did it help earn him the #1 seed for the following year, but reinforced his belief that anything is possible through dedication and hard work. Burke graduated from Seton Hall in ’95.  He currently works for the Action Environmental Group, which has offices in New York City and in New Jersey. Burke lives in Park Ridge, NJ with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Francesca (7) and Joey (5).

Darryl Anthony Burley (Class of 1984) Pemberton High School A 1978 graduate, Burley compiled an 86-5-1 record under Coach Milt Schisler at Pemberton. He won three district and two regional titles, was third in the state his junior year and defeated returning state champion Peter Schuyler of Bound Brook to win the state title in 1978. He was recipient of the state�s Outstanding Wrestler Award in his senior year. Burley matriculated to Lehigh University where he compiled a 94-5-1 record as a four-year varsity starter. Burley was a four-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion; a three-time winner of the William Sheridan Invitational at Lehigh and was Midlands Champion and Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient of that tournament in 1982. A four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association finalist, Burley won national titles in 1979 and 1983. He was selected Amateur Wrestler of the Year in 1983 and was among the final four wrestlers in the 1984 Olympic freestyle trials.

Thomas A. Cabal (Class of 1988) Woodbury High School A 1961 graduate of Woodbury High School, Cabal was a two-time state runner-up at 106 and 115 pounds, respectively, while wrestling under coach Bill Morro, Cabal, a three-year letter winner at Woodbury, was also a two-time district champion and the first 115-pound Region 4 winner in 1961. Cabal qualified for the state tournament in 1960 with a 4-2 win over Collingswood�s Gary Townsend. He then won two 3-0 decisions upstate before losing 2-0 to Newton�s Roy Terranova in the 106-pound finals. During his senior year at Woodbury, he went through the season undefeated and unscored upon before postseason competition. Cabal decisioned Howard Pomroy of Triton 3-0 in the District 15 finals, decisioned Vineland�s Art Wolinsky 4-1 in the Region 4 finals, and won his first bout via a 5:23 fall in the state semifinals before losing 6-0 to Somerville�s Frank Arcidiacono in the state finals. Cabal accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He attended the Academy for a year, getting a medical discharge after passing his final exams that year. An outstanding student, Cabal continued his wrestling career at Navy before he was stricken with cancer. Cabal attended night classes at the University of Pennsylvania the following year while working at the Camden Shipyard during the day. A year later he attended Brown University before succumbing to cancer in 1964.

Orlando X. Caceres (Class of 1993) Pemberton High School A 1980 graduate, Caceres compiled a fantastic three-year career under coach Milt Schisler. Caceres won three district, two regional and two state titles in a memorable 78-3-1 varsity career. He punctuated his scholastic career by pinning defending state champion Joe Duca of Paulsboro in 1980 for his second consecutive state title. For his effort in that bout, Caceres was recipient of the state�s Outstanding Wrestler Award. Caceres went on to the University of Arizona where he wrestled for one year before the sport was dropped. He then wrestled three years at Trenton State College under coach Dave Icenhower. His best finish was second in the national Division Ill Tournament where, while winning on points, he was disqualified for an illegal slam with 20 seconds remaining. After graduating from Trenton State with a Bachelor of Science degree, Caceres wrestled freestyle with the New York AC and was a member of the Puerto Rico National Team. He was a silver medalist in the 1982 Central America Games in Cuba and a bronze medalist in the 1983 Pan American Games in Venezuela. He also competed for Puerto Rico, placing fourth, in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Caceres also coached for two years at Pediie School and for one year at Northern Burlington High School.

Michael Caiazza (Class of 2012) Egg Harbor Township High School A 1978 graduate of Oakcrest High School, Mike posted a 49-21 career record on his way to a second-place finish in District 32 his senior year. Upon graduation from Oakcrest, Mike moved on to West Chester University where he competed on the varsity squad and placed 3rd in the East Coast Wrestling Championships in 1980, which stands out as one of Mike�s most treasured moments in his personal wrestling career. He finished his collegiate career with a 32-16 record. This experience provided Mike with a solid foundation for what would be his true calling: coaching. After graduating from West Chester in 1983, Caiazza began his career as a physical education teacher at Egg Harbor Township High School. In his 29 years as an educator, Caiazza served as an assistant wrestling coach at Oakcrest�s sister school, Absegami, for two years before continuing his coaching at Egg Harbor Township where he has been the head wrestling coach for the past 26 years. Along with his wrestling coaching, Caiazza also served as cross country coach for 17 years and spring track coach for 15 years. Added in with these coaching jobs, Mike served 25 years as a Southern Shore Chapter wrestling official. During his coaching career he has had 21 District 32 Champions, 5 Region 8 Champions, and had 4 state place winners. Along with his teams� successes, Caiazza has been named Coach of the Year five times in District 32, with one of his proudest moments coming in 2000 when his Egg Harbor Township team won the Group III Section, defeating Delsea 42-34. During Mike�s tenure as a wrestling coach at Egg Harbor Township, he has compiled an overall record of 274-268-4 through 2012. Caiazza continues to improve his teams every year.

Daniel Calhoun (Class of 2017) Washington Township High School A 1995 graduate, Calhoun was a three-time District 30 Champion, a Region 8 Champion and a two-time state qualifier.  Wrestling at 152 pounds at the NJSIAA Tournament in ’94, Calhoun won his first match against Andre Dixon of Eastern, 10-3, and then followed that win with a 5-3 decision over Jason Brown of Oakcrest before dropping his quarterfinal match by a 3-0 decision to Jefferson’s #1 seeded, Jeremy Bailer.  This loss put Calhoun in the wrestleback round, where he was eliminated by Ken Olive of Mahwah.  Up two weight classes in ’95, Calhoun began his run at states by winning an 11-5 decision over Eddie Ramos of Millville and added a 10-2 major decision over Rutherford Pasteur of Essex Catholic before losing to Oakcrest’s Cory Bird in the semifinals, 6-3. Once again back in the wrestlebacks, Calhoun succeeded, winning decisions over Joe Piela (Bergen Catholic) 5-2 and Greg Grigelski (Pequannock) 8-2 to come away with the bronze medal and a career record of 94-14-1.  Upon graduation, Calhoun attended Gloucester County, where in ’96 his team finished in 3rd place in the JUCO National Tournament and where he went on to become a two-time JUCO All-American.  As a graduate of GCC, Calhoun enrolled at the University of North Carolina where he continued his success by winning the East Stroudsburg Open and the Sunshine Open in ’98 and finishing in third place twice in the Atlantic Coast Conference to qualify for the Division 1 NCAA Tournament.  He also saw his team succeed in winning the ACC Championship title in both ’98 and ’99 before ending his collegiate career with a combined record (GCC and UNC) of 117-27.  Not prepared to step away from wrestling, Calhoun successfully coached as an assistant at Delsea, and at Williamstown before taking over the head coaching job for seven years.  While at Williamstown, Calhoun was named the Coach of the Year in District 30 and the Region 8 Coach of the Year both in 2004 and 2006.  Calhoun took over as head coach of Gloucester County College, where he added being named Region 19 Man of the Year in 2010 and saw four of his GCC wrestlers become JUCO All-Americans. Calhoun has served as a clinician at the Patriot Wrestling Club as well as the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Calhoun states that finishing as the state’s bronze medalist, earning All-American honors at GCC and two bronze medal finishes in the ACC as highlights of his career.  His most memorable moments include coaching his team at GCC to third-place national JUCO honors in 2010, wrestling for Team Foxcatcher for three years, representing the University of North Carolina, and seeing his UNC team win the ACC on two separate occasions.  Calhoun is currently employed as a health and physical education teacher at the Ocean City Primary School and is an assistant coach at the high school. A single parent, Calhoun lives in Ocean City with his children, Chase (12), Sienna (11) and Colt (10).

Gene Caporaletti (Class of 1988) New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association A 1956 graduate of Philadelphia�s West Catholic High School and 1961 graduate of Temple University, where he wrestled varsity three years, Caporaletti became well-known on the South Jersey wrestling scene. He was a member of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association before he became president of the NJWOA Southern Chapter. Though most of his career was centered around officiating, he was also active in coaching during his early years after graduating from Temple. He was an assistant coach at West Deptford High School for two years, which included coaching state champion Frank Pulio, and at Rutgers-Camden under Hall of Famer Alex Neiman for two more. He also started the wrestling program for the Alden (Pa.) Boys Club and was the head coach for six years. He became a member of the executive committee of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association and was a recipient of the Region 7-8 Outstanding Officials Award. He officiated district tournaments for 21 years, regional tourneys for 20 and officiated at all levels of the state tournament, including the finals, before retiring from on-mat duties. He was instrumental in initiating new programs which have benefited both officials and scholastic wrestling in South Jersey. Caporaletti was still active in wrestling in 1988 as a member of the executive committee of the S.J. Wrestling Hall of Fame (chairman of the scholarship committee) and the Region 7-8 Coaches and Officials Association. He also served as chairman of the coaches and officials grievance committee. In 1986 he received the National Federation of Scholastic Officials Outstanding Wrestling Officials Award for New Jersey.

Tony Caravella (Class of 2002) Brick Township High School A 1974 graduate of Brick High School, Caravella was a District 25 and Region 7 champion who placed fourth in the state as a senior to complete a 50-15-1 record. He went on to Bloomsburg (PA) State College where he compiled a 123-33-2 record before graduating in 1980. He was a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion, two-time Eastern Wrestling League champion and finished 7th in the NCAA Division I championships to gain All-America honors. Caravella was the first head coach at Brick Memorial when it opened in 1980 and following the 2001-2002 season had compiled a 335-63-5 career record. His teams won five state Group 3 championships, 10 South Jersey Group 3 sectional titles, and 12 Shore Conference championships. A three-time winner of the Caldwell Tournament, Caravella�s team won the Beast of the East Tournament in 1993. He was selected a New Jersey Coach of the Year four times by his peers and the New Jersey Wrestling Coach of the Decade by the Star-Ledger for the 1990s. His teams were selected No. 1 in the state in 1986 and 1994. His most memorable moment as a head coach was in 1994 when his team beat Phillipsburg 37-28 in the state finals with the clinching points coming by fall at heavyweight. Caravella lauded his assistant coaches, including former head coaches Denny D�Andrea (Manalapan) and John DeMarco (Toms River South, Monsignor Donovan). He served as president of Region VI 1985-88 and Vice President of Region VI 1988-94. He was an inductee in the New Jersey Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Jersey Shore Hall of Fame in 1996.

Gregory  Casamento (Class of 2001) Cherry Hill East High School A 1988 graduate, Casamento was a three-time Washington Township Christmas Tournament champion, a District 27 runner-up in 1986 and District27 champion in 1987 and 1988; a Region 7 runner-up in 1987; and Region 7 and state champion at 188 pounds in 1988. Casamento compiled a 33-0 record as a senior to complete a 77-21-0 career under the late Frank McAleer. He earned back-to-back All-South Jersey honors in football (a Brooks-Irvine Scholar-Athlete as a senior) and wrestling. He established Cherry Hill East school records for most pins in a single season and career; most wins in a single season and a career; and most team points in a single season and career. Winning the state title in overtime in Princeton�s Jadwin Gymnasium was Greg�s most memorable athletic highlight. Casamento went on to Boston University where he compiled a 101-26-2 career record under Coach Carl Adams. A team captain for two years and the team MVP in 1991, he won the New England Conference l77-pound title in 1991 and 1992 and earned the Homer Barr Award for most team points in a four-year career at Boston University. Greg qualified for the NCAA Division I Tournament twice. Greg went to Law School at Boston University and then joined the United States Navy as a Judge Advocate from 1996-2000 receiving a Navy Achievement Medal and a Navy Commendation Medal for his two tours while earning a diploma from the Naval War College.

 

David T. Chambers (Class of 2009)
Cherokee High School

A 1966 graduate of Triton High School, he was a 3-year letter winner in wrestling and was 115-pound captain his senior year. He graduated from Marshall University in 1973 and was an assistant coach at Audubon from 1979 to 1982. In 1983 he became the wrestling coach at Cherokee. During 21 years as a head coach he had a record of 238-166-5. He coached 36 District Champs, 10 Regional Champs and one State Champion (215-pounder Doug Easlick in 1999). He was Courier-Post Coach of the Year in 1985 after a 14-1-1 campagn, winning the Burlington County League Liberty Division and District 27 titles. He was a District Coach of the Year 3 times, Region 7 Coach of the Year twice and Burlington County Coach of the Year 3 times. He was Region 7 President 1992-1998, served on the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Executive Committee 23 years and served on the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame.

 

George Chew (Class of 2007)
Cumberland Regional High School

A 1987 graduate, Chew was able to put the Seabrook, N.J. school on the map by establishing every school record during his four years as a Colt. Chew culminated an 89-11-1 career by going undefeated and winning District 31, Region 8 and State Championships as a senior. A three-time District 31 champion, Chew won district titles at 101, 108 and 115 with successive decisions over Pennsville�s Greg Griffin, Marc Smith and John Doran. Chew was in the Region 8 finals three times, winning twice. Chew defeated Griffin (who went on to win a state title) as a sophomore, lost to Williamstown's Brett DiNovi as a junior and defeated DiNovi as a senior. His junior year Chew lost in the state semifinals to eventual champion Adam Derengowski of Paul VI and won his third-place state medal match over DiNovi in a Region 8 finals rematch. He capped his unbeaten senior campaign by beating unbeaten returning state champion Sam Cole of Long Branch, 6-5. He also was a 1987 National Freestyle Espoir champion and was third in the Junior Freestyle Nationals. Chew continued wrestling at Indiana University where he earned varsity letters in 1988 and 1989, finishing fifth in the Big Ten Championships in 1988. In 1989 Chew was medically released from his scholarship due to a dislocated shoulder prior to the Big Ten Championships. A distinguished military graduate in Indiana�s ROTC program, Chew went on to a career in the service and at the time of his induction was still active as a Major Aviation Officer, United States Army.

 

Eric Childs (Class of 2002)
Rancocas Valley Regional High School

A 1988 graduate, Childs culminated a 66-13-2 career and a spot on the All-South Jersey team by winning the District 26, Region 7 and State 119-pound championships as a senior. His state final was a memorable 13-2 domination of Mike Indorato of Paramus. Childs, who never stepped on a mat until his sophomore year in high school, also won the Region 7 title as a junior. He went on to Rider University where he compiled a 70-17 record before graduating in 1993. He won the prestigious East Stroudsburg Tournament and was an East Coast Wrestling Association champion. Twice he competed in the NCAA Tournament at Maryland and Iowa. Warming up as a senior in college, he looked around and saw such wrestling luminaries as Bobby Douglas, Nate Carr, Gene Mills, John Smith and Dan Gable. He finally realized he had reached the highest level of collegiate competition. Throughout his scholastic and collegiate career, Childs was never pinned and never lost by technical fall. After finishing his career at Rider, Childs took a substitute teaching job at Rancocas Valley and helped out as an assistant wrestling coach. He also gave his time back to the sport by coaching at the Wrecking Crew wrestling facility in Mount Holly in the summer.

 

Robert Ciarrocki (Class of 1989)
Oakcrest High School

A 1970 graduate of Dakcrest, Ciarrocki is the last state champion of the 1960s to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ciarrocki capped a brilliant junior year by beating Millville�s Neal Robinson 11-3 to win the District 32 title, topping Collingswood�s Kevin Scarborough 6-3 for Region 4 honors defeating Renard Haskins of Morristown 8-3 and then Jack Shawde of JP Stevens 6-5 on the way to winning the state 115-pound championship under coach Art Marinelli, also a South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee. Ciarrocki, who finished with a 40-3-1 career record, never had a chance to defend his state title, losing to Atlantic City�s Martin Cheatham 10-8 in the District 32 finals his senior year. Cheatham won the Region 4 title before finishing third in the state. Ciarrocki was twice named Oakcrest's outstanding wrestler and was team captain during his senior year. He continued his wrestling career at Rutgers University with great success. In 1974 he finished third in the EIWA championships at 134 pounds and qualified for the NCAA Division I championships. The team captain for Rutgers during his senior year, he also won the Wilfred E. Cann Award for the outstanding wrestler at Rutgers.

 

Joe Corbett (Class of 2012)
Rancocas Valley Regional High School

Corbett graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1978, where he wrestled successfully for Hall of Famer Tony Petrillo (�85). Corbett was a two-time District 26 Champion with 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place finishes in Region 7. In his junior year Corbett compiled state tournament victories of 8-3, 2-1 and 13-9 before dropping an 11-3 decision to Tim Catalfo of Pascack Hills in the state finals. Corbett concluded his high school career with a record of 70-7-1 and was later inducted into the Rancocas Valley Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Corbett went on to be a standout wrestler at George Washington University where he completed a four-year varsity career with a 123-17-4 record. He finished 4th, 3rd,and was runner-up twice in the Eastern Regionals and was a Division 1 qualifier in 1982 at 150 pounds. Corbett�s success earned him the distinction of being the 80th member, but the first wrestler, to be inducted into the George Washington University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. Corbett�s fondest wrestling moment came on February 14, 1976 when his Rancocas Valley team defeated Paulsboro, thus ending the Red Raider�s 84 match win streak. Corbett recalls that prior to that victory over Paulsboro, it was Rancocas Valley that had beaten Paulsboro almost exactly five years earlier, which became the start of Paulsboro�s 84 match streak. Corbett marvels that so many members of both teams had so many wrestlers and coaches who later became Hall of Famers. He also remembers that the official the night his �76 team�s victory was Hall of Famer Jim Horner (89). After graduation from George Washington University in 1982, Corbett eventually made his way back to his roots in wrestling while living in Maryland. He served as an assistant coach and has run a free open-mat clinic, which is available to all interested wrestlers, and as a youth team coach.

 

Lou Coursen (Class of 1984)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

Lou participated in football, wrestling and track at Forty Fort, Pa., High School. He also wrestled on a championship team at West Chester State Teachers College. After two years in the service, Lou moved to the South Jersey area and became an active wrestling official. After officiating on all levels of state competition, Lou retired from active on-mat participation but remained very active in the wrestling officials association and became director of the cadet classes. He also served on the state committee for wrestling. Lou was the first recipient of the Officials Award presented by the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association at its annual regional wrestling dinner. In 1983 he became a member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization, Inc.

 

Samuel Coursen (Class of 1988)
Collingswood High School

A 1949 graduate of Forty Fort (Pa.) High School, Coursen was a four-time district champion in Pennsylvania�S Wyoming Valley and four-time state finalist for Forty Fort. He is the only four-year varsity wrestler never to lose a dual meet in Wyoming Valley, a record still intact through 1988. Coursen then went on to Springfield (Mass.) College where he continued his outstanding career. He was a four-time all- conference first team, four-time New England champion and four-time All-New England first team. He was captain at Springfield for two years. never lost a dual meet in conference competition and was named the 0utstanding Wrestler in New England in 1952. Later that year, Coursen was chosen for the U.S. Olympic team and went to the Helsinki Olympics. Coursen began his coaching career at Collingswood in 1958 and remained as head coach until 1971, compiling an impressive 135-34-4 mark while his teams won eight conference and six district team titles. He had undefeated teams in 1960. 62, 63 and �67. Coursen coached 49 district, 12 regional and two individual state champions. After giving up the high school job, Coursen moved into the junior high for seven years, compiling 102-28 record. Coursen has served on just about every wrestling committee throughout the state and along with John Vogeding was a co-founder of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame and served as the organization�s president for seven years. He has run numerous clinics throughout the country and also helped in running district and regional tournaments at Collingswood. Coursen also joined Princeton University�s John Johnson and East 5troudsburg�s Red Witman as partners of the Pocono Sports Camp, a venture that provided thousands of male and female athletes with instruction in sports of all kinds, including wrestling, for 22 years until the facility fell victim to arson in 1985. He was a member of the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association Executive Committee for 16 years, serving as secretary and treasurer, and was on the state executive committee for eight years representing South Jersey. Coursen was also a co-founder of the region 7 and 8 Coaches and Officials Association, and served as its first president. Coursen was honored by the South Jersey Coaches and Officials Association in 1975 for his contributions to wrestling and inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. He was recipient of the Harry E. Lake Memorial Award at the New Jersey state wrestling tournament in 1980, was inducted into the Springfield College Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the New Jersey Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988 Coursen also coached championship cross country teams at Collingswood, compiling a 111-48 mark. Former Coursen wrestlers Warren Bowne, Jim lngles, Dale Bonsall, Dave Steiler and Gary Papa all became successful wrestling coaches.

 

Damien E. Covington (Class of 2009)
Overbrook High School

He compiled a career record of 80-7 wrestling for Edgewood and Overbrook high schools. He was a 2-time District 30 and 2-time Region 8 champ. As a junior competing for Edgewood, he won the 189-pound Region 8 Championship and finished 4th in the state. As a senior he decisioned Ocean City's Patrick Lynch 8-4 in the Region 8 finals, ending Lynch's 99-match winning streak and denying him a 4th consecutive regional title. A week later Covington defeated 2-time returning state champion Lynch 5-3 to end the season 31-0 and claim the Outstanding Wrestler Award for a second consecutive week. He played football at North Carolina State and was twice an All-Atlantic Coast Conference selecetion and was honorable mention All-America as a senior. Covington was a third-round pick (95th player chosen overall) by the Buffalo Bills in 1995 and played three seasons in the NFL before a severe injury ended his pro career. Damien died when he was 33-years old.

 

Wayne B. Croce (Class of 1990)
Paulsboro High School

A 1955 graduate who wrestled under the late Ed Pszwaro, Croce is one of four South Jersey athletes � all from Paulsboro High School � to win three South Jersey championships. The late Tony Donofrio. 1949-50-51; Dave Frisby, 1952-53-54; and Stanley �Bones� Howard, heavyweight champ in 1954-55-56, also won three titles each in the days when the South Jersey tournament decided who would wrestle upstate. Croce finished third in the state as a sophomore 123-pounder in 1953, was fourth at 130 pounds a year later and capped a career that included more than 40 victories by placing second at 130 pounds after a 4-3 loss to Ray Bailey of Springfield Regional n 1955. Paulsboro teams went 9-0, 10-0 and 7-0, respectively, and finished 3rd, 2nd and 6th in the state championships at the Elizabeth Armory in 1953-54-55. Croce, who got his first varsity bout as a freshman, officiated for a couple years and was briefly involved in the community program before he followed his retirement from Eastern Airlines, after working with them for 23 years, by moving out West.

 

Michael L. Cunningham (Class of 2000)
Triton High School/SJWHFO

A 1965 graduate of Wyoming Seminary (after three years at Washington High School, now Warren Hills Regional), Cunningham was a district champion in 1962 and a district runner-up the following year. In prep school, he was a national runner-up at 168 pounds before winning the national prep school 183 I pound championship in 1965. Cunningham wrestled at Bloomsburg State College, winning the U.S. Military Academy Plebe Tournament as a freshman and later won a Region I AAU Tournament. A knee injury ended his competitive career before graduating from Bloomsburg in 1969. An assistant coach at Bristol, Pa. one year and two years at J.F. Kennedy in Willingboro, Cunningham was the varsity coach at Triton for seven years. His 58-54-1 record included a highlight 26-21 win over powerhouse Highland in 1978. He also was an assistant track and field and an assistant golf coach for six years, and the head swimming coach six years. Cunningham left the high school coaching ranks to help two years in Cherry Hill�s youth wrestling program before he moved on to assist Hall of Famer Jack Damico for four years in Triton�s youth program. He helped coach his four sons in youth wrestling. A member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization, Inc. since its inception in 1980, Cunningham has served as the organization�s corresponding secretary and recording secretary. He has been involved in some way with wrestling since he was in sixth grade, a time period spanning more than 40 years. Among his career highlights as a wrestler were winning a district title and competing in the state�s second regional tournament in 1962; competing for the legendary John Goles at Washington (1960-63); and winning a national prep school title (1965).

 

Ryan Cunningham (Class of 2015)
Cherry Hill West High School

A 2002 graduate of Cherry Hill West, Cunningham won four District 27 Championships, three Region 7 Championships, placed four times in the N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament and was a NJ State Freestyle Champion. In his first state appearance in ’99 in Atlantic City at 140 pounds, he came away with sixth place honors. The following year, wrestling at the Meadowlands at 145 pounds, he dropped his state final match to Eric Norgaard of St. Joe’s, Montvale, 5-3.  On his way to the state final match, Cunningham avenged an earlier dual meet loss to Eric Ring of Washington Twp, defeating Ring 5-4 in the semi-final round.  Wrestling in Atlantic City in ’01 at 152 pounds, Cunningham reeled off three consecutive wins to earn his second state final appearance where he defeated Chris Ressa of Lenape Valley, 5-4 to earn his first state title.  In his senior year, competing in Atlantic City at 160 pounds, Cunningham advanced to his third finals appearance with victories of 15-5, 9-2 and 8-6. He won via a 5-4 decision over Vinnie Salek of Toms River East to garner his second state title.  Upon graduation in ‘02, Cunningham attended Rider University where he was a three year varsity starter and served as team captain for one year. Early in his career at Rider, he received the Fred Henson Memorial Award, presented to the wrestler demonstrating hard work, leadership and a positive attitude on and off the mat.  Cunningham also earned a 6th place finish at the Keystone Open and a 3rd place finish in the CAA Conference Tournament. Cunningham cites becoming Cherry Hill West’s first state champion in wrestling as the highlight of his career and states that some memorable moments came from competing for Hall of Famer, Jack Damico (’87) as a youth wrestler and for wrestling for Hall of Fame club coach, Dale Bonsall (’95) and Bruce Kennett at Team Renegade. Cunningham cites another memorable moment stemmed from being able to compete at the youth and high school levels with his brothers, Andrew, Sean and Tom.  Upon graduation from Rider in ’07, Cunningham has remained involved in the sport, serving as a coach at The Wrecking Crew Wrestling Academy and as a varsity wrestling official for the past three years.  Employed by the State of NJ, Cunningham lives in Bellmawr with his wife, Ali, and their two sons, Cayden (6) and Logan (4).

 

Thomas C. Curl (Class of 2015)
Paulsboro High School

A 2002 graduate of Paulsboro High School and a three sport letter winner in wrestling, football and track, Curl distinguished himself as a heavyweight wrestler.  He was a four-time District 29 Champion a four-time Region 8 Champion and a four-time state place winner who finished his career with a record of 141-6. Curl made his first state tournament appearance in Atlantic City in ’99. After winning his first three matches, he dropped a 5-3 decision in the semi-finals, then lost by fall in the wrestlebacks before winning his match for fifth place honors.  In ’00, wrestling at the Meadowlands, Curl won two matches before losing a 7-6 decision to Chris Knapp of Bound Brook in the quarter-finals, but he rebounded by winning three wrestleback matches by fall to set up a third-place consolation match, which he won via a 5-0 decision.  Wrestling in Atlantic City in ’01, Curl avenged his loss the previous year to Chris Knapp by defeating him in the state final match by an 11-6 decision giving Curl his first N.J.S.I.A.A. State Championship title.  During his senior campaign in Atlantic City, Curl won two matches by fall and one match by a major decision, before pinning his state final opponent, Mike Davidowich, of Eastern in just 0:27 to make him the state leader of wins by fall with a total of 94.  A win by fall in the last match of his high school  career in the finals of Senior Nationals is the thing Curl cites as the highlight of his career. After graduation from Paulsboro, Curl attended S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo where he won the Northeast Regional Freestyle Tournament before transferring to Lehigh University where he continued his wrestling career.  Curl cites his long-time Paulsboro friend and teammate, Ryan O’Hara and his high school workout partner, Mike Mendenhall, along with his coach, Hall of Famer (’96), Paul Morina, as being positive forces in his success in wrestling and in life.  He points to Paulsboro’s win over Phillipsburg in the infamous “Pit” to garner the number 1 ranking for his team in ‘99 as the most memorable moment of his career.  Currently, a police officer in Westville, NJ, Curl lives in Paulsboro with his wife, Lisa and their two daughters, Ayden (4) and Morgan (2).

 

Timothy M. Curry (Class of 1998)
Paul VI High School

A 1982 graduate, Curry culminated a 95-11-2 career by winning the 188-pound state championship. Curry, a two-time district and regional champion who finished second in the state at 158 Pounds as a junior, was a three-time All-Olympic Conference selection and twice an All-South Jersey selection. His three losses his junior year were to state place winners Rob Kuzy of Holy Cross (a state champ at 148), Greg Coolihan of Cherry Hill East (fourth in the state) and to John Monaco of Nutley in the state finals. A participant in football along with Wrestling at Paul VI, Curry continued his wrestling career at the Naval Academy where he compiled a 92-12 record. Curry twice won the Sunshine Open in Florida and won the Thanksgiving Invitational three times. He was third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) in 1984 and second in the EIWA in 1986. Curry was an assistant coach at the Naval Academy for 8 months. After leaving the Academy he became an F-18 pilot, was a �Iopgun� Instructor 1994-96 and flew 40 combat missions in Desert Storm where he earned two combat decorations.

 

Jack Damico (Class of 1987)
Triton High School

A three-year varsity performer at Triton High School under Al Paolone, Damico compiled an impressive 39-1-5 career record, winning back-to-hack district championships in 1960 and 1961. He capped a brilliant senior year with a 21-1-0 record, finishing third in the state at 106 pounds. He graduated in 1961 and went on to Rutgers University where he continued his wrestling career. An 8th place finish in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships in 1963 was his top effort at Rutgers where a recurrent shoulder injury slowed him down. Damico graduated from Rutgers in 1965 and went back to his old high school as a U.S. History teacher. He was an assistant coach at Triton for six years and coached the only undefeated jayvee team in the school�s history. Damico became very active in the midget wrestling program in Runnemede where he coached for 14 years through 1987.

 

Rick Dellagatta(Class of 1995)
Buena Regional High School

A 1977 graduate, Dellagatta was a three-time district champion, a two-time regional champion and twice advanced to the state 115 pound quarterfinals before losing in a 77-6 career. But Dellagatta�s best wrestling was still ahead. He went on to the University of Kentucky where he compiled a record of 124 wins and 20 losses. He was a three-time All-American, finishing fourth once and third twice in three NCAA appearances. He continued wrestling on the freestyle level following college and was a three-time USA National Wrestling Freestyle Champion (1980, �83, �84). He was an alternate for the 1980 Olympic team and a member of the 1984 team. Dellagatta�s most memorable moment in wrestling was pinning three-tame Russian Olympic champion Sergei Beloglosov in a USA vs. Russia meet in Atlantic City. His career highlight: winning the 1983 USA National Freestyle Championship � defeating the Canadian National champion and four former NCAA champions, including Lee Roy Smith 15-4 in the finals � and being voted unanimously Outstanding Wrestler and the best at his 136.5 weight class in the country. A one-time AAU National Champion, Dellagatta was assistant coach one year at Kentucky and a voiunteer assistant at Hunter College (1983-86) and Manhattan (1994- 95).

 

John DeMarco (Class of 1995)
Toms River South High School

De Marco compiled a 49-10-2 varsity record at Brick Township H.S. where he won district and regional titles before finishing 4th in the state in 1965. De Marco went to West Chester State College where he compiled a 58-1 1-3 record, He won the Middle Atlantic Conference title and placed 3rd in the NCAA College Division championships at 145 pounds in 1968. As a coach, De Marco compiled a 175-73-5 record from 1973 through 1987 at Toms River South. His teams won seven Shore Conference Southern Division and four overall Shore Conference titles, and five district team titles. The most memorable moment in his coaching career was March 12, 1977 when three of his Toms River South wrestlers � Mike Weidenbush, 101; Frank Major 115; and Jeff Parker, 170 � won state titles. Overall, DeMarco had five state champs, five other state place winners, 26 regional champs and 54 individual district champs. He has held positions in the National Wrestling Coaches Association, NJ Wrestling Officials Association (Shore Chapter) and U.S. Wrestling Officials and Coaches Association.

 

Larry DeVault (Class of 2009)
Paulsboro High School

With a career record of 122-10, he was a 3-time Caldwell Tournament champion and 2-time Deep Creek, Va. Champion. a 4-time District 29 and 2-time Region 8 Champion. He also finished 3rd in Region 8 in 1990 and 4th in 1989. As a junior, he capped a 37-0 campaign by winning the 152-pound state championship. The following year, in the 152-pound state finals with unbeaten Ferman Crisco of Perth Amboy, DeVault lost by fall after leading 5-0 to end an illustrious career of successive seasons of 26-6, 26-3, 37-0 and 33-1. During his four years as a starter for the Red Raiders he helped the team compile an overall 82-2-1 record with two Caldwell Tournament and four Colonial Conference, four South Jersey Group I, four State Group I and four District 29 Championships. He wrestled one season at Gloucester County College, going 26-6 and winning a 1994 NJCAA Zone Championship when he was selected as the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler.

 

Adam Derengowski (Class of 1999)
Paul VI High School

A 1986 graduate, Derengowski capped a magical senior season and a 50-7-2 career by winning the District 28, Region 7 and State championships at 108 pounds. Derengowski was introduced to wrestling as a freshman and never won a match his first year. He was 21-1 on the jayvee level as a sophomore and started varsity as a junior. A first-round loss in the districts his junior year prompted an intensive off-season program of running, lifting and wrestling. A loss to two-time state champion Dave Boncher of Phillipsburg in a Christmas Tournament marred the start of a senior season that culminated with a state title that included a win over Boncher in the state finals. Derengowski blossomed as a collegiate wrestler at Rider University where he compiled a 107-24 record, including a third-place NCAA Tournament finish as a senior in 1991. He considers the highlight of his athletic career taking 3rd place at the NCAAs to become a Division I All-American as a senior. His most memorable moment was being selected to and winning his match in the National Wresting Coaches Association all star meet in the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania as a senior. He was a University Freestyle Champion, placed in the Top 6 in the United States Freestyle Championships 4 times and was a member of the U.S. National team in 1994. A three-time Sunkist Invitational champion, he wrestled internationally in dual meets against Russia, Iran, Japan and Canada. He was an assistant coach two years at Iowa State and one year at Cornell.

 

Daniel K. DeTullio (Class of 1996)
Millville High School

A 1975 graduate, DeTullio had a perfect high school senior season at heavyweight. He won the Edgewood Christmas, District 32 and Region 8 tournaments before capping a brilliant 34-0 campaign by winning the state championship with a pin over Delsea�s Mickey Aikens, the fourth time the two heavyweights met that season. A District 32 champion as a junior, DeTullio, a co-captain his senior year, finished his scholastic career with 56 wins in 62 outings in three varsity seasons. DeTullio also was a football player at Millville for three years. Following high school DeTullio wrestled at Cumberland County College.

 

James J. Dever (Class of 2004)
Moorestown High School

A 1975 graduate, Dever was a two-time District 29 and Region 8 champion (188 pounds as a junior, 170 pounds as a senior). A three-time Highland Christmas Tournament champion, Dever compiled a 66-10 varsity record. He lost in the state finals to unbeaten Keith Stiehler of Lyndhurst to finish his senior season 30-1. Twice an All-South Jersey selection, Dever was team captain as a senior. Dever went on to East Carolina University where he compiled an 86-28-2 record. He was the North Carolina Collegiate Champion in 1977 (3rd in 1976, 2^nd  in 1978), was 3rd in the Southern Conference in 1977, 3rd in the Eastern Regional in 1978 and 2^nd  in the Eastern Regional in 1980. He served as volunteer assistant wrestling coach at North Carolina State 1980-84. He became a police detective in the Moorestown Police Department and served as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Delran, Moorestown and Holy Cross high schools and became an assistant football coach at Holy Cross in 1986. Among his many commendations is a 1986 commendation from the Federal Government for repairing a large tanker ship that was leaking heating oil in the Delaware River while working as a hard hat/commercial diver in the Philadelphia and New York areas. In 2000 he received a commendation from the Burlington County Prosecutor�s office and in 2002 a commendation from the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police for his work with the Moorestown Police Department.

 

Brett J. DiNovi (Class of 2006)
Williamstown High School

A 1988 graduate, DiNovi was a three-time District 30 champion (108, 115, 125 pounds), a three-time Region 8 finalist (winning in 1986 and 1988) and capped a 33-0 senior season with the 125-pound state championship to culminate a 114-7-1 career. DiNovi's district championships were 8-3 over Wayne Mauri of Eastern, 9-4 over Jeff Greiner of Edgewood and 5-3 over Rob Sentman of Highland. DiNovi also decisioned Sentman for his regional title in 1988 and won 6-4 over George Chew of Cumberland in 1986. DiNovi was fourth in the state as a sophomore (losing to Chew, 7-3) and third as a junior (going 6-1 in the tournament after a second-round loss to eventual state champ Sam Cole of Long Branch) and defeated Cole 5-2 to cap his unbeaten senior year. A member of the USA 'Dream Team' in 1988, DiNovi won the bronze medal in the Greco-Roman Nationals at Northern Iowa in 1988. DiNovi, who also was the leading scorer on his school's soccer team as a senior, attended West Virginia University where he won the WVU Open.

 

John Disanti (Class of 1985)
Vineland High School

A 1960 graduate, Disanti compiled a 51-6 career record under Coach Tony DiTomo, a 1984 South Jersey Wresting Hall of Fame inductee. A four-year varsity performer and one of the most outstanding wrestlers ever to compete for Vineland High School, Disanti was third in the South Jersey championships his freshman year and a runner-up as a sophomore. In 1959, Disanti won the district and South Jersey championships and won a state title (3-0 over Ed Purdy of Morris Hills Regional) at 115 pounds. He was South Jersey's second consecutive recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award in the state tournament (following hall of Famer inductee Bobby Hogan of Millville). In his senior year Disanti again won against all South Jersey competition, winning a district and regional crown but lost 6-4 in the state finals against Joe Zelasney of Bound Brook

 

Anthony (Tony) DiTomo (Class of 1984)
Vineland High School

DiTomo graduated from Vineland High School in 1940 and later played varsity football at Wake Forest University where he graduated in 1949. He also received a Masters Degree from Temple University in 1956. The wrestling coach at Vineland for 21 years, DiTomo compiled a 165-44-4 record. His teams won 17 Cumberland County, eight league, four district and one South Jersey championship. He produced three individual state champions � John Disanti, 1982 Hall of Famer Hank Mazzoni and David Homiak. Disanti was also the recipient of the state�s Outstanding Wrestler Award. DiTomo produced 54 district, five South Jersey and six regional champions. He was president of the South Jersey Wrestling Conference and was on the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Advisory Board two years. He received the outstanding Contribution Award from the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association in 1983 and was site director for the districts and regionals for a number of years. In the 1950s and 6Os he helped many schools in South Jersey start their high school programs and was instrumental in starting Vineland�s community midget program. DiTomo was also a member of Vineland�s city recreation commission for 30 years.

 

Dale Driver (Class of 2010)
A.P. Schalick High School

A 1972 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Driver was a four-year starter. In district competition, he was 4th as a freshman, 3rd as a sophomore and 2nd at 136 pounds as a junior and senior when he put together back-to-back 17-2 and 19-3 campaigns. All-Colonial Conference as a junior and senior, Driver was 2nd in the regionals in 1972 when only the regional champon advanced to the State Tournament. A senior co-captain, Driver also won All-Gloucester County honors. Driver went to Trenton State College and competed in wrestling four years. In 1976 Driver accepted a teaching position at A.P. Schalick High School and three years later the wrestling program started and he was appointed head coach. With no youth wrestling priogram at the start, Driver compiled 124 wins over the next 16 years. Ten werstlers made the district finals (with three champions) and seven finished among the top four in regional competition, with one earning Outstanding Wrestler laurels. In the final match of his coaching career Driver had Karl Haywood finish second (losing 8-6 in overtime) in the state. Driver helped form the youth wrestling program in Pittsgrove and the Pittsgrove Wrestling Association (PWA). He also helped start the Bob Kinner Wrestling Classic, a youth tournament that evolved into one of the best in southern New Jersey..

 

Joseph J. Duca Jr. (Class of 2000)
Paulsboro High School

A 1980 graduate, Duca was a three-time District 29 and two-time Region 8 champion who compiled a 93-9-2 record in four varsity seasons. Third in the state as a sophomore, Duca won the state title at 122 pounds in 1979. The following season Duca finished second in the state to Pemberton's Orlando Caceres. Duca went on to wrestle varsity for four seasons at Temple University where he was fifth in the Eastern Regional Tournament his first two seasons and fourth as a junior. He lost out on a chance to compete in the national qualifier his senior season when he was sidelined with rheumatic fever. Following his four years at Temple, Duca was an assistant coach for three seasons at Paulsboro High School before moving into the business world. He considers the highlight of his athletic career winning the coveted state title in 1979. His most memorable moment was the very first day of wrestling practice when his father had to literally drag him into the wrestling room and remembering his father telling him, �If you don�t like it, you don�t have to stay.�

 

William B. Duff (Class of 2006)
Delran High School

A 1993 graduate, Duff was a two-time District 27, Region 7 and state heavyweight champion. He capped a perfect 35-0 senior year with his second straight state gold medal that raised his record to 70-1 over those two seasons. Duff won Region 7 as a junior with a 9-2 win over Diondrey Ford of Willingboro and repeated a year later with a 10-4 win over Steve Randazzo of Haddon Township. Duff was dominating in both state finals, pinning Jim Kirk of Sayreville in 3:15 in 1992 and Alex Rodriguez of Secaucas in 5:02 in 1993. An excellent all-around athlete, Duff was captain of state championship football and track teams his senior year. He was selected to the All-America football team as a senior, which resulted in a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee. Duff also won the shot put and discus events in South Jersey as a senior. Duff was captain of the 1997 SEC Champion Tennessee football team and went on to play eight years of pro football in the NFL, the XFL and the AFL.

 

Doug Easlick (Class of 2012)
Cherokee High School

Easlick was a four-time District 27 champion and a two-time Region 7 champion who finished his high school career with a 122-8 record. His state place finishes began his sophomore year with a finish of 7/8, and was followed by a 3rd place finish his junior year and a state championship his senior year. During Doug�s junior year, he won state tournament matches by a decision of 5-3 and by fall in 5:04 before dropping an 11-1 match to Nick Fekete of Cranford. Doug won his wrestleback 14-3 to earn a spot in the consolation finals where he won 7-2 to achieve 3rd place honors at 189 pounds. The following year, Easlick rattled off state tournament victories of 3-1, 15-0, and 5-2 before pinning Steve Kempinski of Phillipsburg in 3:16 to earn the state title at 215 pounds under Coach Dave Chambers, a 2009 Hall of Fame inductee � the first state title in school history. Doug recalls this moment as one of his fondest high school memories. He recalls winning this title in front of his family and friends and remembers having his brother embrace him as he came off the mat after this victory. Placing 3rd at the High School Senior National Tournament also ranks as a memorable moment for Doug. Along with Easlick�s wrestling achievements were numerous awards for his outstanding high school football career. Doug was a two-time All-South Jersey selection in football, a 1st team All-State selection at running back and safety, and was named Player of the Year by the Courier-Post and as the Player of the Year in Burlington County in 1999. Doug�s wrestling awards include being named as All-South Jersey twice, and the Numer-2 ranked 215 pound wrestler in the nation, an honor which garnered him a wrestling scholarship to Virginia Tech where he wrestled in the heavyweight class for a year before transferring his wrestling scholarship over to Tech�s football team where he was a three-year varsity letter winner. Easlick graduated from Virginia Tech in 2003.

 

David A. Edinger (Class of 1981)
Collingswood High School

A native of Stroudsburg. Pa., Dave arrived on the South Jersey scene when he started his coaching career at Lower Camden County Regional High School after World War II. In 1950, Dave moved over to Collingswood High School and started the wrestling program there. In addition to his coaching, the East Stroudsburg State graduate was a central figure in starting the South Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association. Dave officiated on the district, regional and state levels in New Jersey before retiring. Dave also played a key role in directing district and regional tournaments at Collingswood before retiring from public education and a lifetime of devotion to wrestling.

 

Bill Estadt (Class of 1995)
Pennsville Memorial High School

A 1970 graduate, Estadt capped his three-year varsity career under Hall of Famer Jack Harford by winning everything in sight at 136 pounds his senior year. He won championships in the Edgewood Christmas, District 31 and Region 4 tournaments, capping his career by winning the New Jersey State Individual Tournament. Estadt was presented the Mike Harmer Memorial Award as the Most Valuable Wrestler on his team that senior season. Estadt got his baptism in the varsity ranks as a sophomore 123-pounder and finished third in District 31. As a junior 130-pounder, Estadt won the Millville Christmas Tournament, was first in District 31 and second in Region 4. Estadt compiled a 42-6-1 scholastic record. Following high school, Estadt attended Lafayette College where he went 10-3-1 and finished third in the Middle Atlantic Conference Tournament his freshman year. He went 12-3 in limited action thereafter at Lafayette. He lettered three years in football and wrestling. Estadt credits Coach Harford for the inspiration both he and his brother Frank used to be successful at Pennsville and Lafayette.

 

Samuel J. Evangelista (Class of 1986)
Lenape High School

A 1950 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Evangelista served wrestling as a competitor, official and outstanding coach for better than three decades. Evangelista wrestled under Hall of Famer Ed Pszwaro and capped an outstanding career with a South Jersey championship and a second in the state at 113 pounds in 1950. Evangelista never lost a step, continuing his success as a wrestler at Gettysburg College where he finished second in the Middle Atlantic Conference championships in 1952 and first the next two seasons. Evangelista was already active as a wrestling official, including working the state finals, when he was asked to succeed Pszwaro as the third coach in Paulsboro�s history. Evangelista never missed a beat again, leading the Red Raiders to a championship in his first season. He had a 72-16-3 record at Paulsboro from 1964-70 and during that time laid the foundation for the community�s future junior wrestling program with his off-season work in the grade schools in Paulsboro and Gibbstown. Sam succeeded Hall of Famer Hank Schnepf at Lenape where, before retiring as coach in 1983, he raised his total coaching record to 204-88-9 � third best at the time in South Jersey history. His teams won three Christmas, five Colonial Conference, one Burlco Liberty and eight district championships and he was selected Coach of the Year in Burlington County and Region 7 in 1982.

 

Toby Fagan (Class of 2012)
Millville High School

A 1990 graduate of Millville High School, Toby compiled a scholastic record of 75-13-2 and was a two-time District 31 Champion, a Region 8 runner-up in 1989, and a Region 8 Champion in 1990. It is notable that Fagan�s Region 8 title came over the late Johnny Martin (Hall of Famer, class of �07) of Absegami, who was a wrestler whom he admired greatly as a competitor and friend. Toby�s 1989 runner-up finish in Region 8 earned him a trip to the state tournament in Princeton University�s Jadwin Gymnasium, where he finished his 15-2 campaign that year with a first-round loss to Delran�s Nate Lashley, 3-2. The following year, wrestling once again at the 130 pound weight class, Fagan avenged his loss to Lashley by a 9-3 decision in the state semi-finals, after having first won matches by 16-5 and 10-4 decisions, respectively. His win over previously undefeated Lashley earned him a state title shot against another unbeaten wrestler, Mike Standridge of Randolph. Again, Fagan prevailed with a 10-9 victory earning him a State Championship at 130 pounds. This victory capped a perfect 26-0 season for Fagan. In his corner during the state final match was his coach, Joe Monteleone, and with him was his first-ever coach, Hall of Famer, Will Goodwin (class of �04). Fagan�s state final victory gave Monteleone his first state champion. Goodwin�s presence only made the moment sweeter for Toby, who recalls Goodwin fondly, along with many of his other Seagull Wrestling Club friends, including the late Johnny Martin, who afforded him the opportunity to practice with many present-day Hall of Famers. After graduating from Millville in 1990, Toby went on to post a career record of 28-15 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Along with his 1990 state title, Toby also played soccer at Millville and earned an 8th place finish in the 1990 Junior Freestyle Championships. Upon graduating from Lehigh University in 1995, Toby began working for Arizona Chemical in Panama City, Florida.

 

Kevin Farnham (Class of 2008)
Haddon Township High School

A 1993 graduate, Farnham won the Haddon Township Christmas Tournament three times, was a four-time District 28 champion, was a two-time Region 7 champion, and won the 1993 state championship at 145 pounds in a 111-9-0 career. He finished among the top eight in the state as a sophomore. A year later he was awarded a 5th-6th place finish. In a perfect senior season, the Township team captain won the state title with a convincing 9-1 win over Kevin Wilson of Middletown South to cap a 27-0 season. Farnham continued his career at North Carolina State and despite ACL reconstruction on both knees, had a 47-38 injury-marred career record. He was a two-time team captain and his team was Atlantic Coast Conference champion his sophomroe year. He also was the Navy Invitational champion his junior year and placed in a number of tournaments.

 

Roy Fennimore (Class of 1994)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1962 graduate of Triton High School, Fennimore has been associated with all aspects of the sport � as a wrestler, coach, athletic director and official. Fennimore was twice an Olympic Conference wrestling champion and a 1961 district champion under Hall of Famer Al Paolone at Triton. After receiving his degree from Tusculum University in Greenville, Tenn., Fennimore returned to South Jersey and coached at Williamstown from 1968 through 1973, where he had two regional champions � Alan Zellner, second in the state in 1968, and Rich Fuller, fourth in the state in 1973. He also coached championship teams in soccer and tennis and served as the school�s athletic director for many years. Fennimore started officiating over two decades before his Hall of Fame induction and has done all levels in the sport, including 13 trips to the state tournament. Among his most memorable moments in wrestling are officiating in the state finals, and officiating the Region 8 championship match between Damien Covington of Overbrook and Patrick Lynch of Ocean City. His personal career highlights are the coaching championships in wrestling, tennis and soccer.

 

Carlos Fontanez (Class of 1980)
Freehold Regional High School

A four-year varsity wrestler from 1962 to 1965, Fontanez compiled an outstanding record that included just two losses. He lost his freshman year in the regional tournament and his junior year in the state finals. A state champion his sophomore and senior years, Fontanez was an All-American two years at Lamar Junior College in Colorado, placing first and second in junior college nationals. He won conference championship during two-year varsity career at Adams (Cob) State.

 

Joe Foulk (Class of 1991)
Haddonfield High School

A 1952 graduate of Haddonfield High School where he excelled in basketball and baseball, Foulk got his credentials to enter the teaching and coaching ranks after he graduated from Gettysburg College in 1957. Foulk�s return to Haddonfield as an assistant coach under Hall of Famer Bill Frantz signaled the beginning of over 30 years of service to the wrestling community as a coach and athletic director. Foulk succeeded Frantz in 1969 and through 1983 his compiled a 144-76-4 record and won four district, three Lenape Christmas Tournament and one Colonial Conference championships. Foulk had 29 district and six regional champions and three times his wrestlers placed among the top three in the state tournament. An original member of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, Foulk served the SJWCOA 12 years as president and five as treasurer. A member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization since its inception, he served several years as its treasurer. Foulk was a Region 7 Coach of the Year and was recipient of the SJWCOA Contribution Award.

 

William T. Frantz (Class of 1982)
Haddonfield High School

An outstanding football player at Trenton Catholic, Frantz helped his team by competing in the sport as a senior Frantz was away from the sport in college where he was a standout lineman at Miami of Florida. When he first arrived at Haddonfield, Bill coached basketball. A year later he became the school�s fourth wrestling coach. From 1954 until 1969, Frantz compiled a 135-41-1 record. His teams twice won South Jersey championshipse and won eight district championships. Frantz produced three state champions and 36 individual district champions. Also a football coach. Frantz was the recipient of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Contribution Award.

 

Robert Fredrick (Class of 1987)
Paulsboro High School

A 1961 graduate of Woodbury High School, Fredrick got his introduction to wrestling under coach Bill Morro. He graduated from Guilford College in 1965 and became the assistant wrestling coach at Greensboro (NC) Page High School. Fredrick became the head coach in 1968 and one of the most storied careers in coaching began. In three years at Greensboro Fredrick compiled an impressive 48-1-1 record, going unbeaten in 1969 and 1970. His 1970 team won a state championship and he coached seven sectional and one state champion at Greensboro Page. Fredrick then moved north, succeeding Sam Evangelista at Paulsboro, and spent 15 years building one of the most successful programs in the country. During his 15-year tenure at Paulsboro, Fredrick compiled an incredible 251-6-2 record, giving him a career record of 299-7-3. He had 12 unbeaten seasons, 14 district and Colonial Conference championships, six South Jersey Sectional titles and three state Group 1 titles. His teams were ranked No. 1 in South Jersey seven times and No. 1 in New Jersey an unprecedented four times. He also coached the two longest winning streaks in state history, 96 (between 1976-1982) and 84 (1972-1976) meets. Fredrick led his team to 13 tournament championships and a co-championship in another. He coached 77 district, 30 regional and four state champions at Paulsboro and produced six All-Americans. Fredrick retired from coaching in 1985 to assume athletic director duties at Paulsboro.

 

Ronald F. Frey (Class of 1991)
Riverside High School

A 1955 graduate of Brentwood (Pa.) High School and 1959 graduate of Indiana (Pa.) State Teachers College, Frey has given over 30 years of dedicated service as a wrestling coach in South Jersey. After spending a year at Millville where he had four district champions make the regional finals at Collingswood in 1962, Frey started the program at Riverside, where he has coached the last 28 years. He has compiled a 169-226-9 record through 1991 in a career where much of the last decade he has battled to keep the program afloat in a school with dwindling numbers. Frey has had seven district champions, two regional champs and two regional runners-up. He was a vice president in the old Delaware Valley League, in 1987 was elected into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame, and received the S.J. Wrestling and Coaches and Officials Association Contribution Award. Chairman of the Science Department at Riverside High, Frey has served wrestling in many capacities, including time on the S.J. Wrestling Hall of Fame�s Selection Committee.

 

Dr. David Allen Frisby III (Class of 1986)
Paulsboro High School

A 1954 graduate, Frisby compiled an outstanding record under the late Ed Pszwaro, a member of the inaugural class of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame. Frisby never lost a dual meet, won the South Jersey championship three times and was second in the state in all three of his trips to the state tournament. He finished his scholastic career with a 42-3 record � with all his losses in the state finals. A 105-pounder his sophomore year, Frisby wrestled at 113 as a junior and 119 his final season. He was team captain his senior year and led his team to a second-place finish in the state tournament in the days when team scoring was used to pick the best in the state. Frisby started an active educational career by attending Cheyney State College after high school and earned his first degree in 1960. He became Dr. Frisby when he earned his Ph.D in psychology of Human Development in 1975 from Union Graduate School in Cincinnati. He was active in many community functions in Paulsboro from 1966-71 and served as President of the Area Council of Southeastern Citizens Organization for the elimination of poverty in South Jersey counties. In 1970 founded the Philadelphia campus of Antioch University and assumed the role of Dean of that campus in 1978.

 

Julio M. Fuentes (Class of 1986)
Toms River High School

A 1964 graduate, Fuentes capped a near-perfect senior season by winning a district title and Region 4 championship before losing his first match of the season (2-0 to Joe Wendl of Westfield in the 148-pound state final). Fuentes, who also played football in high school, estimates he had a 32-3 varsity career, losing once in the regular season and once in the districts his junior year. He went on to Southern Illinois and wrestled five more times (3-2) before leaving school toward the end of his sophomore year to spend three years in the U.S. Army rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. He returned to complete his degree at Southern Illinois where he received his BA degree in June 1971. After attending NYU for one year, Fuentes attended the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 1972-75, earning his law degree in June of 1975. He earned a MA degree from NYU in 1981 and a MA degree from Rutgers University in June of 1993. Fuentes started his own law firm in 1977. In 2000, after a confirmation vote of 93-0 by the Senate of the United States, Fuentes was appointed to serve as a sitting judge on the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the nation�s second highest court, and served at the U.S. Courthouse in Newark.

R. Joseph Galante (Class of 2015)
Ocean City High School

A 2002 graduate of Ocean City, Galante was a three-time District 32 Champion and a two-time Region 8 runner-up. Wrestling at 140 pounds in ’01, Galante entered the state tournament in Atlantic City, but was eliminated after a 4-2 quarter final loss to Antonio Mangione of Delbarton, followed by a wild 11-10 setback to Rob Jimenez of Brick Memorial in the wrestleback round.  The following year, back in Atlantic City again, Galante was impressive as he sought top honors at 145 pounds.  He made his presence known, by winning by technical fall over Nick Sutphen of Somerville, 17-2 (5:23), by a 5-3 decision over Scott Doerr of South Plainfield and by a 14-3 major decision over John Cholish of Delbarton.  Though suffering a disappointing loss in the state finals, Galante came away with the silver medal, completing his high school career with an impressive record of 117-12.  Upon graduation in ’02, Galante attended Rider University for one year before transferring to TCNJ where he distinguished himself by winning three Metropolitan Conference Tournament titles and becoming a Division III All-American on two separate occasions.  He was a Division III NCAA All-American in ’05, placing 4th and again in ’07 when he came away as the nation’s silver medalist.  The TCNJ team captain came away with a college career record of 84-15.  Upon graduation in ’07, Galante assumed the role of assistant coach of his college alma mater, serving under legendary head coach, Dave Icenhower.  In ’12, Galante was named TCNJ’s head coach, a position he still holds today.  In ’12 Galante was named Division III Rookie Coach of the Year, and in ’13 was named as the recipient of the TCNJ Roy VanNess Coach of the Year award.  He cites coaching ten Division III national qualifiers, eight Division III All-Americans, three of whom were finalists, and one Division III National Champion as the highlights of his career.  Some of Galante’s most memorable moments include working out with Hall of Famer, Gene Barber (’97) in preparation for the N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament, wrestling on Team Renegade with Hall of Fame coach, Dale Bonsall (’95) and coach Bruce Kennett and having his brother, Mike, as an Ocean City wrestling workout partner.  He adds that he has enjoyed the continued support of his parents, Tony and Janet and has benefitted greatly from the guidance of his college coach and mentor, Dave Icenhower. Galante also singles out his long-time friend, Joe Pollard, as being an integral part of his wrestling experience at the college level.  Single, Galante lives in Ewing, NJ where he continues to serve as the head coach at TCNJ.

 

Ron Gambone (Class of 1997)
Triton Blue High School

A 1968 graduate, Gambone was a three-year starter under Hall of Famer Al Paolone, who had to personally go to Gambone�s mother to get a Parent Approval Card completed so he could start his high school wrestling career. He had a 35-1 dual meet record, losing to returning state champion Frank Pulio of West Deptford in his very first varsity match. Gambone told Coach Paolone he didn�t like losing - and never lost another dual meet. He was a two-time Christmas Tournament and three-time Olympic Conference champion. He was a three-time District 29 tournament finalist, winning two championships, and twice won Region 4 titles. He was first in the South Jersey Open in 1966 and was second in 1967. In 1966 Gambone placed third in the state at 98 pounds. A year later he was fourth in the state at 106 pounds. He compiled a scholastic record of 71 wIns, 6 losses. Gambone went on to Bloomsburg State College and later served in the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of sergeant. Gambone, who participated in cross country and track as well as wrestling in high school, was a New Jersey wrestling official in 1974-75-76. Gambone competed at 148 pounds in the New Jersey Bench Press Championships and placed third in the state in 1988, first in 1989 and second in 1990 and 1992. He holds a third degree black belt in karate and is a master diver in scuba diving.

 

Dennis Gardner (Class of 1997)
Bishop Eustace Prep School

A 1972 graduate, Gardner was a four-year performer for Bishop Eustace Prep. He culminated a 70-6-1 career in 1972 with a first in District 27, first in Region 7, and second in the state (losing by decision to Mike Frick of Pope John as Frick won his third state title in four trips to the state finals). Gardner was second in the districts as a sophomore and first in the districts and a regional runner-up as a junior. Gardner went on to the United States Naval Academy where he majored in physics and wrestled varsity his last two years at 134 and 142 pounds, respectively, compiling a 32-9 record. Gardner qualified academically for post graduate nuclear engineering school and served five years, earning the rank of lieutenant. He served the first three years on board ships, the last two as a recruiter (earning a national award as a top recruiter in the U.S.). After his tour of duty in the Navy, Gardner began working in North Jersey and eventually got his masters degree from Rutgers University.

 

John L. Gattuso (Class of 1993)
Paulsboro High School

A 1942 graduate, Gattuso wrestled on the early teams of Hall of Earner Norman Hangen. Gattuso, who compiled a modest 15-2 record in South Jersey, was twice the 165-pound South Jersey champion and qualified for the state tournament. His most memorable moment in wrestling was winning the 1941 South Jersey title with a pin in overtime against his opponent from Glassboro. Gattuso was salutatorian of his senior class and finished with two varsity letters in wrestling, three in football and four in track, setting at the time a South Jersey Group III record in the javelin and high jumping 6-2, despite his 5-foot-9 height. After serving as a pilot in carrier duty in World War II, Gattuso received a football scholarship to Villanova and played under Jordan Olivar, graduating in 1950. Gattuso served as a Korean War carrier-based combat pilot, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and was commanding officer of a jet fighter squadron.

 

Anthony J. Gentile, Sr. (Class of 1985)
Paulsboro High School

After finishing second in the South Jersey championships as a freshman in 1956, Gentile capped a brilliant sophomore year by winning the 130-pound state championship under Coach Ed Pszwaro. He compiled an overall record of 22-2-0 in two seasons of varsity wrestling Gentile left high school alter his sophomore year and joined the Army, later earning his high school equivalency degree while in the service. While in the service Gentile continued with the sport and won a regiment championship. Following his stint in the service Gentile returned to Paulsboro. He stayed active as a wrestler for several years in AAU competition and then got deeply involved in the community�s junior wrestling program. He was in charge of the entire program from 1964 to 1971 during which time his teams never lost a dual meet (over 300 consecutive combined wins) or county championship. During his tenure he expanded the program from two to three age divisions. Along with Gloucester County College coach Chuck Williamson, Gentile helped organize the Gloucester County Junior Wrestling League and was also a member of the group that founded the Paulsboro Wrestling Association. Gentile served as president of the PWA three years and helped form junior leagues in Salem and Camden counties. He also was instrumental in bringing AAU wrestling to Ness Jersey and later joined the AAU as a member of its Executive Board. Gentile became New Jersey's first district regional director for age-group wrestling. His son Tony also excelled at Paulsboro where he was a three-time district and regional champion and finished third in the state his senior year.

 

Jimmy Gentile (Class of 1980)
Paulsboro High School

Jim wrestled four years varsity from 1950 to 1953. He was a three-time South Jersey champion, losing in the finals his sophomore year to Vineland�s James Reaves. In 1952 and 1953 he advanced to the state finals before losing one-point decisions. He compiled a near-perfect 42- 1 record in South Jersey during his four varsity seasons. He was very active in the Paulsboro Junior Wrestling Program. He was very instrumental in starting the Bantum Division in the Gloucester County League.

 

William �Billy� Gibbs (Class of 2013)
Clearview Regional High School

A 2000 graduate, Gibbs distinguished himself by winning two District 29 titles, two Region 8 titles, while culminating his career with a N.J. State Title his senior year. Failing to qualify for the state tournament during his first two years of high school wrestling, Gibbs stormed onto the scene with two states appearances placing on both trips to Atlantic City. As a junior, wrestling at 125 pounds, Gibbs won district and region titles before dropping his � final state tournament match to Chris D�Andrea of Bernards by a 10-5 decision. Gibbs rebounded by taking 3rd place, finishing ahead of the wrestler who had defeated him. His 3rd place victory came via fall in 5:41 over Kevin Mount of C.B.A.; this win capped off a 35-1 season for the Clearview wrestler. The following year at the same weight class, Gibbs followed suit through the district and region championships, winning both and qualifying once again for the state tournament. On his second trip to Atlantic City, Gibbs was not to be denied. In an undefeated season, Gibbs reeled off victories of 5-1, 1-0 and 5-0 in the semi-finals to earn a bid for a state title against Billy Heverly of Camden Catholic. Gibbs came through, with a 7-2 decision, becoming Clearview�s second state title winner in the school�s history and finishing with a high school career record of 110-12. After high school, Gibbs went on to Gloucester County College, where he finished his wrestling career by winning a Junior College National Title in 2001 and finishing his collegiate record with a record of 36-8. Gibbs stayed involved with the sport serving as an assistant coach at Sterling High School. Gibbs lists his highlights in wrestling as winning a N.J. State Title, seeing his Clearview team win the Tri-County Championship his junior year and winning a Junior College National Title. He attributes his success to Coaches John Marinelli, Bill Cioffi, and his parents, Kathy and Bill. He also credits his friends, supporters and workout partners for helping him become a better wrestler.

 

 

Carlo A. Giovannitti (Class of 1983)
Paulsboro High School

A 1955 graduate, Giovannitti compiled a 25-1 record during his career under Hall of Fame Coach Ed Pszwaro. The lightweight standout twice won a South Jersey championship (1954 and 1955), winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award in the 1955 tournament. In 1954 Giovannitti won the state 106-pound championship (6-5 over Paul Decker of Fair Lawn) and finished second in the state at the same weight the following year to Jerry Saschel of Springfield Regional (6-3 decision). Ciovannitti continued wrestling in the army, winning a 125.5-pound championship at Ft. Devens in 1957. In the All-Army tournament later that year, Giovannitti won two matches before being eliminated. He conducted an �Introduction to Wrestling� course for grade school students at the Gloucester County YMCA in 1968 and continued to assist in the junior program in the community.

 

Joseph A. Giovannitti (Class of 1981)
Paulsboro High School

A three-year varsity performer under Hall of Famer Edward Pszwaro, Giovannitti was the first of several outstanding wrestlers at Paulsboro when the sport was restarted following World War II. Giovannitti learned the sport in the practice room as a sophomore and quickly made his way into the varsity lineup. As a junior, Giovannitti won the South Jersey Tournament title and competed in the state championships. In 1949, Giovannitti culminated an outstanding senior season by winning both the South Jersey Tournament and state titles at 112 pounds. Over his last two seasons, Giovannitti�s only loss was in state tournament competition. Giovannitti was an active member and coach in the Paulsboro Wrestling Association since its founding years.

 

David R. Glawson (Class of 2007)
Pemberton High School

A 1985 graduate, Glawson was a two-time district and two-time Region 7 champion. As a junior, he won the District 26 115-pound title for Burlington City High School with a decision over Joe Gordon of Shawnee and followed with a decision over Mike Balkey of Cherokee to win the Region 7 title. After transferring to Pemberton for his senior year, Glawson won the District 25 title by pinning Dave Mendelson of Hightstown and followed by winning his second Region 7 title with a decision over Jon Bovit of Cherokee. His capped a 13-1 senior season with the 115-pound state title in 1985 by shutting out Tony Williams of Ridge. That capped a 52-5 career (37-3 over his last two seasons). Glawson also was a member of the first Regions 7/8 team that competed against Delaware in the Seniors Classic and won by fall. Glawson followed his high school career by competing on the junior college level for Gloucester County College where he won the Newport News Christmas Tournament in 1987 at 118 pounds, was second in the Trenton State Open and followed that with a Mid-Atlantic Zone championship in a 26-6 season. Glawson also competed for the 82nd Airborne Division at 126.5 pounds while in the US Army. After close to 10 years of retirement from the sport, Glawson became a head wrestling coach of the Riverside Youth Wrestling program.

 

Scott Goodale (Class of 2009)
Jackson High School

A four-time District 25 and two-time Region 8 Champion, Goodale became the 13th wrestler in South Jersey history to win four district titles. He helped Jackson finish second in the districts as a freshman and then to three straight District 25 titles. Following back-to-back regional titles, Goodale finished 31-4 and 4th in the state as a junior and, as a senior, had a 31-1 season with the lone blemish an 8-6 loss to unbeaten Brian Unkert of Pope John in the state finals to finish 115-11 in his scholastic career. At Lock Haven University he compiled a 99-26 record and was a three-time NCAA Qualifier. Goodale coached Jackson Memorial for 7 years to a record of 155-16. His teams were No. 1 in New Jersey in 2006 and 2007 and were ranked 10th and 7th in the United States. His teams won seven straight district titles and four Shore Conference championships. He left Jackson to become head wrestling coach at Rutgers University.

 

Wilbert R. Goodwin (Class of 2004)
Millville High School

A 1955 graduate, Goodwin was a four-year varsity letter winner and an All-South Jersey football player who was selected Brooks-Irvine Outstanding Lineman of the Year and an All-State guard by the Newark Star Ledger in 1954. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force after completing high school. He attended night school at Rutgers-Camden University, getting an AA degree in 1965 and BA degree in 1970. His association with wrestling started through officiating in 1970 and he enjoyed a 16- year career officiating on the high school and collegiate level, including working in the districts three times. He also served as cadet supervisor for the Southern Shore Chapter four years. In 1972 he was a co-founder of the Millville Junior Wrestling program and served as a coach or officer for 20 years. He also served as an assistant at Millville High under Hall of Famer Bob Hogan and Joe Monteleone for 10 years. The wrestlers he coached in the Junior Program went on to win nine state titles, 13 regional titles and 48 district titles. The state champions included Jim TenBrook, Doug Taylor, Scott TenBrook (two-time Georgia state champion), Toby Fagan, Patrick Lynch (two-time state champion for Ocean City) and two time state champion Mark Saul.

 

Scott Griscom (Class of 2002)
Pennsville High School

A 1965 graduate of The George School in Newtown, PA, Griscom compiled a 22-6 prep record and won the Penn-Jersey Conference title in 1965. Griscom continued his wrestling career at West Chester State College and compiled a 58-26 record culminated by winning the First Colonies Tournament and the Pennsylvania State College Tournament in 1965. He also qualified for the 1969 NCAA Tournament and finished 7th in the competition at Brigham Young University. He started his coaching career at Pennsville where he served under Hall of Famer Jack Harford for 11 years. He succeeded Harford and compiled a 213-63-2 record in 15 years as head coach. His teams won seven Overbrook Christmas Tournament championships, eight Tn-County Conference titles, three South Jersey Group 2 titles, and three District 31 championships (25 individual champs). He had eight regional and three state champions. He was selected District 31 Coach of the Year three times and Region 8 Coach of the Year once.

 

John (Cakey) Haddock Sr. (Class of 1983)
Paulsboro High School

A 1957 graduate, Haddock completed a high school wrestler�s dream of winning a state championship (4-2 over Louis Tullo of Bound Brook High School) at 106 pounds his senior year under Hall of Fame Coach Ed Pszwaro. Second in the South Jersey tournament in 1956, Haddock lost just four times in his varsity career. His long-time attachment to the sport spanned over three decades. After serving in the Army, Haddock returned to Paulsboro and started raising a family that included sons John, Wayne. and David, and daughter Elizabeth. Haddock helped in the organization of the Paulsboro Junior Wrestling Association, which has four age groups competing, and helped form the Gloucester County Wrestling League � working on the committee that wrote many of the rules the league still uses. He has coached in the cornmunity many years and has had three former junior wrestlers he helped coach go on to win state championships. In addition to his coaching duties, Haddock has spent countless hours working many of the tournaments that go on in South Jersey.

 

Marvin E. Hamilton, Sr. (Class of 1997)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1967 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Hamilton wrestled three years varsity under Hall of Famer Sam Evangelista. He compiled a 48-10 record, twice winning District 29 championships. His junior year Hamilton won the Region 4 title and finished fourth in the state. He was second in the regionals as a senior. A participant in football, cross-country and baseball in addition to wrestling in high school, Hamilton earned a baseball scholarship to Hiram Scott University in Nebraska. He played professional baseball in the Phillies minor league system and later completed his education at Montclair State College. He has been an assistant wrestling coach at Paulsboro, Washington Township and West Deptford and a varsity coach at Gloucester Catholic (1975-78). Hamilton also spent time as a coach in the midget programs at Edgewood and Washington Township. He was a varsity wrestling official for 27 years and was selected Official of the Year by his peers in 1993. Two highlights from his career are wrestling in the regional finals his junior and senior years. and signing a professional contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Most memorable moments including winning a bout against Collingswood�s Steve Kaplan a week after Kaplan had beaten defending state champion Gene Kain of Haddonfield, and joining three teammates (John Pieta Larry Cox and Gerald DiNardo) in helping Paulsboro become the first South Jersey School in one year with four regional champions.

 

Tyrone Hamilton (Class of 1994)
Paulsboro High School

A 1973 graduate, Hamilton went undefeated (45-0 with 27 falls) in three years of dual meet competition under Hall of Famer Bob Fredrick. He finished with a 65-3 record, was a three-time district champion, a two-time regional champion and finished third and second in the state individual championships. A three-time All- Colonial Conference selection, Hamilton was twice All-South Jersey and was co-captain his last two years when Paulsboro went 30-0 and was ranked No. 1 in South Jersey. He is credited by Coach Fredrick with being one of the most influential wrestlers in helping start Paulsboro toward a then state record 84 consecutive Wins. Hamilton also won his match in an all-star meet with Poland his senior year and competed three years at Temple University, compiling a 48-15-1 record � including a 21-4 record in 1976 when he was a team co-captain, finished fourth in the EIWA and was named Temple�s outstanding Wrestler Hamilton also served as assistant coach at Paulsboro. One of his most memorable moments in wrestling was sharing the emotion with Fredrick of his disappointing overtime loss in the 1972 state finals. Hamilton considers one of the highlights of his career wrestling the freestyle competition during a tour of Germany with Temple University during 1975.

 

Willard "Jeffery" Hamilton (Class of 1994)
Paulsboro High School

A 1976 graduate, Hamilton was a four-time district champion, twice a regional champion and finished third in the state as a junior during an incredible 99-5-3 career under Hall of Famer Bob Fredrick. His win total at the time tied the state record for wins by three-time state champion Mike Frick of Pope John. After a 16-1-3 freshman season where he was second in the region, Hamilton put together successive seasons of 19-2, 33-1 and 33-1. He continued his wrestling career at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC where he went 25-5, won an NAIA district championship, was third in the regionals and advanced to the nationals. After a transfer to Glassboro State College and redshirting a year, Hamilton placed second in the Metropolitan Tournament and placed third in the nationals in a 24-6 campaign. Hamilton, an assistant coach with Paul Morina at Paulsboro from 1985 through 1992, credits Larry Cox with getting him interested in the sport, his best friend and brother Tyrone for helping hone his skills. and Coach Fredrick for making him work hard.

 

Ron Hamrick (Class of 2009)
Collingswood High School

A graduate of Union City (PA) High School, Hamrick graduated from Edinboro University in 1983 and Springfield College, where he earned his Masters Degree, in 1984. After a season as a graduate assistant, Hamrick started teaching and coaching at Collingswood in 1985 and became the school's seventh wrestling coach in a program that started in 1953. In 24 years as a head coach through the 2009 season, he compiled a record of 329-135-1, 8th on the all-time coaches win list in South Jersey history. Hamrick coached 59 District and 12 Region 7 Champions. He had 10 state place winners, including two-time state champion John Koss. His teams won three District 28, two Sectional (Group II in 2006 and Group I in 2008) and two Colonial Conference (2008 and Colonial Liberty in 2009) Championships. Hamrick's team ended Paulsboro's 335 meet Colonial Conference winning streak and 28 consecutive South Jersey Group I championships in 2008. He earned five District Coach of teh Year and three Region 7 Coach of the Year honors.

 

Norman M. Hangen M.D (Class of 1983)
Paulsboro High School

A 1928 graduate of Reading High School, Dr. Hangen earned his undergraduate degree at East Stroudsburg State College in 1933 and his Masters Degree at Columbia University in 1936. Considered by historians to be a real pioneer in wrestling, Dr. Hangen was responsible for introducing the sport on an intramural basis in 1938 at Paulsboro High School. The next couple years found Dr. Hangen teaching the basics in his school and taking his wrestlers to other schools and putting on assemblies in an effort to get them to start the sport. In four years as head coach. Dr. Hangen compiled a 20-7-2 record that included two South Jersey championships (the only such competition during the war years) and had six place winners in the state tournament including 105-pounder Pete Munyan, the first state champion from South Jersey, in 1942. Dr. Hangen left Paulsboro for the service in 1943 and, after serving in the American Red Cross in the Pacific Ocean area during World War 11, enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his degree to practice medicine in 1950.

 

Bob Hanson (Class of 2008)
Buena Regional High School

A 1995 graduate, Hanson was a four-time District 31 and four-time Region 8 champion. He was third in the state as a freshman and junior and a state runner-up as a senior in a 134-5 career. As a senior he became the third four-time regional champion in South Jersey history and lost 6-4 in overtime to Don Pritzlaff of Lyndhurst in the state finals. Hanson, who was third in the High School Nationals as a senior, wrestled at Syracuse (where the program was dropped after his freshman year) and Tennessee-Chattanogga. He compiled a 79-18 career collegiate record, was a three-time Southern Conference champion and was selected Outstanding Wrestler in the 1988 Southern Conference Championships. He was second in the EIWA Championships as a freshman and was a West Virginia, West Point and Sunshine Open champion.

 

Jack Harford (Class of 1983)
Pennsville High School

A native of Waynesboro, Pa. Harford was a member of his school�s varsity wrestling team. Following graduation in 1945, Harford served in the Navy before entering Gettysburg College where he participated in several sports before graduating in 1952. Harford coached wrestling at the YMCA in Waynesboro two years and started the high school program in Boiling Springs, Pa. in 1954. Two years later, in Wyalusing, Pa. Harford started the Wrestling Officials Association there. He moved to Pennsville in 1957 and became head coach in 1958. After a 3-6 season, Harford�s teams never again had a losing record in his 22 years as head coach. His 228-65 record was third best in South Jersey history and sixth hest in state history when he retired as head coach. From 1965-71 his teams compiled a 59-2 record during which time they won 36 consecutive meets. He produced 3 state, 13 regional, 76 district, and 41 Christmas tournament individual champions His teams also won 4 Christmas, 7 district, 8 Tri-County Conference and South Jersey Wrestling Conference championships. Harford has received numerous honors, including being named Region 8 Coach of the Year in 1976 and state Coach of the Year in 1980. He was very active in the SJWCOA and the Hall of Fame Organization.

 

Sandy Hendricks (Class of 2003)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1970 West Deptford High School graduate where he compiled a modest 28-14 record in wrestling and was a member of the school�s football and track teams, Hendricks attended Gloucester County College (22-11 career and twice qualifying for the Junior College Regionals). Hendricks started his officiating career in 1975 and retired following the 2001 season. He worked all levels in the state (Groups, Districts, Regionals and States) including a stretch of 15 consecutive years on the district and regional level and 10 years on the state level. The South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Organization selected him as the 1996 Official of the Year. He served as treasurer of the Southern Chapter of the NJWOA for six years and served on several committees with the chapter. He received a gold ring for officiating service in 1998. In addition Hendricks coached youth wrestling for 12 years and was an official in many summer tournaments over the years (donating his fee back to the clubs to help promote the sport).

 

Joe Henry (Class of 2008)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1978 graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School, Henry had a modest 32-18 career record in wrestling and was captain of the wrestling and soccer teams. Henry graduated from Glassboro State College in 1982. He became a wrestling official while a student in college when he was 20-years old. Henry excelled as an official very early in his career. One of his early challenges was working before a sellout crowd in a huge match in 1987 between top ranked and unbeatens Paulsboro and Paul VI in a match that came right down to the final seconds before Paulsboro won by one point. He was an active official for 26 years and worked all levels of the state - youth and holiday tournaments, and Group, District and State Championships. Henry served as secretary for the South Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association for six years. In 1996 he was selected by his peers as the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Official of the Year.

 

Kenneth W. Herishen (Class of 2005)
Paul VI High School

A 1989 graduate, Herishen was a three-time district champion and two-time regional champion. After a second place finish in the state his junior year, Herishen capped an 85-7-2 career by winning the state title at 112 pounds in 1989. Herishen attended East Stroudsburg University before transferring to Trenton State (later The College of New Jersey) where he was a two-time All-American (1994 and 1995) at 118 pounds. Herishen entered the coaching ranks once his college career ended. He spent one season at Trenton State and in 1995 began coaching as an assistant at Dwight-Englewood High School in North Jersey. The team won the Parochial B State Tittle in 1999. Herishen spent two years as head coach and in 2003 moved over to coach the middle school program. He became a personal trainer and a Fitness Center owner.

R.A. “Clinton” Hicks (Class of 2014)
Willingboro & Eastern High Schools

A 2000 graduate of Eastern High School, Hicks was a three-time District 26 Champion and a Region 7 Champion.  In his two trips to the State Tournament, Hicks placed 2nd in ’99 and 1st in ’00.  Hicks’ first trip to Atlantic City at 112 pounds saw him earn a 15-3 decision, a fall in 3:48, a 5-4 decision, and a 5-1 decision in the semi-finals to put him in the State Championship match where he bowed out to the defending State Champion, Tom Noto of South River by a 4-0 decision.  The following year in Atlantic City Hicks won by decision over Jimmy Rollins of West Deptford, 4-2, by an 11-0 decision over John Cholish of Delbarton, followed by a close 8-7 decision over Andrew Uhrlass of Bound Brook, which gave Hicks his 100th career win and another appearance in the finals, where this time his opponent was Seamus McGuinness of Mount Olive, whom he defeated by an 11-0 verdict to become the 119 pound N.J.S.I.A.A. Champion. To complement this honor Hicks had been named as an NHSCA High School All-American and as a W.I.N. Magazine All-American.  Upon graduation from Eastern, where Hicks concluded his high school career with a 101-9 record, he wrestled through two injury-plagued seasons at Brown University, finishing with a 21-9 record before completing his education at Rowan University in 2011.  Hicks cites winning a State Championship as the highlight of his career. Several memorable moments Hicks can recall include defeating two-time All-American, Reuben DeLeon of Cal-State/Bakersfield in the Las Vegas Invitational, placing twice in the Keystone Classic, and as a youth wrestler competing for his father, Richie, who was a two-time State Runner-Up, and Hall of Famer, ’91. Hicks also points to his job working with the youngsters in the Camden Youth Sports Association/Beat the Streets program as giving him great satisfaction.  Hicks points to seeing Camden get its first State Champion in ’14, when Andrew Stevens captured the 285 pound State Title as a special moment which defines his career in seeing inner-city children reach their full potential, both on and off the mat.  Still employed by Camden City Youth Sports Association, where he has been the coach of the Camden Wolverine Wrestling Club for seven years, Hicks lives in Berlin with fiancée, Hasna Thornton, and their five children, Nazhae (12), Nyair (7), Ayden (5), Cayden (3) and Pryce (1).

 

Richard A.C. Hicks Sr. (Class of 1991)
Haddon Township High School

A 1973 graduate, Hicks participated in football, wrestling and baseball. A three-year varsity starter for coach Miller Preston, Hicks was 56-8-1 and won district and regional championships his junior and senior years. Hicks advanced to the state finals his junior and senior seasons and finished second both years. In 1972 Hicks lost to Jay Stuart of Piscataway 2-0 in the 136-pound state finals to finish 20-4 and earn a spot on first team All-South Jersey. The following year Hicks beat Gary Kessel of Hopatcong 5-2 and Dave Specian of Manville 5-2 before losing to Region 7 champion Dave Miller of Shawnee in the 136-pound finals. Miller was enshrined in the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990. Hicks continued his wrestling at Trenton State where he won the Metropolitan Tournament in 1977 and placed second in 1975 and 1978. After graduating with a bachelor�s degree in health and physical education in 1979, Hicks became an assistant coach at Collingswood for two years. He moved on to Pennsauken High School and in nine years as head coach through 1991 had three district champions one regional champ and one regional runner-up.

 

Gil Hillman (Class of 1982)
Woodbury High School

A 1942 graduate, Gil got his start in the sport on an intramural basis his sophomore year at Woodbury. As a junior, Gil joined others in school under Coach Cliff Rubicam in inter-school competition, although the school had no regular varsity schedule. As a senior, Cliff was part of Woodbury�s varsity program and completed an unbeaten season by winning the state title at 145 pounds. After graduation, Gil entered the service where he wrestled a few more times before hanging up the sneaks. A few years ago he was active in the Woodbury Heights Boys Club where he coached wrestling for several years before retiring once more to the sidelines.

 

Bill Hinman (Class of 2007)
Paulsboro High School

A 1980 graduate, Hinman compiled a 99-8-2 record in his four-year varsity career under Coach Bob Fredrick. A four-time District 29 finalist, Hinman defeated John Fiorentino of Triton at 158 pounds as a sophomore to win his first district title. He then won back-to-back 170-pound titles with wins over Daryll Bagby of West Deptford and Steve Fortson of Woodbury. A three-time Region 8 finalist, Hinman followed a one-point loss to Absegami's Joe Pauls as a sophomore by winning 170-pound titles over Gene Randle of Lower Cape May and Corkey Scott of Overbrook, respectively, his last two years. In state competition, Hinman carried undefeated records into the state finals as a junior and senior. His junior year he lost 4-3 in overtime to unbeaten Clarence Richardson of St. Benedict's. As a senior Hinman was called for an illegal slam while leading in the second period and lost by injury disqualification to unbeaten Chris Musmanno of Belleville. Hinman continued his career at the University of Arizona and won the Las Vegas Invitational his freshman year. Arizona discontinued its wrestling program after Hinman's first year, ending his wrestling career.

 

Bobby Hogan (Class of 1980)
Millville High School

A four-year varsity starter from 1955 to 1958, Hogan became South Jersey�s first two-time state champion when he compiled a perfect record over his last two years. He was also South Jersey�s first recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award in the state tournament. He wrestled varsity for Rutgers University three years and was a bronze medalist in the Easterns. Hogan coached wrestling for seven years at Millville, where he also handled athletic director�s duties. He also became a wrestling official and officiated at all levels in the state.

 

William R. Hoover (Class of 2005)
Haddon Township High School

A 1970 graduate of Haddon Township High School who wrestled for Hall of Famer Miller Preston, Hoover followed a second place District 28 finish in 1968 by winning back-to-back district titles at 123 pounds � the school�s first two-time district champion. Hoover earned three varsity letters in football, wrestling and track. He earned All-Suburban Team honors as a senior at defensive back and was co-captain of the team. He also excelled in the pole vault where he broke and held the school record for 21 years. In 1970 he vaulted 12-feet, 9-inches to break the Group II record (12-7 1/2) held by future Olympic champion Don Bragg of Penns Grove. Hoover furthered his education at Trenton State College where he was a health & physical education major and four-year varsity letter winner in he pole vault, winning the New Jersey State College Athletic Association championship in 1973. His first teaching and coaching job was at Haddonfield where he assisted in football, wrestling and track and spent a year as head track coach. In 1976 Hoover was reunited with Preston as an assistant wrestling coach at Haddon Township. Hoover also assisted in football for 12 years before taking over as head football coach for nine years. He also assisted in track and field with the high jump and pole vault. In 1992 he chose to take over the Haddon Township junior high program and in 1998 added the duties of being president and head coach of the Haddon Township Youth Wrestling program. Hoover was honored by the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association with a �Special Award� for contributions to wrestling in 2001.

 

 

Joe Hollywood (Class of 2001)
Deptford High School

A 1987 graduate, Hollywood was a three-time District 29 champion and three-time Region 8 finalist (2nd in 1985 and 1986, 1st in 1987) who placed 2nd, 1st and 3rd in three consecutive trips to the state tournament. Hollywood compiled a 91-7-2 record in his scholastic career. He continued his wrestling career at Gloucester County College under Coach Chuck Williamson and compiled a 54-10-2 record in two seasons (1988 and 1989) with his total wins 10th in school history at the time. He twice earned All-America honors with 2nd and 5th place finishes in back-to-back trips to the Junior College Nationals. Hollywood served as a volunteer coach at Deptford for one season, two seasons assisting at Woodbury and two years as assistant at Schalick. He then became head coach at Deptford High School.

 

David L. Homiak (Class of 1992)
Vineland High School

The 1970 graduate was a three-time district champion, winning at 148 pounds in 1968 and at 157 pounds inm 1969 and 1970. He capped a perfect season and a 63-4 career in 1970 by winning regional and state titles. Homiak advanced to the state championships by beating Collingswood's Charles Leary 10-1 in the Region 4 finals. After an 8-3 win in the state semifinals, Homiak won his state title with a 4-0 overtime win over Joe Bird of Pascack Hills. Homiak's early tutoring came from his father Joseph, a two-time National AAU champion while at Franlin & Marshall College in 1941-42 and the founder of the Vineland High School wrestling program. David's brother Jake also excelled in the sport while at F&M in the 1960s. A Middle Atlantic AAU runner-up in the 8th and 9th grade, Homiak was a South Jersey AAU champion in 1969. He attended the Naval Academy for a year and placed second in the Easterns for freshmen wrestlers. He transferred to Lehigh University and wrestled for Thad Turner. He also was director of the Vineland Junior Wrestling program for over a decade.

 

Jim Horner (Class of 1989)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1957 graduate ot Paulsboro High School, Homer has made his mark in wrestling as a wrestler, coach and official. Homer finished third in the state as a senior heavyweight, compiling a 16-2 record. He continued his wrestling career at Rutgers University where he compiled a 36-7-1 record and was the recipient of the Wilbur E Cann Award as the Most Outstanding Wrestler at Rutgers in 1961. Homer placed third in the Eastern Regionals at heavyweight in 1961 and was captain of both his college and high school teams during his senior years. After college, Homer started the wrestling programs at Northern Burlington. 1961, and then later at South Hunterdon Regional. He also coached at Jonathan Dayton Regional before moving hack to South Jersey and working with Howard Pomroy at Haddon Heights as head football coach. Homer also started his officiating career in 1962 and reached the district level in 1967, moved to the regional level a year later and advanced to the states in 1973. An original member of the Southern Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association, Homer retired from officiating in 19B3 after 22 years. Homer, who took pride in being called upon to officiate many important meets� including Rancocas Valley�s 25-24 victory over Paulsboro that stopped a string of 84 consecutive victories, stayed active in wrestling while at Cherokee High School for 10 years, helping Archie Stalcup and Dave Chambers. A highly successful football coach at Cherokee, Homer always enjoyed the �pressure matches� and based his decision to retire from officiating on his love the sport� he felt he was slowing down and wanted to go out on top before he hurt a wrestler�s chance of winning a championship. Homer, who retired as Cherokee�s football coach to assume the role of athletic director and assistant principal.

 

Hans S. Houser (Class of 2004)
Willingboro High School

A 1983 graduate, Houser was third in the state at 108 pounds as a junior and a state runner-up at 115 pounds as a senior in a 80-4 career (25-2 as a sophomore, 28-1 as a junior and 27-1 as a senior) that included over 60 pins. Houser was a three-time District 26 champion with wins at 101, 108 and 115. He also won three Region 7 titles including a 4-2 win over Vince Young of Delran in 1981, a 10-1 over Jay Evans of Pemberton at 108 pounds in 1982 and a win by fall in 4:13 over Marco DiFlorio of Moorestown in 1983. Houser lost 4-2 to eventual state runner-up Doug Taylor in 1982 in the semifinals before placing third with an 11-6 win over Pete Gonzalez of Ridgefield Park. As a senior, Houser advanced to the state finals and lost 7-1 to Gonzalez in a battle of unbeaten wrestlers. He went on to the University of Virginia where he compiled a 60-18-1 record with third and second-place finishes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and two trips to the NCAA Division I Tournament. In pre-high school competition, Houser had over 200 wins and five losses. He was a 5-time Mid-Atlantic AAU champ, 4-time National AAU Freestyle champ, 3-time AAU World Schoolboy champ (traveling to Mexico and Sweden as a young boy) and 2-time USWF Junior National champion

 

William S. (Bones) Howard (Class of 1982)
Paulsboro High School

A 1956 graduate, Howard�s high school exploits remind many of two-time state champions Herb Baptiste of Woodbury (1980 Hall of Fame inductee) as one of the best heavyweights ever to come out of South Jersey. A three-time South Jersey champion (1954-55-56) who was known to South Jersey sports fans as Stanley or �Bones,� Howard finished third and fourth in the state, respectively, before winning the state title in 1956. Howard was also an outstanding tackle in football and a top performer in the shot put and discus events in high school. Following high school, Howard attended Morgan State University for one year.

 

Dennis A. Hurley (Class of 1990)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1958 graduate of Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., Hurley has been involved in every phase of wrestling. A member of the first varsity wrestling team at Slippery Rock University and a modest 20-20 in his career, Hurley entered the Marine Corps after graduation and was an intra-battalion l37-pound champ. Hurley helped start the program at Haddon Heights High School and started the first wrestling team at Camden County College. Highlights at Camden CC included winning the Garden State Conference title and prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology championships with four individual champs � Gene Barber, Larry Fanelle, Robert Murphy and Tom Stokes. Hurley, who compiled great coaching records in cross Country (131-2-0) and track (73-18) at Camden County, has had eight of his former wrestlers coach in high school, two in college and many in the community ranks. Hurley, who got his doctorate in education from West Virginia in 1976, left coaching in 1972 and became very active in officiating. Hurley has been a member of the N.J. Wrestling Officials Association 26 years and National Wresting Federation 15 years, serving as vice-president of the Southern Chapter, NJWOA, 10 years and NJWOA state executive committee 10 years. Hurley has officiated on all levels in the state.

 

Justin Hurst (Class of 2012)
Lenape Regional High School

A 1994 graduate, Hurst won three District 26 and three Region 7 championships, and made four trips to the New Jersey. State Tournament, placing three of the four times. Justin�s best finish came during his sophomore year when he finished as the state runner-up at 103 pounds. On his way to the finals, he won his first match by fall in 3:15, and followed with wins of 15-2 and 5-2 before losing by fall to Indra Sulijoadikusmo of Manalapan. Hurst�s first state tournament success came a year earlier when he placed 5th at 103 pounds. Though not placing his junior year at 112 pounds, he had a strong performance which propelled him to a 4th place finish at 125 pounds his senior year. That culminated his high school career with a record of 114-20. One of Justin�s most memorable moments was being coached by the late Ray Jasper in the Green Tree Youth Wrestling Club. He fondly recalls winning Kids� States under Jasper, who told him after his victory that he should never be content to rest on his past achievements, but to continue to improve in all aspects of his life. He also credits Jasper�s coaching to permit him to succeed under Hall of Fame coach Russ Minuto (�04) at Lenape, and during his college career. Upon graduating in �94, Hurst enrolled at Rutgers University where he placed 8th in the prestigious Midlands Tournament in 1997, while placing 5th in the EIWA Tournament in 1997 and 1998. These achievements also stand out as memorable moments for Hurst during his wrestling career. After graduating from Rutgers in 1998, Hurst served two years at Division III Stevens Institute as a volunteer assistant coach and became an Occupational Therapist specializing in rehabilitative hand therapy.

 

Christopher W. lanacone, Jr. (Class of 1991)
Delsea Regional High School

lanacone compiled a perfect senior season in 1973 by winning the Edgewood Christmas, District 31 and Region 8 championships before completing a three-win sweep in the state tournament with a 3-1 victory over Jim Bowen of Hunterdon Central. lanacone, 41-7-0 in his varsity career, capped his 26-0 senior season with a spot on the All-South Jersey team. In addition to his scholastic wrestling in 1973, lanacone won district and regional AAU titles and was second in the AAU Junior National Freestyle competition and fifth nationally in AAU Greco-Roman. lanacone wrestled at Temple University under coach Dave Steiler and compiled a 35-15-1 career record. During his college days he was an Easterns place winner in 1974 and a Middle Atlantic AAU champion and MVP in 1976. Following his graduation from Temple in 1978, lanacone went into education. He is a physical education teacher employed by the Monroe Township Board of Education. Ianacone, a brown belt in Judo, certified strength and conditioning specialist, firearms safety instructor and Red Cross first aid instructor, coached wrestling at Williamstown five years and spent eight years as a wrestling official.

 

Steve Iles (Class of 2003)
Delsea Regional High School

A 1976 Delsea Regional graduate, Iles compiled a 60-18 record that included three district titles and finishes of 4th, 3rd and 1st in the regionals. His bid for a state title ended with a loss to eventual state champion Scott Anderson of Ridge as a senior. Iles, who also ran cross country and played baseball at Delsea, went on to Liberty University where he was a three-year captain (along with Jesse Castro, who was a head coach in South Jersey at Kingsway). He won the 1981 National Christian College championship. After assisting for a year at Delsea, Iles became head coach and compiled a 259-77-5 record in 18 years. He then became the school's athletics director. His teams won nine Tn-County Conference titles (second seven times), 10 District 31 championships, and six South Jersey sectional titles. His Crusaders won the state title in 1991 and finished second once, third twice and third-fourth twice. His teams were ranked among South Jersey�s Top Ten 11 times. Iles coached 69 district champions (including 20 multiple winners), 20 regional (six repeat winners) and five state champions including repeat winners Joe Alexander and Don Fisch. He had 22 state place winners (not including state champions) and in 1998 had three state finalists (two champs and a runner-up). He was selected Courier-Post and Region 8 Coach of the Year four times and was selected New Jersey State Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1991. Iles served three years as President of Region 8 and served as a member of the state wrestling committee several years.

 

James M. Ingles (Class of 1991)
Edgewood Regional High School, Glassboro State College; Rutgers University, Camden

A 1957 graduate of Collingswood High School where he competed under Hall of Famer Sam Coursen, lngles has stayed in a sport where his greatest contributions have been in the coaching ranks. A 1961 West Chester University grad, Ingles immediately opted to follow in the footsteps of Coursen. His first job was at Edgewood High School where he was an assistant wrestling coach for three years. He�s been a head coach ever since, staying at Edgewood through 1979 before joining the college ranks. In his first 10 years at Edgewood, his teams won eight district team titles and finished second the other two years. After a 144-64-4 record at Edgewood that had him 22nd on the all-time win list among South Jersey coaches in wrestling, Ingles took the head job at Glassboro State College. In his five years as head coach he had the school�s first NCAA Division III national champion in Bryan Barratt and a third-place finisher in Mike Suk. Glassboro State finished 10th among all Division III colleges that year. Other All-America honors at GSC under lngles went to Kevin Brockway, Fred McColl, Brad Ellis and Dan Dugan. Ingles then moved on to Rutgers University in Camden. In 1991 he coached the team to a 7-16-1 record, its best record in seven years, and had an Academic All-American in Scott Warnock. Ingles started the boys� and girls� soccer programs at Edgewood. He received the SJWCOA Contribution Award in 1989 and has worked with the midget wrestling program at Edgewood.

 

Barry W. Jackson (Class of 2005)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1968 graduate of Franklin Township High School in Somerset County where he was a three-year participant in football, wrestling and track, Jackson was a district champion and regional place winner as a senior before going on to Montclair State University. While in college Jackson assisted a year at Barringer High School in Newark and then the 1973 Montclair State graduate was an assistant at Franklin from 1972-78.  Jackson was an assistant at Willingboro 1978-83, an assistant at Scotch Plains-Fanwood a year and then was head coach at Edgewood 1986-91 where he compiled a 62-38-1 record. Jackson had several district champions and regional place winners and coached Damien Baylock to fourth in the state at 189 pounds (a year later, as Damien Covington, he won the state title while competing for Overbrook). Jackson, a former Coach of the Year recipient, also officiated at the varsity level over 20 years at the district, regional and state level. He was a recipient of the SJWCOA Outstanding Official Award in 1992 and received a state official�s award for contributions to wrestling in 1996. He also has officiated on the international level (Freestyle and Greco-Roman) for 18 years and became a pro Freestyle wrestling official. At the time of his induction he was still teaching at Winslow Township High School in Camden County where he also was a very successful girls� track coach.

 

Eugene H. (Gene) Kain, Jr. (Class of 1982)
Haddonfield Memorial High School

A 1965 graduate, Kain compiled a 52-3-1 record in three years of varsity competition under Coach Bill Frantz. Too small to wrestle as a freshman, Kain was a district and regional champion at 98 pounds his sophomore year and finished second in the state championships (first varsity loss). A year later, Kain duplicated his district and regional success at 106 pounds and capped the year by winning the state championship. His senior year Kain won a third consecutive district title (at 123 pounds) but lost in the Region 4 finals. After graduation Kain continued his education at Gettysburg College, wrestling with the freshman team in 1966 and the varsity for two years. Appendicitis forced Kain to the sidelines his last year in college where he helped as a student assistant. Kain was an assistant coach at Haddonfield six years; an assistant at Collingswood one year; was the first head coach of the Haddonfield Midget Wrestling program and officiated on the jayvee and freshman level two years.

 

Jack L. Kinner (Class of 2003)
Audubon High School

A 1966 graduate of Haddon Township High School, Kinner had a modest 3-7 record in high school where he participated in football four years basketball two years (converted to wrestling at urging of his brother Bob) and baseball three years. He went on to West Chester State College where he played football for a year and was a backup for three years in wrestling. He graduated in 1970 and took a teaching position at Gorton High School in Yonkers, NY, where he also coached football, gymnastics and track. He then moved back to South Jersey and joined the staff at Audubon as a health and physical education teacher, a position he held for over 32 years. Kinner became the wrestling coach at basketball-rich Audubon after assisting two years under Frank Keller and served 23 years, 18 as head coach. He compiled a varsity record of 104-157-4 and had four regional champions (who won five titles) and a third and fourth place finisher in the state tournament. His coaching career highlights included watching Jim Cooper win his second regional title and placing third in the state and Joe Walsh winning the district, placing second in the region and placing fourth in the state. Most memorable was the late Audubon AD Bill Westphal organizing a ceremony to commemorate Kinner�s 100th coaching win. Kinner served as a member of the Selection Committee and on the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization. He has served on the Executive Board of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association as secretary for the last 18 years. He also has served as a judge in the state wrestling tournament the last seven years and has worked at the state All-Groups Tournament in the last two years.

 

Chuck Klaus (Class of 2011)
Haddonfield High School

A 1982 graduate of Haddon Township High School, Chuck was a two-time District 28 champion and team captain his senior year. Following graduation Klaus moved on to Boston College where he was a team captain his senior year. Klaus finished third in the New England Championships in 1985. Chuck was an assistant coach at Maple Shade High School for eight years before becoming head coach at Haddonfield, a position he held from 1993 through 2008. His team grew from seven wrestlers his first year to become a perennial Top 20 team in South Jersey. His teams earned seven consecutive group playoff berths. He was selected District 28 Coach of the Year twice and Region 7 Coach of the Year once. When he retired as head coach Klaus had compiled a 168-141-1 record, the most wins by a coach in the school's wrestling history. He was a Region 7 Ranking Chairman and served as Region 7 President. He worked the state groups and individual state championships and was a wreatling camp counselor, administrator and assistant camp director for over 25 years. Klaus never concerned himself with personal records but did care deeply about the development of wrestlers in his charge. His wrestlers were always an inspiration to him with their belief in him as a coach.  

 

Jeffrey C. Klein (Class of 2012)
Moorestown High School

A 1976 graduate of Moorestown High School, Jeff was a three-time District 29 Champion and a two-time Region 7 Champion under Hall of Fame coach, Jack Welch (�86). Jeff�s first appearance in the state tournament in 1975 ended with a 1st round loss in overtime to eventual state champion Joe Dougherty of Madison Township. At the conclusion of the �75 season, Jeff placed 2nd in the State Federation Championships, which enabled him to represent Team New Jersey in the National Free-Style Championships, which were held in Iowa. In 1976 Jeff qualified for the state tournament where he reeled off wins of 2-1 and 6-0 before losing a 3-0 decision to Rich Billitz of New Providence, the eventual state champion, but he rebounded to finish 3rd in the state. He finished with a high school career record of 89-14. Jeff attended Lehigh University, but transferred to Temple University. However, nagging injuries prevented him from competing at the college level, and he accepted early admittance to Emory (Georgia) University�s School of Dentistry. His most memorable high school moment came during his junior year when he avenged a loss to Brian Ahearn in the District 29 finals the same tournament Ahearn had defeated Jeff the year before. Another highlight in Jeff�s career came when he was informed that he would be inducted into the SJWHOFO. After Jeff left Temple to enter dental school, he remained active in wrestling as a volunteer assistant coach, both at Cinnaminson High School and his alma mater, Moorestown High School. Jeff also served the state of Georgia by serving as a state wrestling official for four years. Upon receiving his degree from Emory in 1983, Jeff returned to Burlington County and coached and served as a benefactor to Moorestown High School. His generosity permitted Moorestown to purchase wall mats for the school�s newly renovated wrestling room.

 

John N. Koss III (Class of 2007)
Collingswood High School

A 1992 graduate, Koss won District 28 championships at 152, 160 and 171 pounds in 1990-91-92 with respective wins over Scott Mogar of Bishop Eustace, Abdul Soudan of Camden and Alex Grassia of Paul VI. Koss won Region 7 titles as a junior and senior by defeating Grassia both years in the championship final. He capped a 28-1 campaign in 1991 with a 7-2 win over once-beaten Dan Hywell of Belleville to win his first state title. A year later Koss finished 35-0 with a 12-8 victory over previously unbeaten Anthony Vitola of Freehold Township. Koss courageously competed in the finals despite being hampered by a severely injured leg. A Second Team All-South Jersey selection in football, Koss went on to wrestle at West Virginia University where he compiled an 87-26 record. Koss reached the NCAA Division I semifinals at 177 pounds in 1997 before losing and earned an All-American plaque after a sixth-place finish. Koss has served as an assistant coach at Collingswood, Camden Catholic and Audubon. Koss was an Honors Graduate of the US Amy Warrant Officer School in 2001 and the US Army Rotary Wing Flight School in 2002.

 

Richard S. Kuzy (Class of 2006)
Holy Cross High School

A 1983 graduate, Kuzy was a three-time District 27 champion (1981 and 1983 for Holy Cross; 1982 for Riverside) and a Region 7 champion in 1982 (7-0 win over Joe McHarris of Toms River South) and 1983 (by fall over Scott Taylor of Shawnee), all at heavyweight. He capped an 89-8-0 career with a perfect 26-0 All-South Jersey campaign by winning the state championship in 1983 with a 2-1 overtime victory over Highland�s Ron Ippolite. He was the first heavyweight state champion from Burlington County and was the second state champion in Holy Cross history (his brother Rob won a title in 1981). A three-year varsity letterman in football and baseball, Kuzy was an All-South Jersey and All-Burlington County lineman for Holy Cross as a senior and has been inducted into the Holy Cross Football Hall of Fame. Kuzy went on to Penn State University on a full athletic scholarship. He was a three-year letterman and two-year starter on the offensive line and a member of the 1986 national championship team.

 

Rob Kuzy (Class of 1998)
Holy Cross High School

A 1981 graduate who was a two-time Northern Burlington Christmas Tournament and District 27 champion Kuzy capped a 27-1 senior year with a Region 7 and state championship at 148 pounds (defeating unbeaten Jude Skove of Long Branch 6-5 in overtime in the state finals). He followed his 67-8 scholastic career by attending the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island and went 15-0 against other prep schools, junior colleges and college JV teams. Wrestling behind All-American Mike Rodgers in his first year at Annapolis. Kuzy won the Naval Academy Turkey Bowl (pinning 8th-ranked Craig Cox of North Carolina State, after Cox had beaten the 5th-ranked Rodgers in the opposite semifinal) and placed second in the Sunshine Open in Orlando wrestling at 167 pounds. He compiled a 13-2 record as a backup. Never getting another chance to wrestle-off against Rodgers. His sophomore year Kuzy placed third at the Sunshine Open and was injured midway through the season against Greg Elinskyof Penn State and finished with a 12-7 record He transferred to Rider University and compiled a 26-7 record in 1985-86 won the East Coast Conference title arid qualified for the NCAAS where he beat the No. 10 seed and lost to the No.4 seed, just missing All-America honors. He was Rider�s Most Outstanding Wrestler for 1985-86. The following year Kuzy outgrew his nationally ranked 167 pounds and had to bump up to 190 Ho finished 15-9-1 overall and was third in the ECC Tournament for a two-year rider total of 41-16-1. Kuzy considers his most memorable moments in wrestling to be winning the state championship in 1981 in front of his entire family (his father started the wrestling program at Pemberton but gave up the chance to continue as head coach to follow sons Rob and Rich at Holy Cross) competing in the Division I Nationals at Iowa University and being in the coaches corner when his brother Rich won a state championship in 1983.

 

Michael Lamb (Class of 2009)
Highland Regional High School

An AAU World Schoolboy Freestyle champ in Mexico City as an 8th grader, Lamb was in the starting lineup at Highland a year later and compiled a record of 100-12-4. A 4-time District 30 champ as his team won four team titles, Lamb also was a 2-time Region 8 Champion and was 4th in the state as a senior. An All-American at Gloucester County College, Lamb finished 3rd in the nationals with a 33-2 record. He went on to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill after GCC and was a three-year starter and two-time Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up. Lamb coached seven years (5 years as head coach) at GCCwith an 86-3 record. GCC won five National Championships and seven Mid-Atlantic District titles. An NJCAA National Coach of the Year twice, he coached five individual national champions and 42 All-Americans. He was head coach at Sterling High School 2003-2008 with a 76-60 record.

 

Kevin Landolt (Class of 2011)
Holy Cross High School School

A 1994 graduate of Holy Cross High School, Kevin was a two-time District 26 champion (189 as a junior and heavyweight as a senior) He was third in Region 7 in 1993 and got to wrestle four times in the state tournament and went 2-2 to finish the season 31-4. In 1994 he won Region 7 and took an unbeatenm record into the state tournament. He started and ended his quest for a state title with overtime decisions, including 4-2 over Joe Micela of Paul VI in the opening round that was decided by a takedown in overtime. After winning his next two bouts by technical fall (15-0 in 3:34) and 9-4 in the semifinals. The third-seeded Landolt met top-seeded Steve McCarthy of Jackson and again used a takedown in overtime to win 8-6 and cap a perfect 29-0 season and 89-19 career. Also an exceptionl football player, Kevin accepted a scholarship to West Virginia University and was a four-year starter on the defensive line. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Jcksonville Jaguars and played two seasons with the NFL team. After returning home, he became an assistant wrestling coah at Rancoas Valley and in 2007 became head coach at Riverside High School.

 

Ken Landis (Class of 1980)
Overbrook High School

Born and raised in Camden, Ken attended Springfield College where he starred in football, wrestling and track. He started his coaching career in Camden in 1940. After the war, he moved over to coach at Collingswood and, in 1948, moved on to Overbrook High School where he coached until 1964. In addition to his coaching duties, Ken was one of the first three wrestling officials in South Jersey. Ken received the Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the Coaches Contribution Award by South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.

 

Samuel Laspata Jr. (Class of 2010)
Glassboro High School

A 1988 graduate, Laspata was the lone GHS athlete to win a state wrestling championship through 2010. In 1987-88 he posted a 34-0 record en route to the 140-pound state title in Princeton. Laspata was a four-time District 29 finalist losing by decision in his first two trips and putting back-to-back technical fall and 14-5 wins his last two years. An injury forced him out of Region 8 compeition as a freshman. The next three years he finished 3rd, 2nd and 1st. He carried a 23-1-1 record into the state tournament as a junior but lost 2-1 to Tom Durso of Ridge in the semifinals and 3-2 to Cinnaminson's Matt Long in the wrestle backs. Laspata finished 83-8-1 over his last three seasons by defeating Rob Meehan of Paramus in the 1988 state finals. Through 2010 he ranked third in career victories at Glassboro with a record of 94-12-3 in four seasons. A team caoptain his last two years, he was the school record-setter for takedowns. At George Mason University he had a 35-13-1 career record. He also served as an assistant coach at Carrollton (MO) High School.

 

R. Shawn Laughlin (Class of 2010)
Lower Cape May Regional High School

A 1997 graduate, Laughlin ended his high school career with a record of 96-20, with 14 of those losses in his freshman year. After that freshman season, Laughlin won three straight District 32 titles. He was second in Region 8 as a sophomore befoew winning by fall his junior year and by a 9-8 decision as a senior. Laughlin was 2-2 in his first trip to the state tournament as a sophomore, losing by a point in a pre-quarterfinal match with eventual state runner-up Jamie Ross of Maple Shade and then 6-4 in an elimination bout to South Plainfield's Jason Cannon. Laughlin won his first state title as a junior to finish 27-0. A year later he was even more impressive with a second straight state title capping a 34-0 campaign - a combined 61-0 in his final two seasons as a scholastic wrestler. In 1995 he was a Greco Cadet National Champion and a Freestyle runner-up. Laughlin went to Lehigh University and graduated in 2002 with a 97-23 record. He finished third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association two times and fifth two times. He was a two-time NCAA qualifier and made it to the round of 12 on two occasions. He later served as a volunteer coach at Lower Cape May Regional two years.

 

John Leek (Class of 1981)
Collingswood High School

Leek, a 1960 graduate of Collingswood, wrestled three years varsity under Sam Coursen and never lost a dual meet during that time. Leek had a perfect season his junior year in 1959 when he won district, regional and state championships at 106 pounds. The following season, Leek moved up a weight to 115 and, after winning the South Jersey title, placed third in the state championships. Leek graduated from Lehigh University in 1966 and was an assistant coach at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Melrose (Mass.) High School

 

Vinny Levin (Class of 1998)
Absegami High School

A 1980 graduate, Levin was a four-year varsity starter for Hall of Famer Gene Barber. As a freshman he was the Cherokee Christmas Tournament champion at 101 pounds. His sophomore year he was a runner-up in District 32 and Region 8, and a Warren Hills Christmas Tournament champion. As a junior he was second in District 32, third in Region 8 and Warren Hills Christmas Tournament champion at 101 pounds. He was a Highland Christmas Tournament champion and Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient, and a District 32, Region 8 and state champion at 108 pounds as a senior. Levin, who also ran cross country, compiled a 92-10-4 record at Absegami. His most memorable moment in scholastic wrestling came one match before the highlight of his wrestling career. Levin beat defending state champion Doug Kanach of Hunterdon Central in the state semifinals before winning the state title. He credits his parents and family, Barber, and coaches Rich Pemberton and Bruce Crawford for the personal support and his success and development as a scholastic wrestler. Levin founded the Egg Harbor Township junior wrestling program in 1982 and served as head coach 1982-84. He attended Atlantic County Community College (1987-89) and Richard Stockton College (1989-93), graduating from Stockton with a bachelor�s degree in biology (with a 3.5 GPA) in 1993.

 

Peter Paul Limanni (Class of 1996)
Paulsboro High School

A 1942 graduate, Limanrii was a standout in football (4-year varsity letterman) and wrestling at Paulsboro. He won the South Jersey wrestling championship and placed third in the state at 175 pounds his senior year. After serving as a paratrooper in World War II, Limanni continued his education at Villanova University where he was a starter in football. He played on a team that was among the best in the nation and beat Paul (Bear) Bryant-coached teams at Texas A&M and Kentucky. He was a teacher and coach at Paulsboro High for 34 years before retiring. He served as the school�s athletic director from 1969 to 1985. Among his top memories from that job were hosting the first Paulsboro-Pemberton match-up at Gloucester County College before a sellout crowd. He also was the driving force behind the move of the competitive District 29 Tournament from Paulsboro High School to Gloucester County College. He served on the state Wrestling Committee for a decade and has been inducted into the South Jersey Coaches, Gloucester County and Paulsboro Sports Halls of Fame.

 

Mike Lombardo (Class of 1999)
Paulsboro High School

A 1984 graduate, Lombardo realized every wrestler�s dream when he posted a perfect season his senior year. He won the District 29, Region 8 and State Championships at 189 pounds to cap a 31-0 season on the way to a 50-6-1 career record. After winning his New Jersey state title, Lombardo wrestled for the state all-stars against the Pennsylvania state all-stars and defeated the undefeated state champion from Pennsylvania in a meet at Lehigh University. Among his most memorable moments as a PHS senior was having to get a tetanus shot at the Caldwell Tournament to continue wrestling after an opponent bit him and drew blood in a semifinal match, a win in second round of state tournament against Haddonfield�s Ricky Little and winning the state final. Lombardo followed his scholastic career by compiling a 98-28 record in four varsity seasons with North Carolina State. He was a First Team Freshman All-America selection in 1985 (the third at the time in university history) and was a NCAA All-America at heavyweight in 1988. NCSU records he once held included career wins (98), most victories in a season (37), and most victories by a freshman (23). Lombardo had 22 career pins, a .780 percentage, was a four-time Atlantic Coast Conference finalist, was ranked among the top 12 in the nation in his weight class four consecutive years, and was a team captain. Lombardo served as a volunteer under Coach Bobby Guzzo at NC State and organized and helped run various clinics at local high schools in the Raleigh area.

Nicholas Lopez (Class of 2014)
Washington Township High School

A 1998 graduate of Washington Township High School, Lopez was a two-time District 30 Champion and a Region 8 Champion.  During his campaign as a junior, wrestling at 171 pounds, Lopez opened the N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament by dropping a 7-2 first-round match to Sean McDade of Pennsville, a wrestler he had defeated soundly in an early-season tournament.  Lopez began working his way through the consolation bracket by winning a decision over Brett Bakely of Southern Regional, 3-2; however, a next-round 9-3 setback to Dane Tabano of Bergen Catholic put Lopez on the medal stand in 7th place.  The following year proved to be a clean sweep for Lopez as he entered the State Tournament at 215 pounds with an unblemished record of 29-0.  Lopez won a pre-quarter round match over Warren Sharper of Paulsboro by fall in 5:31, a quarter-final match over Eamon O’Neil of Point Pleasant Boro by a 3-1 decision, and won his semi-final match 10-5 over Andi Devlin of Livingston.  This set up a State Final match with Greg Sawyer of Delsea, whom he defeated via a 3-1 decision. This State Championship victory put Lopez’ high school career record at 105-14.  Upon graduation from Washington Township, Lopez went on to compete for two years at Gloucester County College.  During his tenure at GCC, Lopez placed 3rd twice at 197 pounds in Junior College Nationals.  Lopez recalls that winning the New Jersey State Title was the highlight of his wrestling career, though he claims it took one of his most memorable moments to bring it to fruition.  Lopez cites his loss the previous year to Sean McDade, the wrestler whom he had defeated earlier that year at 171 pounds, as a most memorable moment.  Lopez claims the McDade loss motivated him to always be prepared to put forth his best effort.  Lopez also recalls his multi-match rivalry with Delsea’s Greg Sawyer as being a memorable part of both his high school and collegiate career. Lopez currently works at B & L Home Remodeling in Burlington, NJ, and lives with his wife, Jessica, and their two children, Levi (4) and Ledger (1) in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.

 

Patrick Francis Lynch (Class of 2001)
Ocean City High School

A 1991 graduate, Lynch was a four-time district, and three-time regional champion who finished 5th, 1st, 1st and 2nd in four trips to the state tournament. Lynch finished with a 134-4 record and 99 consecutive wins. He also had a state record 103 falls in his four-year varsity career. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the state championships his sophomore season. Lynch wrestled collegially at Arizona State University and Georgia State University and compiled an 80-19 record. A 1997 graduate of Arizona State, he was twice second in the PAC 10 championships, made three trips to the NCAA Tournament and never finished lower than 11th. Lynch counts Arizona State finishing fourth and becoming a NCAA All-American his career athletic highlight. He was an eight-time All-American in the Junior Nationals (never finished lower than 4th) and a two-time Greco Roman and one-time Freestyle champion. He was 2nd in the Greco World Championships as a Cadet. In 1990 he finished 3rd in the U.S. Olympic Festival freestyle championships. Lynch wrestled over 2,000 matches in his career.

 

George A. Maier Jr. (Class of 2006)
Haddon Heights High School

A 1975 graduate of Haddon Township High School, Maier was a Christmas Tournament champion three times, was second in District 29 in 1973 and third in District 29 as a junior and senior in a 46-18-4 career. A versatile scholar-athlete, Maier earned three varsity letters in football and track and field, in addition to wrestling. Maier was All-Group II Offense selection in 1974 and All-Colonial in 1975 in football. He also was a Football Scholar-Athlete selection three times. Maier went on to compete in wrestling at Gettysburg College (45-22 record) where he was a four-time qualifier for the Division III Nationals. He won silver, bronze and gold medals in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in successive years. He also was a member of the varsity football team at Gettysburg in 1979. He served two years in the US Army and earned a spot on the All-Army European wrestling team while stationed in Germany. Following two years in the business world, Maier returned to wrestling with a job as a teacher and coach at Haddon Heights in 1983. He took a struggling program and developed the school's first junior high program and got the community involved in starting a midget program. A Region 7 Coach of the Year selection and four-time District 28 Coach of the Year, Maier compiled a 154-112-2 record from 1984 through 1997. He then stepped down to concentrate on his educational duties and spend additional time with his family. He passed away on Nov. 30, 2003.

 

Frank Major (Class of 2008)
Toms River South High School

A 1977 graduate, Major was third in District 25 as a freshman and then won three consecutive district championships. After a second-place finish in the 1975 Region 7 championships, Major won the next two regional titles at 115 punds. He finished fourth in the state as a junior and then capped a 91-16-4 career with a state title his senior year after a pulsating 4-2 win over unbeaten and returning state champion Tom Sloand of Roxbury. Major went on to Morgan State University (1977-79) before joining the United States Marines. Major earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Florida Metropolitan University in 1988 and was inducted into the Shore Conference Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

Bobby Malatesta (Class of 2006)
St. Augustine High School

A 1985 graduate, Malatesta was in on the ground floor of the program started by his father Bob in 1982. During his sophomore through senior years, Malatesta anchored a team that won the South Jersey Parochial B title three times, the state Parochial B title twice, District 32 twice and the Cape-Atlantic Division II championship twice (including a three-way tie for the title in 1985). A four-time Christmas Tournament and three-time District 32 and Region 8 champion, Malatesta finished 4th in the state at 101 pounds as a sophomore, third at 108 as a junior and culminated a 111-6-1 career with a state title at 122 pounds in 1985. Malatesta, who also lettered in cross-country and soccer at St. Augustine, was a four-time USWF state champion in both freestyle and Greco Roman (1981-85). He was an age group World Champion in Freestyle (1980, Stocklhom) and Greco (1981, Mexico City). He attended Northerrn Iowa (32-5 record) but left to enter the Marine Corps (1987-91). He was a member of the All- Marine team 1988-90 and is a veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990-91). Malatesta, who considers the highlight of his athletic career winning the state championship with his father (and coach) in his corner.

 

 

Alan C. Maloney (Class of 1989)
Edgewood High School

A 1974 graduate of Edgewood, Maloney stepped on the mat for the first time as a sophomore and started a brilliant career. He became a three-time Region 8 champion, compiling an impressive 65-10-2 career record. A two-time All-South Jersey selection, Maloney decisioned John Rodriguez of Manasquan 5-2 to place third in the state at 98 pounds in 1972 after losing 7-2 to Washington Township�s Steve Smith in the District 30 finals before coming back to win his first regional title with a 13-3 win over Millville�s John Williams. He finished that season 18-6-2. A year later Maloney won his first District 30 98-pouind title, beating Steve Smith 7-2, then won his second Region 8 title a week later with an 8-1 win over Smith. But his dreams of a state title vanished with a loss to eventual state bronze medalist Bill Alberts of Middletown in the state quarterfinals and he ended his year with a 22-2 record. A tri-captain at Edgewood his senior year, Maloney capped his outstanding career by pinning his way to the 101-pound title and gaining the outstanding Wrestler Award in District 30 after a 4:36 fall over Williamstown�s Bill Kinard, won his third straight regional title with an 11-0 win over Camden Catholic�s Brian Ahern and finished fourth in the state to finish the season 25-2. Maloney continued his love affair with wrestling as one of South Jersey�s finest officials and an active member of the Southern Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association since 1976.

Mark Manchio (Class of 2014)
Sterling High School

A 2001 graduate of Sterling High School, Manchio won four district titles: three in District 30 and one in District 28 and four Region Titles: three in Region 8 and one in Region 7. These titles resulted in  Manchio making four N.J.S.I.A.A. State Final appearances, where he won three State Championship Titles.  Manchio’s only State Final loss came in ‘98 at 112 pounds to two-time defending State Champion, Joe Alexander of Delsea by a 4-2 decision.  In ’99, competing at 119 pounds, Manchio began the year by winning the prestigious  Beast of the East Tournament.  This set the stage for Manchio to reel off victories of 9-5, a 2:47 fall and a 6-4 decision in the semi-finals, putting him in the position to  avenge his prior loss to Alexander, which he did, besting him 6-5 for his first State Title. In ’00, at 130 pounds, Manchio rolled to the State Finals with wins of 13-5, 7-1 and a fall in 3:22.  Manchio’s second State Title came via a 4-3 win over Delbarton’s Antonio Mangione.  In ‘01, at 135 pounds, Manchio once again reached the finals, only this time his opponent was Kittattiny’s Mike Weber, whom he defeated by decision, 5-4. Manchio’s third State Title pushed his high school record to 125-2, the best winning percentage of any wrestler in South Jersey and to date the only four time S.J. State Finalist. Upon graduating from Sterling in ’01, Manchio wrestled for the University of Northern Iowa, where he won the Harold Nichols Open, was a two-time winner of the University of Northern Iowa Open and a West Region Conference winner in ’02, qualifying him for the NCAA Tournament.  Manchio amassed a collegiate record of 37-19 before an injury sidelined him at the conclusion of his sophomore year.  Manchio states the most memorable moment of his career was his upset victory by fall in overtime in the Region 8 Finals in ’98 over defending two-time State Champion, Joe Alexander of Delsea. Manchio credits his parents, Mike and Sue and his brothers, Mike and Joe for supporting his career in wrestling.  After graduating from UNI in ’05 with a BS in Education, Manchio earned a second BS in History from Rutgers-Camden in ’10 and a Master’s Degree in Special Education in ’12 from Wilmington University. Currently, Manchio works at The Yale School in Audubon where he is a teacher of special needs students. Single, Manchio lives in Stratford.

 

 

Arthur 0. Marinelli (Class of 1989)
Oakcrest High School

A 1956 graduate of Washington High School (now Warren Hills Regional) in northern New Jersey�s Warren County, Marinelli was the 168-pound state champion in 1955 and 1956. He was the recipient of the school�s Most Outstanding Athlete award and was team captain his senior year. Marinelli then moved his career to the University of Maryland, where he won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship his sophomore yearn and was a team captain and coached the freshman team to a 9-1 record his senior year. Marinelli arrived at Oakcrest High School in 1962 where he started a brilliant high school coaching career. He compiled a sparkling 92-30-2 record, including six District 32 team championships. He produced 27 district champions, five regional winners and one state champion. He also was chairman of the Health and Physical Education Department at Absegami High School and served as assistant wrestling coach four years. Marinelli also found the time to become one of South Jersey�s most respected wrestling officials, serving as an official for 28 years and helping start the Southern Shore Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association where he served as the Chapter�s first president. Marinelli then became the athletic director at Egg Harbor Township High School. Always active, Marinelli has also helped start several midget and high school programs in the South Jersey area and serves on the Wrestling Committee of the State athletic association.

 

 

John Marinelli (Class of 2013)
Clearview Regional High School

A 1983 graduate of Absegami High School, Marinelli amassed a career record of 53-17-1 before he began his post high school education at Trenton State College where he graduated in 1987 with a degree in Industrial Arts and Technology. In 2001, John added a Master�s degree in Education from MaryGrove College to his resume. By that time John had begun his teaching and coaching career at Clearview High School, where he still works as a technology teacher. Aside from being the head wrestling coach at Clearview for 21 years, Marinelli also served as assistant girl�s field hockey coach, assistant boy�s tennis coach and assistant girl�s tennis coach. Marinelli�s coaching record at the helm of the school�s wrestling team was 248-184-2, during which time he coached 19 District 29 Champions, 3 Region 8 Champions and 1 State Champion, Hall of Famer, Billy Gibbs. Marinelli also provided Clearview with its only Tri-County Royal Division Championship in 1999. Along with his wrestling coaching successes, Marinelli has been active in the wrestling community, serving on the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, the NJ chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the President of Region 8. Marinelli�s most memorable moments in wrestling include his Absegami High School winning the conference title and going undefeated his senior year, cutting weight, helping coach Billy Gibbs to a State Title, winning Clearview�s first-ever conference title, and working with his friends and coaches to build a successful program at Clearview. He notes the life-long friendships he has made through the sport with wrestlers, fans, officials and rivals as being an integral part of the wrestling fraternity. Marinelli continues to teach at Clearview, where he also serves as Assistant Athletic and Activities Director.

 

Johnny W. Martin  (Class of 2007)
Absegami High School

A 1992 graduate, Martin compiled a 123-8-2 record at 135 pounds in four years of varsity competition. A four-time Oakcrest Christmas Tournament champion, Martin won four District 32 and two Region 8 titles. He culminated his scholastic career by going 32-0 and defeating previously unbeaten Jason Nase of Pt. Pleasant Boro 6-4 for the state title in 1992. He also was a 1990 Greco-Roman champion at 135 pounds and represented New Jersey on the U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Hungary and finished 4th in a tournament there. In 1990, he was 2nd in the Cadet Freestyle and in 1991 2nd in the Junior Freestyle. He lost both times to Cary Kolat. Martin, a wrestling fanatic since the age of 4, established a personal goal when he was 7-years-old. That �s when Bobby Malatesta, who won a state title for St. Augustine Prep, gave his medal to Johnny. He asked Johnny to return it to him when he won his own state title. He did, walking over to Malatesta's father and giving it to him for his son (who was in the Persian Gulf at the time). During his high school years, he was a volunteer coach for younger wrestlers in Mullica Township and spent summers tutoring others while with the Seagull Wrestling Club. Personally recruited by Oklahoma State Coach John Smith, from 8th grade on, Johnny chose to go west. He was a redshirt his first year at Oklahoma State and then wrestled at 135 pounds on and off the next three seasons when he was slowed by various injuries. He was 19-5 for the OSU varsity. He transferred to Clarion, where he was a coaching assistant in 1997-98. Johnny was slowed by several severe medical issues. Those issues eventually took his life on December 3, 1999.  

 

Brett Matter (Class of 2008)
Delran High School

A 1995 graduate, Matter was a four-time District 27, three-time Region 7 and two-time state champion. As a freshman, he placed third in Region 7 and went 2-2 in his first state tournament. As a sophomore, Matter was awarded a 5th-6th place finish with Paul Castellini of Buena before the state expanded the tourament to wrestle through eight places. A 32-0 junior campaign culminated with a 6-3 win over Jon Frent of Ocean Township. Matter repeated as a state champion in 1995, capping a 32-1 campaign with a 4-3 win over previously unbeaten Corey Posey of Westfield to finish with a 125-9 career record and leading Delran to four consecutive district titles. Matter went on to the University of Pennsylvania where he compiled a career record of 128-17. He was a four-time EIWA Champion and in 1999 was fifth in the Division 1 NCAA Tournament. In 2000 Brett went 5-0, including a 4-2 win over Larry Quisel of Boise State in the finals, to win the NCAA Championship.

 

Clinton Matter (Class of 2015)
Delran High School

A 1992 graduate of Delran High School, Matter was a  four year varsity letter winner in cross country and wrestling and was a District 27 Champion his senior year; however, a season-ending injury kept him from improving upon an impressive 93-18 career record after he won his District 27 Title.  Upon graduation from Delran, Matter enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania where he excelled both academically and athletically. At the University of Penn, he was a two-time Keystone Open Champion in ’95 and ’96, a Cyclone Open Champion in ’96 and a two-time E.I.W.A. Champion in ’96 and ’97. Ranked as high as #2 in the country in Division I, Matter capped of his college wrestling career with an 82-17 record.  In ’97 he was named as the University’s of Penn’s Class of 1915 Award, which is presented to the top student athlete.  Matter graduated with degrees from both The Wharton School and The College of Arts and Sciences in ’97. Matter attributes much of his academic success to having met his future wife, Kourtney (’98) while attending the U of P.  He cites being able to passionately pursue a set of team and individual goals, through the help of his family and a wonderful group of coaches and teammates, as a career highlight.  He points to being the recipient of Penn’s Class of 1915 Award as another highlight of his career.  A co-founder of Philadelphia’s Beat the Streets program, Matter remains active in that endeavor as well as serving on the University of Penn’s Board of Overseers.  He is currently a board member of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center and is president of the U of P Grappler’s Club. Matter considers being able to compete with his younger brother, Brett, as a memorable moment in his career, along with having his father, Andy, a two-time  Division I NCAA Champion at Penn State University, as a workout partner.  Perhaps more than anything in wrestling, Matter considers his continued success in serving others through Philadelphia’s Beat the Streets program as his most endearing moment. Currently a portfolio manager for George Weiss Associates in New York City, Matter lives in Summit, NJ with his wife, Kourtney, and their four children: Grace (10), Mackenzie (8), Andrew (6) and John (4).

 

Paul E. Mauriello (Class of 1992)
Overbrook High School

An Edgewood High School graduate, Mauriello became the school's first wrestler to reach a district final when he placed second his senior year � Edgewood�s first year with a varsity program. A varsity performer with the football and baseball teams, Mauriello went on to Temple University, where he was a member of that school�s wrestling team. Following graduation he became an assistant under Jim Ingles at Edgewood. Two years later he was the head coach at Overbrook. In the next 26 years as head coach he compiled a 280-136-5 record, fourth on the all-time win list in South Jersey behind Highland�s Ralph Ross, Haddon Township�s Miller Preston and Eastern�s John Sanders. Mauriello�s teams won eight Christmas, six district, five Olympic Conference division and two South Jersey group championships. He coached 74 Christmas Tournament, 56 district, 13 regional and three state champions. His dedication to the sport was reflected in his �off the mat� contributions as an officer with the Coaches Association and the Hall of Fame, his work with clinics throughout the state and participation as tournament helper and official.

 

Spencer V. Maussner (Class of 1994)
Collingswood High School

A 1960 graduate, Maussner went from third in the districts as a junior to first in the districts and South Jersey and third in the state as a senior. He compiled a 41-11-1 record in high school and added another 38 wins at Winona (MN) State University, where he graduated in 1964. He also played two years of varsity football at Collingswood, including being a member of the school�s famous undefeated Golden Eleven, and was a member of the golf team three years. One of his most memorable moments in his scholastic career was winning his bout against Woodbury to help secure a one-point team victory and preserve an unbeaten season for Coach Sam Coursen. He selects the highlight of his schoolboy career his third-place finish in the 1960 state tournament. His connection with wrestling continued after college as he helped with the Collingswood community�s midget program for 11 years and has been a constant supporter of his high school�s wrestling alumni. Maussner has served on the Board of Trustees of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame and has been the No. 1 financial supporter over the years, personally accounting for one full scholarship awarded each year.

 

Alan E. Maussner (Class of 1988)
Collingswood High School

A 1959 graduate of Collingswood High School, Maussner was a two-time South Jersey champion at 157 pounds � decisioning Jim Gorman of Paulsboro 4-3 in 1958 and decisioning Tony Maccarella of Overbrook 2-0 in 1959. Coached by the legendary Sam Coursen, Maussner was the captain of Collingswood�s first championship team. A three-year letter winner for Coursen, Maussner capped a brilliant career by going unbeaten in dual meets his senior year before finishing fourth in the state. Maussner continued his wrestling career at Valley Forge Military Academy and later at Winona (MN) State, where he graduated in 1961. One of the highlights of his career at Winona State was wrestling 157, 177 and heavyweight his senior year.

 

Hank Mazzoni (Class of 1981)
Vineland High School

A three-year varsity wrestler under Coach Tony DiTomo from 1957 to 1959, Mazzoni lost only one bout in South Jersey during his high school career. Mazzoni enjoyed a fine rookie season in 1957. Advancing to the South Jersey Tournament finals before losing a one-point decision to evential state champion Tony Gentile of Paulsboro. A state runner-up in 1958, Mazzoni won his second consecutive South Jersey Tournament title, then the 135-pound state title and was South Jersey�s second consecutive recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award in 1959. Mazzoni followed his scholastic career by wrestling three years varsity at Rutgers University. Mazzoni returned to the sport in 1973 as a coach in the East Windsor junior wrestling program.

 

Frank J. McAleer (Class of 1996)
Woodrow Wilson, Cherry Hill West, and East High Schools

A 1963 graduate of Haddon Heights High School where he participated in football, wrestling and baseball, McAleer is a 1968 graduate of Temple University. He started his head coaching career in wrestling at Woodrow Wilson in 1971. He was also head coach at Cherry Hill West for seven years, compiling a school record 75 wins, and at Cherry Hill East for eight years, compiling a school record 107 wins. His 19-year record of 212-102-1 ranked him 14th on the all-time win list in South Jersey history when he retired as head coach. His teams at West and East won South Jersey Conference Northern Division titles in 1977 and 1982, respectively. His teams were District 27 champions in 1982, �87, �88 and �89. He coached two state champions (Tom Nugent and Greg Casamento) and had six regional and 35 district champions. McAleer became the Region 7 Tournament director in 1981 and the Super Regions director in 1992. McAleer was inducted into the South Jersey Coaches Association of Boys Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989 and was honored for his work in wrestling by the NJSIAA and the S.J. Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Among the most memorable moments in his career were a victory over Paulsboro in 1982 that severed the state�s longest winning streak at 96, his regional champions (John Browning and Kevin Castagnola), state championships by Nugent and Casamento, and coaching his sons Mike and Matt.

 

Daniel H. McCullough (Class of 1994)
Brick Township High School

A 1974 graduate, McCullough finished second at 168 pounds in Region 7 to Deptford�s Jerry Villecco in 1972, then won consecutive Region 7 and state titles at 178 and 188, respectively, his last two years in high school. A winner of three district titles, McCullough compiled a 78-3-0 record in high school where he excelled in football and baseball, in addition to wrestling. McCullough also wrestled at the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated in 1980. He was the head wrestling coach for two years at Central Regional High School and an assistant coach at Brick Memorial for four years. He became a physical education teacher and wrestling and baseball coach at Veterans Memorial Middle School in Brick Township. McCullough said winning the state title the second time around was the highlight of his athletic career.

 

Jim McNelis (Class of 1987)
Rancocas Valley Regional High School

A native of Kingston, Pa., McNelis was one of four brothers to take up the sport of wrestling. A 1946 graduate of Kingston High School, McNeus earned two varsity letters before going on to Kings College (Wilkes Barre, Pa.). A veteran of the Korean War, McNelis moved to South Jersey in 1955 and started his teaching career in the Lumberton elementary school. He moved to Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1960. He spent 20 years coaching at Rancocas Valley Regional with the focus mainly on the school�s freshmen sports programs. McNelis never had ambition to move to varsity sports. He always enjoyed working with and teaching the younger athletes. When Rancocas Valley Regional was among the top wrestling schools in the state in the 1960�s and 70�s, McNelis was one of the major contributors. Working with Hall of Famer Tony Petrillo in the wrestling program, RV continually fielded top-notch, championship teams. At one point, Mac�s freshmen reeled off 51 straight victories during a four-year stretch. His freshman wrestling teams won five Burlington County Scholastic championships and his baseball teams won nine titles. He was also successful with RV�s freshman football programs. McNelis received many honors throughout his career, including the prestigious contribution to Wrestling Award from the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association in 1981. After retiring from coaching in 1981, McNelis helped with the RV midget program and helped run the District 26 championships. He also was a charter member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hail of Fame Organization.

 

 

Ken Melchior (Class of 2005)
West Deptford, Bridgeton, Haddonfield High Schools

A 1965 graduate of Lindenhurst (NY) High School, Melchior was a two-time New York state champion, a two-time state Section XI champion and three-time league champion in a 95-4 career. Melchior then wrestled for the fabled Gray Simons at Lock Haven State University compiling a 98-6 record. He won three NAIA and three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships, and received the Outstanding Wrestler award as a senior. Melchior also was a three-time NCAA All-American and won the 115-pound NCAA Division I championship in 1968. Melchior served 21 months in the military and was a three-time US Military champion (1971-72-73). Melchior also competed on the AAU level and finished second at 125.5 pounds in 1972. Melchior�s coaching career has included stops at Wilton, CN; Johnson City, NY; and Lower Dauphin in Hummelstown, PA. before becoming head coach at West Deptford High School in 1977. He was the head coach 11 years and compiled a 114-63 record that included two Olympic Conference titles and four District 29 runner-up finishes. Melchior took several years off from coaching to follow his children�s scholastic careers. Melchior then coached three years in Bridgeton before joining the staff at Haddonfield as an assistant. In addition to coaching, Melchior also has served as a clinician. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Lindenhurst High School, Lock Haven University and the NAIA. At the time of his induction he was still employed as a teacher at West Deptford High School.

 

Joe Melchiore (Class of 1990)
Highland Regional High School

Melchiore rewrote the high school wrestling books in South Jersey under Coach Ralph Ross. Melchiore compiled a then-state record 125 wins, including 99 consecutive victories and 91 falls, during a brilliant career that featured three consecutive state titles. Meichiore never lost a dual meet and his team was 82-4-0 and ranked 6th, 2nd, 1st and 5th in the state, respectively in his four varsity seasons. He lost three times his freshman year: to Pemberton�s Jeff Washington up a weight at 108 during the Group IV sectionals; in the Region 8 101-pound finals to Millville�s Doug Taylor; and to Manalapan�s Tom Falsano in the state quarterfinals. He never lost in again in high school. Meichiore won the 101-pound state title in 1982, 7-3 over Tim Jacoutot, Madison Central; the 1983 108-pound title, a 1:31 fall against Jeff Bowyer, Phillipsburg; and the 1984 122-pound title, 4-2 over Rich Widmer, Bridgewater-Raritan East. One of 12 four-time district champs and 14 three-time regional champs in South Jersey history by the time he graduated, Melchiore was the first wrestler from South Jersey to win three state titles. Melchiore, who won the Outstanding Wrestler Award in the state after his four pins in an accumulated 11:46 in 1983, never missed a beat in college. A four-time All-America selection, Melchiore was 32-10, 1st in the Big 8 and 4th in the NCAA tournament as a freshman and 38-10-1, 2nd in the Big 8 and 7th in the NCAA as a sophomore at Oklahoma. After a year in junior college, Melchiore was in the second semester varsity lineup for Iowa where he went 13-5-1, finished 3rd in the Big 10 and was national runner-up to defending champion John Smith of Oklahoma State in 1988. Melchiore capped a 115-32-2 collegiate career in 1989 with a 32-7 record, 2nd in the Big 10 and 3rd in the NCAA after losing to eventual national champ Sean O�Day of Edinboro in the national semifinals. Following college Melchiore won the U.S. National tournament and put on a super exhibition in the Palestra to lock up the top spot at 125.5 on the USA Freestyle Team that competed in the Goodwill Games in Seattle and World Championships in Tokyo. Melchiore defeated Ruslan Karaev of the Soviet Union 3-0 to help the United States defeat the Soviets 17-13 for the team gold medal in the Goodwill Games and finished seventh in the World Championships.

 

Charles S. Miller (Class of 1989)
Rancocas Valley Regional High School

A 1963 graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Charles �Chip� Miller capped a brilliant senior year by winning district and regional titles before placing second in the state at 168 pounds. Miller defeated Robert Schuld of Toms River 4-0 to win Region 4 honors and was a sparkling 18-0 entering the state finals before losing to Plainfield�s Bill Petties, 6-2. The first of many outstanding wrestlers to be coached by Hall of Famer Tony Petrillo, the Rutgers-New Burnswick graduate was co-captain of the team his senior year and the first wrestler from Burlington County to advance to the state finals. Miller had 11 pins during his two-year varsity career at Rancocas Valley Regional and compiled an overall record of 27-6. Milerer, who worked for Miller Ford/Miller Leasing in Mount Holly, said the most memorable moments in his scholastic career were winning the District 14 and Region 4 titles on the way to his second-place finish in the state tournament at Rutgers University.

 

Dennis Miller (Class of 1999)
Vineland High School

A graduate of Bald Eagle Nittany (PA) High School (1961) and Lock Haven University (1965), Miller served as head coach in Vineland from the 1979-80 season through 1995-96. In those 17 seasons his teams compiled a 172-113-4 record and won five Egg Harbor Township Christmas Tournaments, five conference championships and three district championships. He coached 25 individual district and five Region 8 champions and had 10 wrestlers place in the state tournament. Vineland wrestlers won 50 individual Egg Harbor Township titles - the most all-time number of champions in that tournament. Miller was selected Region 8 Coach of the Year in 1985 and was named in 1990 Coach of the Decade by The Atlantic City Press. Miller counts as the highlight of his career winning the Group IV South Jersey title and beating rival Highland, ranked No. 1 in the state, in 1988. He was involved in numerous wrestling functions, including the AAU and New Jersey Wrestling Federation affairs. Miller co-authored the United States Wrestling Federation Junior Division by-laws and co-founded and directed NJWF Junior State Championships. He coached numerous Junior Wrestling Regional, State and National champions and a Junior World Champion. Two of his scholastic wrestlers were Freshman NCAA All-American and one of his scholastic wrestlers was an NCAA Division III All-American. He founded the Association for the Promotion of Wrestling and directed 13 annual APWSJ tournaments. The APWSJ Wrestling Hall of Fame was created in his honor. After retiring as head coach at Vineland, he started the community's middle school program.

 

Dave Miller (Class of 1990)
Shawnee High School

Few South Jersey wrestlers had the success Miller experienced over the final two years of a career. A 1974 Shawnee graduate, Miller capped a brilliant 23-3 junior year by winning 15-8 and 8-7 decisions before notching the 136-pound state title with a 10-0 victory over Rich Hicks of Haddon Township High School. Miller was 24-0, with 21 wins by fall, when he lost 8-7 in overtime to Tom Rowands of West Morris High School in the state quarterfinals as a senior. The two wrestlers were tied 13-13 after regulation and finished with the highest combined score in state tournament history. After compiling a 48-4-1 record in high school, Miller attended East Stroudsburg University and Camden County College where he wrestled briefly. He got involved in the community wrestling program in high school. He helped found the Grapevine League in Burlington County when he was involved in the Willingboro Recreation Association and is president of the Southampton Twp. Recreation Association in the Vincentown area. Winning the state title in 1973 and wrestling against the visiting Polish International Team are among career highlights.

David M. Miller, Jr. (Class of 2014)
Lenape High School

A 2001 graduate of Lenape High School, Miller was a three-time District Champion and a three-time Region 7 Champion.  As a four-time N.J.S.I.A.A. qualifier, Miller captured 3rd place honors at 125 pounds his freshman year by defeating Gary Mikolay of Lenape Valley via a 4-3 decision in the consolation finals, then repeated the same finish at 135 pounds the following year by winning his consolation final match over Justin Lijo of Hopatcong, 6-5.  These successful outings set the stage for Miller’s first State Title in 2000 at 140 pounds. On the way to his first State Final appearance, Miller won matches by fall in 1:18 in the pre-quarter round, by tech fall in the quarter-finals (15-0 in 2:20), and by an 11-6 decision in the semi-finals. This set up his first State Final match with defending State Champion, Chris Bittetto of Hackensack. Trailing 3-0 with only thirty seconds remaining, Miller scored an escape, a takedown, then turned Bittetto to his back to win his first State Title by a 6-3 score, earning him the tournament’s OW award.  At 145 pounds, the following year in ’01, victories by both Miller and Bittetto from the pre-quarter rounds to the semi-finals produced Miller-Bittetto II, a highly anticipated match. Once again, during a battle which rivaled their first encounter, Miller emerged with his second State Title, besting Bittetto, 11-9. Miller finished his high school career with a record of 138-5, then was off to wrestle one year at North Carolina State, where he earned runner-up status in the ACC Tournament.  Following a year at NC State, Miller transferred to Rider University.  There Miller won the CAA Tournament and qualified for the NCAA Division I tournament twice. Unfortunately, injuries took their toll on Miller, and he was forced to the sidelines before graduating in 2006 from Rider.  Miller cites his first State Title as the highlight of his wrestling career, and claims his most memorable moment came only moments later when he and his dad, Hall of Famer and former State Champion, Dave, Sr. embraced in the tunnel at the Meadowlands. Miller works for the Meyer Insurance Agency, Inc. and owns and operates The Wrecking Crew Wrestling Academy and runs the CrossFit  Medford Gym with his wife Kristen.  Miller lives with his wife, Kristen, and their infant daughter, Jayne, in Marlton, NJ.

 

Russ Minuto (Class of 2004)
Lenape High School

A 1969 graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Minuto was a three-year varsity wrestler who won the 123-pound District 26 championship as a senior over Brian Faulkner of Lenape. Minuto went to Kutztown University where he wrestled three years varsity and graduated in 1973. He served 10 years as an assistant to Hall of Famer Sam Evangelista at Lenape before taking over the head coaching position. During his 20 years as head coach at Lenape, his teams compiled a 303-57-2 record to rank ninth in South Jersey history. His teams won 13 district, 13 league and three SJ Group IV championships along with seven holiday, five Neptune Classic and 15 Burlington County titles. His teams appeared in the sectional playoffs 18 times. A six-time district Coach of the Year, he was selected Region 7 Coach of the Year twice and was selected National Federation of Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2002-2003 and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2004. He produced 76 district, 30 regional and 60 holiday tournament individual champions and had 20 state place winners, including two-time state champion Dave Miller, the son of 1990 Hall of Fame inductee Dave Miller.

 

Charles Moorer (Class of 2013)
Penns Grove High School

Moorer, a 1989 graduate of Penns Grove High School, was two-time District 31 Champion and a two-time Region 8 Champion. In 1987, Moorer earned a trip to the State Tournament at 148 pounds where he won by disqualification in the pre-quarters and won by fall in 5:59 in the quarter-finals before dropping an 11-5 decision to eventual State Champion, Brian Wells of Pascack Hills. That year, Moorer earned 4th place honors. The following year at 152 pounds, he reeled off a win by fall in 0:21 in the preliminary round, an 11-4 decision in the pre-quarters, and a 6-1 decision in the quarter-finals before losing a 6-2 decision in the semi-final round. This was the year Moorer avenged his Region 8 final loss to Hall of Famer, Pat Lynch of Ocean City via a 3-2 decision in the wrestle backs on his way to his second 4th place finish. Ironically, both of Moorer�s 3rd place losses came to the same wrestler, Randy Eno of Ridge. Moorer�s senior year, he went undefeated at 36-0, wrestling at 160 pounds. At the State Tournament, Moorer won his pre-quarter final match 8-3 over Christian Tirone of Fair Lawn, by a fall in 2:27 over John Martin of Haddon Township, by a 15-1 decision in the semi-finals over Bob Waldron of Roxbury before then capturing the State Title via a 9-0 decision over Kevin Sheridan of Columbia, finishing his high school career with a record of 120-15. Upon graduation from Penns Grove in 1989, Moorer enrolled at George Mason University where he compiled a career record of 76-21 and earned 2nd place honors in the Colonial Athletic Association. Wrestling for Hall of Fame coach Fred Renner, Moorer considers winning a State Title as the highlight of his wrestling career. Fond memories also include being named �Outstanding Wrestler� in 1990 at the �Choppin State Tournament� where he pinned two Division II All-Americans. Moorer was also named �Wrestler of the Year� in 1989 by �The Philadelphia Inquirer� and represented Team N.J at �The Pittsburgh Press Wrestling Classic the same year.

 

Carmel M. Morina (Class of 1992)
Paulsboro High School

A 1975 graduate, Morina was the second wrestler in South Jersey history ever to win four district titles, behind Deptford�s Jerry Villecco. Morina was the third of 15 wrestlers in South Jersey history, behind Carlos Fontanez of Freehold and Alan Maloney of Edgewood, to win three regional titles. Morina beat Chris Moffa of Deptford 3-1 to win the Region 7 148-pound title in 1973 but lost in the first round up state. Morina won the Region 7 158-pound title in 1974, 3-1 in over Terry Longmore of Cherry Hill West, then lost in the second round up state to eventual champion Brad Castner of Warren Hills. He capped a 94-6-0 career with an unbeaten season and the 188-pound state title in 1975. A 5-4 win over Reggie Woods of Camden in Region 7 was followed by decisions of 8-3 and 9-4 and an overtime default win before an 11-4 victory over Hugh Albora of Pope John XXIII in the state finals. Morina had a 105-15-3 record at Temple University, was selected to the freshman All-America team, and was a 2-time EIWA runner-up and 2-time Lock Haven Tournament champ. Morina was head wrestling coach at Woodbury High 1980-1983 and has been an assistant coach at Paulsboro. Morina became a varsity wrestling official in 1987 and has officiated on the group, district, regional and state tournaments level.

 

 

Paul Morina (Class of 1996)
Paulsboro High School

A 1977 graduate, Morina was twice a district champ (158 in 1976 and 1977), a Region 8 champ in 1977 and second in the state in 1977 during a 67-11-1 career. He wrestled two years at Temple University and two years at James Madison University. He was twice an Eastern Regional Champion, a one-time Virginia Intercollegiate champion and team captain his junior and senior years at JMU during a combined 108-25-1 college career. Morina was selected College Wrestler of the Year by the SJWCOA in 1982. He succeeded Bob Fredrick as head coach at Paulsboro in 1985-86. His teams have compiled a 226-4-2 record, 12^th on South Jersey�s all-time win list, and have had seven undefeated seasons (four seasons with 1 loss). Morina�s teams have won 11 Colonial Conference; 11 South Jersey Group 1 and State Group 1; and 11 District 29 Championships. In state individual competition, he has had 19 place winners: five firsts, six seconds, one third, three fourths, three fifths and 1 sixth through 1995.

 

William D. Morro (Class of 1998)
Woodbury and Sterling High Schools

A graduate of Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey, Bill spent four years in the United States Air Force, and then graduated from Gettysburg College in 1956. He participated in football, basketball and baseball in high school, football in college, and basketball in the service. His first contact with wrestling came when he arrived at Woodbury in 1956-57 and was appointed junior varsity coach under Clark Donlin, who resurrected the program in 1954 after an 8-year hiatus. Morro took over as head coach for the 1957-58 season and went 6-4 with his first varsity team. His Thundering Herd went 8-O the next season and was District 7 dual meet champion and shared the District 7 Tournament title with Collingswood. A string of 14 straight wins was severed the following season with a 26-25 loss to Collingswood. The team finished 9-1 and was second to Collingswood in the District 7 Tournament. Morro served as head coach through the 1964-65 season, compiling a 65-20 record. His teams finished second to Paulsboro in District 15 four consecutive seasons starting in 1960-61. Morro was appointed head football coach in 1965 and had to step down as wrestling coach since his schedule also included the job of Director of Athletics. Morro, who served at Woodbury for 15 years, was a teacher, coach and athletic director at Sterling High School for 12 years. Morro, who coached against Hall of Famers Ed Pszwaro, Sam Coursen, Bill Frantz, Sam Evangelista, Hank Schnepf, Tony Petrillo, Joe Foulk and Tony DiTomo, helped present one of the first wrestling clinics in South Jersey along with Pazwaro and Jack Welch in 1965. He has been inducted into the Woodbury High School Sports Hall of Fame (1975), New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1990), South Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1991) and the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame (1995).

 

Samuel B. Muni (Class of 1985)
Washington Township High School

A 1967 graduate, Muni was his school�s first state champion � capping a fine 45-4 career (21-0 senior season) by winning the 167-pound state championship under Coach Lou Guidi with a 4-3 decision against Tim Gordeuk of Westfield. As a junior, Muni was the District 30 167-pound champion before losing in the opening round of the Region 4 tournament. Muni may best be remembered as the �Wrestler behind the mask,� a competitor who wrestled with his face protected because he was very involved in the fine arts and was looking forward to a career in music and/or acting. Muni attended Temple University, graduating in 1971, and eventually became conductor of the South Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

 

Pete Munyan (Class of 1980)
Paulsboro High School

Pete wrestled three years varsity. 1941-42-43 under coach Norman Hangen. He was South Jersey runner-up at 95 pounds in 1941 and won the South Jersey 103-pound championship the next two years. He was South Jersey�s first individual state champion in 1942. After the 1943 season, Munyan entered the Air Force. He resumed wrestling at the University of Pennsylvania shortly after the war. On May 20, 1950, Munyan was killed in an airplane crash outside Swedesboro, NJ, while flying on weekend Air National Guard duty out of Willow Grove, PA.

 

Robert W. Munyan (Class of 2005)
Paulsboro High School

A 1944 graduate, Munyan had two undefeated regular seasons at Paulsboro under Coach Norman Hangen in the programâs infant days. Munyan twice advanced to the state finals, losing by fall to Robert McKeeby of Newton at 112 pounds in 1942 and to McKeeby at 120 pounds in 1943. Munyanâs practice partner in high school was his brother Pete, the first individual state champion from South Jersey. The brothers were unbeaten against all South Jersey competition for two years. After serving in the US Navy from 1944-46, Munyan later attended the State University of New York where he graduated in 1952. He became president of Munyans Fuel, Inc. and retired in 1977. His son David wrestled for Paulsboro High School and the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Wayne M. Murschell (Class of 1999)
Paulsboro and Pitman High Schools

A 1965 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Murschell participated all four years in football, winter track and spring track. He gained 2nd team All- Colonial recognition in football his senior year and was the Colonial Conference 100-yard dash champion as a senior. He also was class president his sophomore and junior years and a member of the Student Council. He graduated from East Carolina University, where he was a four-year participant in track and field, in 1970. From 1970-90 he was a teacher and coach at Paulsboro before moving over to Pitman High School as a head wrestling coach and later athletic director. At Paulsboro he was an assistant in football five years, assistant in wrestling 10 years, assistant in track 5 years, head track coach 6 years and an assistant athletic director 5 years. Murschell�s jayvee wrestling team at Paulsboro established a national record for consecutive wins, going eight years without a loss (4 losses in 10 years). He also coached three state champions in track and field at Paulsboro. When he became head- wrestling coach at Pitman, he coached his teams to 116 career victories and produced eight district champions and one state champion. Murschell�s teams won two conference championships and he was selected District 29 Coach of the Year in 1989. He was a 1994 inductee into the South Jersey Coaches of Boys Athletics Hall of Fame. His most memorable moments in wrestling included his son Wayne winning the Eastern Regional and qualifying for the NCAA Division I tournament and coaching John Barcelo to a state title in 1989. The highlight of his coaching career was being in the corner when his son Wayne won four district titles.

 

Bill Neal (Class of 1990)
Shawnee High School

A 1954 graduate of Scranton Technical High School and 1958 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, Neal got his baptism in wrestling under Hail of Famer Hank Schnepf. After a stint in the Army Neal, who never wrestled in high school or college, took a teaching job at Lenape High School and started learning the basics from Schnepf. Before long Neal was one of the most successful coaches in Burlington County history. Neal started the program at Shawnee High School in 1970-71. Beginning with the junior class, in 1972-73 Neal�s Renegades won the Edgewood Christmas and District 26 tournaments, went unbeaten, and were ranked No. 2 in South Jersey behind Paulsboro. During his nine-year career at Shawnee, Neal�s teams won two Burlington County League and three District 26 championships. Neal compiled a 90-34-4 record and coached 24 district champions, two regional champs and 1973 state champion Pave Miller. Neal left the active ranks but never severed his ties with the sport. He was a charter member of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization Executive Committee, spent five years on the SJWHFO selection committee and received the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Contribution to Wrestling Award.

 

Alex Neiman (Class of 1986)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1950 graduate of Northeast Public High School in Philadelphia and a 1954 graduate of West Chester University, Neiman was a successful coach on the high school and college levels in South Jersey and one of the most prominent officials throughout the state before actively retiring from on-mat activities. After leaving the Army in 1957 Neiman became active in coaching a short time later as head football coach at Collingdale (PA) High School, where he started that school�s wrestling program. His next move was to South Jesrey and Delaware Township (eventually Cherry Hill West) High School where he took over a one-year-old wrestling program and compiled a 46-28-2 record in five seasons, including a District 27 championship team in 1966, and coached 18 district champions. While active as one of the most sought-after officials, Neiman found time to start the wrestling program at Rutgers University, Camden campus. His teams compiled an 80-72-1 record and won two NAIA District championships before he retired from the coaching ranks in 1982. He was an active on-mat official for 15 years before an injury forced him off the mat. He was President of the Delaware Valley Coaches Association 1966-68 and was very active as a member of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association and the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization.

 

John W. Nemetz (Class of 1991)
Toms River North High School

A 1949 graduate of Shamokin (PA) High School where he was a three-time district champion in wrestling, Nemetz is retired from coaching at Toms River North High School. A 1955 grauate of Bloomsburg University, Nemetz served from 1955 through 1957 in the United States Army. He later earned his master�s degree from Montclair State and in 20 years as varsity wrestling coach in Toms River was 212-62-8. His teams won 58 consecutive Shore Conference meets at one point. His teams never had a losing season and three finished with perfect records. His teams won seven district championships and finished second seven times. Nemetz coached one state, nine regional and 52 district champions and had two seconds and two thirds in state individual competition. Nemetz received the Harry E. Lake Award for contributions to New Jersey Wrestling in 1981, the same year he was honored at the Regions 7-8 banquet with the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association�s Contribution Award.

 

Thomas R. Nugent (Class of 2005)
Cherry Hill East High School

A 1983 graduate, Nugent finished second in District 27 as a junior before unleashing a 26-1 senior All-South Jersey season which included a District 27 and Region 7 championship before beating John Donnelly of Emerson 5-3 to win the 148-pound state title in Princeton University�s Jadwin Gymnasium. Nugent then went on to wrestle at Duke University where he was recognized as a Freshman All-American by USA Wrestling magazine. The winner of several smaller tournaments during his career at Duke, Nugent qualified for the NCAA Division I National Tournament before graduating in 1987. Nugent gave back to his sport by serving as an assistant coach at Cherry Hill East High School and Beck Middle School in Cherry Hill. Nugent became a physician and was employed by Delaware Valley Pulmonary at the time of his induction.

 

Harold E. "Howie" O'Neil Jr. (Class of 1998)
Coach, Official, Contributor

A 1966 graduate of Edgewood High School where he was a four-year varsity letter winner in wrestling (captain his senior year) and three-year letter winner in varsity baseball and cross-country, O�Neil wrestled on the freshman team at the University of Oklahoma and three years varsity with the University of Connecticut (1970 graduate). A freshman football and jayvee baseball coach several years, O�Neil was the varsity wrestling coach from 1970-80 at Woodbury High School. His memorable moments included Paul Gehring winning a regional championship in 1974 and Howard Pendleton bouncing back from a loss in the regional finals to go unscored on in winning a state title that same year. He was an assistant wrestling coach for two years at Temple University under Hall of Famer Jerry Villecco. O�Neil, who has served as a school business administrator at Woodbury High School, has been very active in many areas of wrestling throughout South Jersey and the state. He�s been with the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame since its inception (vice-chairman 1986-89, chairman 1989-1997) And was the originator and president of the South Jersey Wrestling club. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association for the past 27 years, and a member of the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association (vice president four years). He developed the ranking system, served as Ranking Chairman of Regions 7 and 8 for six years and has been the NJWCA Treasurer the past 16 years. He is on the History of New Jersey Wrestling Advisory Committee, and has been a high school wrestling official since 1971 (served the Southern Chapter as President and Vice-President). An Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Official since 1983, he was active in the development of the Gloucester County Junior Wrestling League, was the originator of the Woodbury Midget Wrestling Team and developed the Woodbury Wrestling Booster Club. The prestigious Harry E. Lake Award for contributions to wrestling in New Jersey presented at the 1997 state tournament in Atlantic City is just one of many individual awards he has received in his career.

Christopher W. Ormsby (Class of 2015)
Maple Shade High School

A 1989 graduate of Maple Shade High School, Ormsby was a three-sport athlete, earning two varsity letters in both soccer and track, and a four varsity letters  in wrestling. Before graduating, he won more than fifty matches for the Wildcats.  Upon graduation, Ormsby attended Chowan College for one year and Gloucester County College for one year. At Gloucester CC, he won more than ten matches wrestling between the 126 pound and 134 pound weight classes before transferring to Glassboro State College (now Rowan University).  Ormsby’s career on the mat was over when he left GCC, due to Glassboro having  dropped its wrestling program prior to his arrival.  Ormsby considers his career highlight as coming from the fourth-seeded position to win the Collingswood Christmas Tournament at 119 pounds, which aided his team to claim first place honors in the tournament.  Ormsby graduated from Glassboro in 1997 with a degree in health and physical education and has since added a master’s degree in 2007 in education administration from National University.  His most gratifying successes in wrestling came through coaching.  Ormsby assisted Hall of Famer, Mike Schuld (’03) at Maple Shade H.S for six years before leaving to assume a position as a  teacher of health and physical education at Haddon Heights and head wrestling coach.  He remained as the Haddon Heights head coach from 2000 through 2012, departing in order to take over the principal’s position at the Atlantic and Seventh Avenue schools in Haddon Heights.  During Ormsby’s coaching career at “Heights,” he served as the District 28 representative for eight years, the Region 7 president for three years and has worked on the executive committee of the SJWHOFO for several years.  Some of Ormsby’s most memorable moments have come through his being able to coach Heights’ first state place winner, Mel Leary (4th at 171 in ’99), rebounding from a 32 point deficit to win the Paul Finn Duals by a score of 34-32 in the final match and for establishing school records for wins on three separate occasions.  Ormsby was named the District 28 Coach of the Year in 2004 and again in 2012, and was named the Region 7 Coach of the Year in 2012.  Though retired as a coach, Ormsby has been an active varsity wrestling official since 2012.  Employed by the Haddon Heights Board of Education, Ormsby lives in Hainesport with his wife, Jillian and their son, Chase (7 months).

 

Michael P. Panarella (Class of 1993)
Pennsauken High School

This 1968 graduate won the 1967 Region 4 178-pound title by injury default over Norm Washington of Atlantic City and defended that title a year later with a 4-0 win over Ben Bivins of Lakewood. Panarella, nicknamed Caveman in high school, was 51-9-3 in his scholastic career. The first in Pennsauken High School history to win a regional championship, Panarella finished fourth in the 1967 state tournament and second a year later. Panarella was captain of his college team his junior and senior seasons and compiled a 68-13-5 record wrestling for Millersville (PA) State and placed three times, including second, in the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association championships. He gained All-America honors after a fourth-place finish in the NAIA nationals. He also played football four years in high school and college and was selected Collegiate Athlete of the Year as a senior at Millersville. Panarella coached at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf three years (he coached four deaf Olympians) and Burlington County College.

 

Albert M. Paolone (Class of 1987)
Triton High School

A graduate of Upper Darby (PA) High School in 1951, Paolone started wrestling at Ursinus College. He capped his senior year in college with an undefeated dual meet season and a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic States championships in 1955. He was also third in that competition in 1953. Paolone, who graduated from Ursinus in 1955, was the team captain two years and was later inducted into the Ursinus Hall of Fame. After graduating from Ursinus, Paolone was a graduate assistant with Doug Parker at Springfield College in 1956. He then moved on to Triton High School where he started the wrestling program in 1958. His teams compiled a 70-61-2 record and won three Olympic Conference championships. Paolone became a member of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association (1962-1978) and was instrumental in starting the South Jersey Chapter of the association, which he served as president for four years. He also served as vice president of the state officials association and officiated on both the district and regional levels in high school and in the collegiate ranks. After retiring from active officiating in 1978, Paolone assisted Hall of Famer Lou Coursen with the cadet program for two years. While at Triton, Paolone and Highland coach Ralph Ross ran a clinic for South Jersey wrestlers and started the South Jersey Invitational Christmas Tournament in 1963, the first of its kind in South Jersey. Paolone received his doctorate from Temple University in 1972 and became a professor of Exercise Physiology at Temple.

 

 

Gary W. Papa (Class of 1994)
Collingswood High School

A 1970 graduate, Papa was a two-time District 28 champ who won the Region 4 title and was a state runner-up his senior year. A team captain of the soccer and wrestling teams as a senior, Papa compiled a 45-6-2 record under Hall of Famer Sam Coursen. Papa continued wrestling at York College of Pennsylvania, compiling a 68-15-2 record. He was a two-time Lebanon Valley Invitational and York Open champ and four-time national qualifier. A team captain his senior year, Papa placed fifth in NAIA Tournament in 1974 to gain All-America status. He�s been a head wrestling coach 14 years (12 at Paul VI, two at Camden Catholic) with a combined 221-56-1 record, four district, six conference, five holiday tournament, 11 Parochial A sectional and eight Parochial A state team titles. He has coached 38 district, 20 regional five state champs � and nine additional state place winners. Twice named Region 7 and Courier-Post Coach of the Year, Papa started the South Jersey all-stars meets for the Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization seven years and is currently in his 11th year on South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Executive Committee. Among his most memorable moments in the sport were reaching the state finals his senior year in high school and coaching his son Zac to a district championship in Zac�s senior year.

 

Doug Parise (Class of 2006)
Lakewood High School

A 1976 graduate, Parise compiled a 70-14-1 record in his four-year varsity career. Parise was a Region 7 champion at 135 pounds in 1975 and 1976. He capped his varsity career with a 6-3 win over Jerry Gottlick of Westfield to win the 135-pound state championship in Princeton. Parise also wrestled at Temple University, winning the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association and Coast Guard Invitational titles in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 Parise gained All-American status with a fifth-place finish at 142 pounds in the NCAA Tournament. He also competed for the New York AC and the White Tower Wrestling Club in Freestyle and Greco-Roman. He was a national open runner-up three times and placed fourth and fifth in the AAU Nationals. Parise's scholastic coaching career included one year as assistant at Jackson Middle School, head coach at Pt. Pleasant Boro and Central Regional and 13 years as an assistant at Ocean Township. He also was head coach at Temple University three years where he produced an NCAA National Champion in Bill Hyman. Parise also served as a coach at the Top Gun School of Wrestling in Howell and the Hammer Wrestling School.

 

Jeffrey B. Parker (Class of 1993)
Toms River South High School

This 1977 graduate stepped on the wrestling mat for the first time as a freshman in high school and complied a 17-1 freshman-jayvee record. Over the next three years he became a legendary performer under coach John DeMarco. He won District 25 championships three times and the Region 7 championship three times. He was recipient of the Outstanding Wrestier Award three times in the districts and twice in the regionals. Parker won back-to-back state championships his junior and senior years, winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award his senior year on the way to completing his scholastic career with a gaudy 92-3-0 record. Success followed Parker at Louisiana State University where, before the end of his freshman year, he won nine of the 10 tournaments he competed in, including three New Jersey state Federation qualifiers, MU Junior Olympic Nationals, East Stroudsburg Open, New York AC Open, New York-New Jersey All-Star meet and the Woodbury Open. He was second at the Junior National Federation Tournament. Parker compiled a 71-9-0 record before leaving college in 1981. He was a two-time Southeastern Conference champion and a Midwest Regional Conference champion, winning Outstanding Wrestler awards as a freshman in the Southeastern and as a junior in the Midwest Regional. He was a three-time Oklahoma Open champ who also won the Kentucky and Tennessee Opens. He won numerous off-season wrestling championships, including the prestigious Midlands, and was a regional Olympic qualifier competing for the New York AC, Sunkist Kids and Light Tower wrestling clubs and competed in the East-West meet. Parker coached with his LSU coach Larry Sciacchetano for two years and later ran a Youth Recreation wrestling program in Toms River and has helped coach at Toms River South High school. Parker also coached the Toms River Little Indians football team for four years during which time the team compiled a 53-0 record.

 

Kemal Pegram (Class of 2010)
Pemberton High School

A 1990 graduate, Pegram compiled a career record of 87-6 and was a three-time District 25 champion. Pegram followed a second-place finish in Region 7 as a sophomore by winning the next two titles. Pegram finished 6th in the State in 1989 and a year later won the 152-pound title to cap a 32-0 season. Ironically, Pegram's uncle was Herb Baptiste, a Woodbury High School heavyweight who was South Jersey's first two-time state champion in 1942 and 1943. Baptiste was an inductee into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame inaugural class in 1980. Pegram followed his high school career as a four-time NCAA qualifier at Lock Haven University with a career record of 92-42-1. He led LHU in pins as a true freshman and was an Eastern Wrestling League and Pennsylvania State Athkletic Conference Champion during his career. He finished second all-time at LHU in Major Decisions. He was an assistant coach at Shippensburg University and was a head wrestling coach at Big Spring (PA) High School..

  

Rich Pemberton (Class of 2006)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1965 graduate of Oakcrest High School, Pemberton became part of Art Marinelli's first team when he was a sophomore. Pemberton wrestled three years and along the way sustained two broken arms. Pemberton graduated from Trenton State College in 1969 and later earned a master's degree at Glassboro State. His first teaching job at Southern Regional gave him his first coaching experience as an assistant to Robin Leff (1969-72). In 1982 he became Absegami's first wrestling coach and compiled a 60-21 record in six years as head coach before turning the program over to Gene Barber. Pemberton�s team won two District 32 titles, two South Jersey Association Eastern Division and two South Jersey South championships. His 1974-75 team was 18-1 and his entire team was in the finals and won the Cherokee Christmas Tournament in 1977. Pemberton was a varsity wrestling official over 20 years and he served terms as vice-president and president of the Southern Shore Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association. He also served as a conference and Region 8 president. He organized and ran numerous mini tournaments and youth clinics. Starting in 2000, he became a volunteer TV commentator for the broadcast of Absegami wrestling on the local cable channel.

 

Howard M.J. Pendleton (Class of 1993)
Woodbury High School

A 1974 graduate, Pendleton was a two-time district champion, winning at 157 pounds in 1973 and at 170 pounds a year later. Pendleton sailed uneaten into the Region 7 championships in 1974 and was beaten 11-7 by Bob Wilkins of Rancocas Valley in the finals. But runners-up could advance to the state tournament and Pendleton made the most of his second chance. He won four straight bouts, never giving up a point, and annexed his state title with a 3:11 fall over Wilkins to finish his varsity career with a 62-12 record. Pendleton saw spot duty as a freshman and was third in the districts as a sophomore. His junior year, after gaining All-Colonial Conference recognition in football, Pendleton was 20-2 and a district champ. But a knee injury sustained in the semifinals of the districts required hospitalization the following week, ending his season.

 

Anthony M. Petrililo (Class of 1985)
Rancocas Valley Regional High School

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Tony was the captain of his high school wrestling team and a standout in football. Following graduation in 1946, Tony attended Mansfield State where he was captain of the football team and competed in intra-mural wrestling. He also received his Master�s degree from Rutgers University in 1962. Tony started an illustrious career as head wrestling coach at Rancocas Valley in 1961. Through the 1982 season, Petrillo compiled a 191-103-5 record. He produced 51 district and six regional champions and had four wrestlers finish second in the state. He was selected Burlington County Coach of the Year three times. His teams won five District 26 and six Burlington County Scholastic League championships. His 1970-71 team was undefeated. He was a recipient of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association �Contribution Award� and was honored by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for his contributions to wrestling. Always a coach who wrestled a �tough� schedule, Petrillo continued to stay active in wrestling after his retirement as head coach with his work for the SJWCOA and the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization where he served on the Executive Committee of both organizations

 

Edward J. Poland (Class of 2001)
South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization, Inc.

This 1973 Collingswood High School graduate has been a familiar face in Collingswood and around South Jersey for nearly four decades. He has been extremely active in the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization, Inc. since its inception. He also has been an active worker for many years with the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Organization. He has served the SJWHFO and the SJWCOA as ticket chairman for several years and handles the immense responsibility of getting everyone properly seated at the annual banquet functions. Poland�s dedicated work in both organizations has enabled them to be models for any group in the state that honors and supports the sport of wrestling. A four-year participant in athletics at Collingswood, the highlight of Poland�s athletic career was going to and later working at the Pocono Sports Camp under Sam Coursen, Johnny Johnson and Clyde �Red� Whitman.

 

Howard Pomroy (Class of 1992)
N.J. Wrestling Officials Association

A 1963 graduate of Triton Regional High School where he wrestled three years varsity under Hall of Famer Al Paolone, Pomroy has been involved in the sport for over three decades. Twice a district runner-up in high school, Pomroy was 12-0 entering the district finals his senior year at Triton before his season ended with a loss to future Hall of Famer Tom Cabal of Woodbury, who went on to win the state title. He continued competing in wrestling as a four-year member of Doug Parker�s New England champions at Springfield College. The New England AAU 155-pound champion in 1965 came back to South Jersey and started his teaching career at Haddon Heights where he compiled a 45-49 record as head wrestling coach from 1969 through 1975. He had five district champions and one regional champ. Pomroy was a registered varsity official from 1975 through 1985. He officiated on the group, district, regional and state levels, including the 1984 state finals. Currently the athletic director at Haddon Heights, Pomroy has turned to the administrative end of education but has continued to stay involved in wrestling as a member of the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame. A charter member, he was the second treasurer of the SJWHOF and is past president of the Colonial Conference.

 

V. Miller Preston (Class of 1992)
Haddon Township High School

After five years as an assistant wrestling coach at Long Branch and a year as an assistant coach at Haddon Township, Miller took over the head coaching job at Township in 1964. The 1954 Manasquan High School graduate, who competed in track and wrestling at Ursinus College before graduating in 1959, has been the head coach the last 27 years and has compiled a record of 336-106-7, second on the all-time win list in South Jersey behind Hall of Famer Ralph Ross of Highland. Preston�s teams twice won the Colonial Conference (the 1970-71 team was the last team to win the title other than Paulsboro through 1991-92) championship and have won eight Christmas Tournament titles. Preston's teams also have won 10 district titles and twice won South Jersey group championships. He has coached one state, 13 regional and 58 district champs. Miller was Region 7 president seven years. was a regional ranking chairman seven years and has been president of the South Jersey Coaches and Officials Association the last three years.

 

Edward J. Pszwaro (Class of 1980)
Paulsboro High School

Raised in Gibbstown, Ed graduated from Paulsboro High School and Gettysburg College. He started his coaching career in North Jersey in baseball and football. After the war, he restarted the wrestling program at Paulsboro coaching from 1947 to 1963. He was first South Jersey coach over century mark (134-18-1 career record) and had eight unbeaten seasons, including a 44-meet win streak from 1952 through 1957. He produced seven individual state champions and had 10 South Jersey and three district team titles. Was athletic director at Paulsboro and Sterling. He received the Coaches Contribution and Harry E. Lake Awards. He passed away in June at age 68.

 

Frank Pulio (Class of 1986)
West Deptford High School

A 1966 graduate, Pulio put West Deptford High School on the wrestling map when the school was in its infancy. He capped a brilliant sophomore campaign in 1964 by winning the district, regional and state championships at 98 pounds � becoming the first and only state champion in the school�s history. A three-year varsity starter, Pulio paid the price for the notoriety that comes with winning a state title during the next two years as he was constantly stalked by the opposition. Pulio was a regional runner-up his junior year and bronze medalist in the districts as a senior. He completed an outstanding scholastic career with a 50-3-1 record that included never losing a dual meet. The two-time team captain stayed right with the sport he learned to love so young over the next two decades. He served as head coach of the West Deptford Junior Wrestling program for a dozen years and played a major role in helping form the Gloucester County Junior Wrestling League. Pullo also became a wrestling official and has served over a dozen years as a varsity official on all levels of state competition. For more than two decades, Pulio�S face has been a familiar one at all levels of wrestling competition � as a competitor, coach, official and fan.

 

Roger Pullen (Class of 2000)
Shawnee High School

A 1965 Burlington City High School graduate, Pullen�s career as a coach started at the freshman level under Hall of Famer Bill Neal. A varsity performer in football and track at Burlington City, Pullen went to Glassboro State (now Rowan Universtiy) where he played varsity football four years. Pullen graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and earned his Masters degree in 1975. He started his teaching career in 1970 at Shawnee but was drafted into the Army in November of 1970. He spent 21 months in the service and returned to Shawnee following his discharge. Pullen coached wrestling at the freshman level three years before moving up to the JV level. He took over as head coach in 1979 and compiled a 209-113-4 record in 20 years as head coach. His team qualified for sectional playoffs seven times, won four District 26 titles, one Burlington County League Liberty Division title, four Edgewood Christmas Tournament and four Pine Barrens Wrestling Classic championships. Individually, he had three state place winners, 11 Region 7 champions, 52 District 26 champions and numerous Edgewood and Pine Barrens champs. He was twice selected District 26 Coach of the Year. Pullen was a District 26 representative several years and Region 7 ranking chairman for seven years. He has served as a Selection Committee member of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame and has been involved in presenting clinics to junior wrestling programs in the Medford area. 

 

Leo Quinones (Class of 2007)
Rancocas Valley RegionalHigh School

A 1971 graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School, he had a modest 15-5 record. He continued wrestling at Kutztown University where he was captain of the 1974-75 team. He was selected as the Burlington County College Wrestler of the Year in 1975. He was an assistant wrestling coach at Rancocas Valley 1975-1980 and Freedom High School in Bethlehem, PA 1981-82. He was a head coach at Rancocas Valley 1983-1992 where he implemented the Rancocas Valley Wrestling Booster Club. He is credited with rebuilding the program to playoff level - winning District and League championships in 1985. Quinones, who had 21 district and six regional champions, coached Rancocas Valley's only state champion, Eric Childs, in 1988. The head coach at Northern Burlington Regional High School from 1993-1998, Quinones started the Northern Burlington Wrestling Booster Club and implemented the 7th-8th grade wrestling program in 1996. He coached nine district champions and had two Region 7 champs. Overall, Quinones compiled a career coaching record of 149-125-3. Quinones also became a referee and officiated two years in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association as a registered official and six years as a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association registered official. Quinones also served as President of the Region 7 New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association.  

 

James M. Reaves (Class of 1981)
Vineland High School

Reaves accomplished a feat no other South Jersey wrestler has ever duplicated by winning the South Jersey tournament title (recognized as District 4 in New Jersey)four consecutive years. He won his first title at 134 pounds in 1948 and then won at 139 and 146 pounds while making four consecutive trips to the state championships. Coached he Joe Homiak, Reaves had his best finish in the state when he placed second in 1951. Reaves combined working with attending college classes at night after graduation and received his degree from Rider College in 1965. Reaves is a certified public accountant and, for the fast two decades, has worked as a fiscal officer for the state of New Jersey.

 

Bernie Reider (Class of 1996)
Jackson Memorial High School

A 1963 Penn State University graduate, Reider became head coach at Jackson in 1966 and over 15 years led his teams to a 160-59-3 record, 29th on the all-time win list in South Jersey. Reider�s teams won seven district and six conference championships. From 1972 through 1975 Reider�s teams won 58 consecutive dual meets. Reider had 44 district, 14 regional and four state champions. Several times district and regional Coach of the Year, Reider served on the state coaches association ranking committee five years and still serves as tournament director of the Shore Conference Wrestling Tournament. He recalls his team�s 20-18 victory over Howell in February of 1973 among his most memorable moments in the sport, and considers the association with his fellow coaches, athletes and parents to be one of the highlights of his coaching career.

 

Elmer C. Reid (Class of 2004)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1936 graduate of Mount Holly High School, Reid attended Rutgers University for two years. When the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Organization was formed, he served as the organization�s treasurer for several years. An avid sportsman and farmer, he fathered four daughters - Carol, Sandra, Janet and Barbara. A football and baseball player in high school, he started following college wrestling when his daughters were in high school that led him to becoming a wrestling official. He started officiating in the early 1960�s and officiated at the district and regional level. He was a respected official who was remembered as straightforward and honest. Reid had to retire from active officiating in the early 1970�s following his first heart bypass surgery. He passed away in February of 2000.

 

Mark J. Reid (Class of 2006)
West Deptford High School

A 1968 graduate, Reid was a three-time District 29 finalist who capped a 69-9-1 career at heavyweight with a Region 4 championship and runner-up finish in the state as a senior. Reid won his 1967 district title with a 5-4 win over Paul Cooper of Triton Blue. As a senior, Reid defeated Sam Giordano of Paulsboro 2-1 in the district final and decisioned Ted Gatanis of Pennsville 5-3 in the Region 4 finals. After a 1-0 overtime win over Joe Bongiovanni of Neptune in the state semifinals in the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Reid lost 3-1 to Ira Lubert of Newton. A versatile athlete in high school, Reid also competed in football and track and field. Following graduation, Reid went on to wrestle at the University of Maryland. As a senior, he was captain of Maryland's team and won an Atlantic Coast Conference championship before graduating in 1972.

 

Fred Renner (Class of 1995)
Penns Grove High School

A graduate of Penns Grove High School in 1958 and Washington College in Chestertown, MD in 1962, Renner began his teaching and coaching career at West Deptford High School in 1963, coaching freshman football, basketball and baseball. When he took a teaching position in Penns Grove in 1965, Renner became an assistant in wrestling and football. He took over as head wrestling coach in 1970 and compiled a 241-192-4 record in 24 years. His teams won the overall Tri-County Conference championship twice, the Tri-County Classic Division twice and were District 31 champions four times. His team won the South Jersey Group 2 title in 1981 and the Edgewood Christmas Tournament title in 1991. Renner coached two state champs (Willie Crews and Charles Moorer), had 20 Region 8 and 90 District 31 finalists. He had 36 wrestlers, including six voted Most Outstanding, win Edgewood Christmas titles. Renner, the District 31 and Region 8 Coach of the year in 1990, considered winning his first District championship in 1976 (and repeating in �77 and �78), having his first regional champions in 1976, winning Tri-County in 1978, winning conference, district and South Jersey Group 2 championships in �81 and his two individual state champs among his fondest memories.

 

Edwin Rivera (Class of 1992)
Jackson Memorial High School

A 1975 graduate, Rivera was a three-time district, two-time region and two-time state champion under coach Bernie Reider. Rivera, who also won two Wall Township Chnstmas Tournament championships, compiled an 82-5-1 record in high school. In 1974 Rivera won the Region 7 title as a junior with a 2-0 win over Stu Freeman of Brick Township. He followed that with decisions of 6-2, 7-3 and 6-1 in the state championships before winning his title with a 7-3 victory over Joe Braco of South Plainfield � two bouts after what he considers the most memorable moment for him in the sport, watching his brother Hector win the 122-pound state title. Rivera was the top-seeded wrestler in the 1975 state tournament after winning the Region 7 title with a 4-1 win over Paulsboro�s John DeSalvo. After decisions of 6-2, 5-3 and 8-2, Rivera won his second state title with an 8-1 victory over Brian Surage of Passaic Valley. Rivera later wrestled at Temple University, where he finished second in the Easterns in 1976. Rivera, who also participated in soccer and track at Jackson Memorial, said he considers placing in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Tournament in 1976 the highlight of his wrestling career.

 

Hector L. Rivera (Class of 1996)
Jackson Memorial High School

A 1974 graduate, Rivera defeated Gateway�s Ed Lightcap 8-2 to win the 122-pound Region 7 title his senior year and went on to complete a 27-0 campaign, winning the state title with an 8-2 overtime win over previously unbeaten Mark Preston of Sparta. A two-time district champion and Wall Christmas Tournament champ his senior year, Rivera attended Temple University for two years before enlisting in the U.S. navy. He was stationed at Guantonimo Bay, Cuba, from 1980-84. The most memorable moment in his scholastic career was winning the 1974 state title along with his brother Edwin. Another highlight in his high school career was being part of a Jackson Memorial team that kept its unbeaten record intact when he was in the varsity lineup.

 

Greg Rizzo (Class of 1999)
Gateway Regional High School

A 1981 graduate, Rizzo accomplished his goal of an undefeated season and a New Jersey State championship as a senior. He narrowly missed that same goal his junior year, going 29-2 and absorbing his first loss in the state semifinals on the way to a fourth-place finish. A recent inductee into the Gateway High School Hall of Fame, Rizzo was a three-time finalist and two-time champion in the Pennsville Christmas Tournament, and an Edgewood Christmas Tournament champion. He also was a two-time District 29 and a three-time Region 8 champion. Rizzo culminated a 99-8-1 career record by winning the state title, the first in school history. Rizzo wrestled on the college level for Franklin & Marshall College and Old Dominion University. He compiled a modest 36-5-1 record with two season-ending injuries hampering his collegiate effort. He was invited to compete in the 1984 Olympic trials, but a career-ending injury prevented his participation. While at Old Dominion, Rizzo learned SOMBO, a sport combining wrestling, Judo and self-defense. He eventually finished fourth in the SOMBO Nationals. He was an assistant coach at Woodbury High School in 1986 and 1987, and was an assistant for one season at West Deptford. Among his most memorable moments were four- year rivalries with Eftim Velahos of Paulsboro, Greg Gaspari of Collingswood, and Dennis Dean of West Deptford. The highlight of his career was winning the 1981 state title.

 

Elmer W. Roane (Class of 1984)
Paulsboro High School

A 1954 graduate, Roane was talked into competing in wrestling as a junior by team captain Jimmy Gentile (1980 Hall of Fame inductee). After an unbeaten jayvee season, Roane stepped up to the varsity his senior year and compiled another unbeaten season by winning the South Jersey and state 115-pound championships under the late Ed Pszwaro, who was inducted posthumously into the 1980 Hall of Fame. Following high school Roane was offered a half-scholarship to West Chester State Teachers College but could not attend because of financial difficulties. Roane returned to the sport he excelled at by joining the coaching staff in the Paulsboro Junior Wrestling program where he helped coach for 12 years.

 

James B. Robertson, II (Class of 1982)
Collingswood High School

A 1962 graduate, Robertson never lost a dual meet in varsity competition. He lost only three bouts and had one draw while wrestling varsity three years under Coach Sam Coursen. He was a district and regional champion at 98 pounds in 1960-61-62; was fourth in the state as a sophomore, third as a junior and state champion his senior year. Robertson was a three-time varsity letterman in cross-country, wrestling and tennis and received the Outstanding Athlete Award at Collingswood upon graduation. After graduation he attended Springfield (MA) College where he was a member of that school�s first undefeated team (1964). Size betrayed Robertson in college and he never realized the dream of competing collegiately (lightest weight 118) but he worked as a student-manager and assistant coach.

 

Ralph E. Ross (Class of 1990)
Highland Regional High School

A 1962 graduate of Trenton State College, Ross became head wrestling coach at Triton Red in 1963. His team went 4-5 that season � his only losing campaign in 27 years. Ross moved to Highland when it opened. The rest is history. The winningest coach in South Jersey history with a 405-56-7 record, Ross is second only to Hunterdon Central�s Russ Riegel in state history. Along the way Ross coached seven individual state, 26 regional, 87 district and numerous Olympic Conference champions. His teams have won 14 Olympic Conference, 12 district, five Group IV and two Group Ill South Jersey sectional titles � and won the overall state Group IV championship the first four years it was contested. Ross wrestled under the late Ken �Bull� Landis at Lower Camden County Regional. Ross continued his schooling and got his master�s degree in education in 1968 and in administration 1974. Among his career highlights are the wins over Phillipsburg, where he proudly remembers exposing North Jersey�s best to South Jersey and beating them before a packed house in the Highland gym and duplicating that success to win the state Group 1V championship. Ross also recalls the 1990 sectional Group Ill victory over Eastern, a team that on paper looked like a sure winner against Highland that reaffirmed the Ross philosophy that a team believing in itself can do what others think it can�t if it tries. His teams also won 54 consecutive meets before losing to Washington Township on Dec. 22, 1976.

 

Cliff Rubicam (Class of 1982)
Collingswood High School

A native of South Jersey, Cliff attended Collingswood High School and Temple University where he participated and starred in several sports. His first teaching job in South Jersey was at Woodbury High School where he was wrestling coach in the early 40s. He coached state champions Herb Baptiste and Gil Hiliman, both Hall of Fame inductees. Shortly after moving on to Collingswood High School, Rubicam became South Jersey�s first wrestling official and played a major role in developing the official�s association. Cliff officiated on all levels in South Jersey and the state from 1947 through 1954.

 

Kevin Rucci (Class of 2011)
Eastern Regional High School

Few wrestlers in South Jersey history can present a resume as impressive as the 1998 Eastern Regional graduate. The four-year starter (100 pounds, 103, 112, 119) won four Caldwell Tournament, four Haddon Township Christmas Tournament, four District 26 and four Region 7 Championships. The three-time state finalist, he was a four-time state place winner and was his school's first statee champion. As a freshman he put wins of 11-4, 1:53 fall and 10-6 together before losing 7-5 to James LaValle of Hanover Park in the state finals. As a soophomore he had wins of 11-1, 6-5 and 4-2 before a 9-2 loss to Anthony Conte of Belleville in the finals. Rucci capped a 34-0 campaign as a 112-pound junior with wins of 6-0, 9-0 and 4-2 before a 7-5 decision over returning state champion Conte. Rucci seemed destined to repeat as a 119-pound senior before a 4-3 upset loss to eventual state chamoion Oliver Ruiz of Cliffside Park stopped his bid in the quarterfinals. A 17-5 win in the wrestle backs was followed by a medical forfeit, a 7th-8th place finish and a final career record of 125-4. Kevin also was a Cadet Freestyle All-American and a two-time Jnior Freestyle Champion. He was recipient of the Dave Schultz Award as a senior and received the Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award. Rucci wrestled at the University of Pennsylvania until injuries ended his career his sophomore year. .

 

Jermaine W. Ruffin (Class of 2010)
Paulsboro High School

A 1997 graduate, Ruffin established his identity as one of the best heavyweight wrestlers in the fabled Paulsboro program by stepping into the varsity lineup as a freshman. Affectionately know as "Pickle" before he entered high school, Ruffin was a four-time Distixct 29 Champion, a three-time Region 8 finalit who won the title as a senior, and a two-time state heavweight champion. In earning his two state titles, Ruffin had to endure a Region 8 rematch in both. He capped a 32-2 junior campaign with a 3-2 win over Highland's Dave Ritz, who he had lost to 10-5 a week earlier. As a senior Ruffin polished off a perfect 35-0 season with a win by fall against Absegami's Kirk Townsel, who he had descisioned 9-4 in the regional finals. Also a three-time Deep Creek Holiday Tournament chamopion in Virginia, Ruiffin compiled a creer record of 112-14, a total that had him 17th on Paulsboro's all-time win list through the 2010 season.

 

John P. Sanders (Class of 1993)
Eastern High School

A 1958 graduate of Neshaminy High School and 1962 graduate of Millersviile University, Sanders began teaching at Eastern High School in 1965 - the same year he started both the cross country and wrestling programs. In 1993, after 28 years as wrestling coach, Sanders ranked third on the all-time South Jersey win list behind Hall of Famers Ralph Ross of Highland and Miller Preston of Haddon Township with a 297-168-6 record. His teams had compiled 15 consecutive winning seasons, had won six Olympic Conference National Division championships, three district and two South Jersey titles and placed third in the state in Group 3 in 1985. Twice a district coach of the year, Sanders produced 53 district and eight regional champions, and seven state place winners through 1993. His teams participated in the Haddon Township Christmas Tournament over two decades and won the team title five times, including three of the last four entering the 1993-94 season. Among his most memorable moments in wrestling were twice wrestling Lock Haven legend Gray Simmons, beating Brick Memorial for the S.J. Group 3 championship in 1983 and 1985 (his team was third in the state in 1985), beating Highland 45-27 in 1990 and watching sons John Jr. and Mark wrestle in the midgets and for Lenape High School. Mark was a 4-time district champ and 2-time regional champ in a 98-7 career and John Jr. was second in teh regionals and fourth in the state.

 

Mark D. Sanders (Class of 2001)
Lenape High School

A 1983 graduate, Sanders completed his career at Lenape as the winningest wrestler in the history of the school through 1983. He was a 3-time Christmas Tournament champion, a 4-time District 26 champion, a 2-time Region 7 champion and compiled a 98-7-1 record as a four-year starter under Coach Sam Evangelista, a former inductee into the S.J. Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was captain of the team in 1982-83 and received the Outstanding Wrestler Award (seniors only) and Lenape�s overall Athlete of the Year Award (seniors only). He continued his wrestling career at West Virginia University where he compiled a varsity record of 56-49-1 before graduating in 1988. Sanders considers the highlight of his athletic career winning his second Region 7 championship title. Prior to high school he wrestled under the late Ray Jasper for Greentree Wrestling in Mt. Laurel and won numerous titles, including a Junior Olympics title. He is the son of Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Eastern High coach John Sanders.

 

Erik V. Saunders (Class of 2001)
Overbrook Regional High School

A 1989 graduate, Saunders was a four-time Overbrook Christmas Tournament champion who finished third, second twice and first in four trips to District 30. He capped a brilliant senior year by winning the District 30, Region 8 and State Championships to culminate a 93-8-1 career. Winning a state championship in 1989 was Erik�s career athletic highlight. Saunders went on to Seton Hall University where he compiled a 70-15 record in four varsity seasons. He was a three-time National Catholic Tournament champion, a three-time New England Conference champion a U.S. Coast Guard Academy Tournament champion and a three-time NCAA Division I qualifier.

 

Greg Sawyer (Class of 2014)
Delsea High School

A 1998 graduate of Delsea High School, Sawyer was a two-time District 31 Champion and a Region 8 Champion.  In three trips to the NJ State Tournament, Sawyer placed 5th at 189 pounds and 2nd at 215 pounds. During Sawyer’s first trip to the State Tournament, he won his opening round by a 15-1 decision over Quary Bey of Camden before dropping an 8-7 match to Walt Dull of Ocean City and a 20-10 loss in the first round of wrestlebacks.   Sawyer’s first bid to gain state honors in ’97 resulted in his winning his first match 6-3 over Sean Hendricks of Deptford and was followed by a 9-3 win over Drew Peters of Emerson/Park/Ridge before dropping a 14-5 decision to the N.J.S.I.A.A. runner-up from the previous year, Damion Hahn of Lakewood.  A wrestle-back loss to Rich Gildner of Southern put Sawyer on the podium with 5th place honors.  In ’98, wrestling at 215 pounds, Sawyer began his journey to the State Finals by winning by fall in 1:39 over Jim Robinson of Cinnaminson; this was followed by an 11-4 decision over Chris Gaskell of Lenape, an 8-6 decision over Pat Ekstrom of Cranford, and a 7-4 decision over Steve Kempinski of P’burg in the semi-finals. This set the stage for Sawyer to win the title, but he dropped the final bout of his high school career to Nick Lopez of Washington Twp, 5-3. It is notable that Sawyer entered the ’98 State Tournament with a leg that had not completely healed from a break he had sustained only weeks earlier. Sawyer capped off his career with a record of 91-26 and began a career at Rider University upon graduation from Delsea in ’98.  At Rider, Sawyer distinguished himself by capturing 2nd place honors in the ECWA Conference Tournament in ’00 and two 3rd place finishes in the CAA Conference Tournament in ’02 and ’03; these finishes qualified Sawyer to two trips to the Division I NCAA Tournament.  Sawyer points to his run at the state title his senior year as the highlight of his career, and cites the looks on his coaches’ faces as he came off the mat victoriously after his semi-final match in ’98 as being one of his most memorable moments.  Sawyer gives much of the credit for his success to assistant coach, Tom Maxwell, and head coach (’03 Hall of Famer), Steve Iles.  Upon graduation from Rider, Sawyer began working at his alma mater as a Special Education teacher; and, as the school’s head wrestling coach, Sawyer amassed impressive statistics, winning seven Tri-County Conference Championships, six SJ Group Championships and coaching eleven state place winners. Sawyer lives in Monroeville with his wife, Mandi, and their two children, Greg III (6), David (4) and Susanna (8 months).

 

Shawn Scannell (Class of 2009)
Absegami High School

Scannell was a four-time District 32 finalist and three-time champion. After winning a bronze medal in the Region 8 Tournament and finishing 5th in the state as a junior, Scannell capped a spectaculor senior season and 107-13 career with a 31-0 campaign that included the 171-pound championship. Scannell's final win was over Lakewood's Damion Hahn, who finished the year 27-3 and went 103-0 over the next three years to win three state titles. Scannell moved on to Rider University where he was a four-year varsity performer and won the East Coast Wrestling Association championship in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Scannell earned All-America status in 2000 in the NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis, finishing 8th at 184 pounds. He had a 102-27 career at Rider. Following college he became a teacher and coach at Absegami.

 

John Scavelli, Sr. (Class of 1985)
Vineland High School

A 1949 graduate of Clayton High School, Scavelli wrestled for Vineland High School in 1946-47 and 1947-48 before transferring to Clayton (where there was no wrestling program) his senior year. Scavelli won every match by fall his sophomore and junior years at Vineland against all South Jersey competition at 165 pounds with the exception of one match against Albert Mecholsky of Paulsboro, whom he lost to in overtime by injury default in 1946. He later avenged that loss with a fall over Mecholsky. He notes that he was the only winner in a 1947 dual meet for Vineland against Paulsboro. Twice the South Jersey Tournament champion at 165 pounds, Scavelli placed second in the state in 1946 and third in the state a year later. Scavelli attended Kutztown State on a football scholarship. He also served in the Navy where he wrestled representing the USS Yellowstone. He got back into the sport in South Jersey by starting the wrestling program at Clayton in 1964 and coached four years. He held the first mini wrestling tournaments in Clayton (1966-67) and organized the first wrestling clinic South Jersey by bringing in three-time national champion Mike Caruso from Lehigh and Syracuse coach Ed Carlin in 1966-67. He also coached the Franklin Township midgets in 1975-76. Scavelli was also active as an official, retiring from the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association in 1970 and from the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Association in 1980.

 

Peter M. Schantz (Class of 1997)
Haddonfield Memorial High School

A 1957 graduate, Schantz was a three-year varsity wrestler under Hall of Famer Bill Frantz. He capped his career his senior year by captaining the team, winning the South Jersey title and finishing third in the state. Schantz was an All-Group Ill quarterback on the undefeated HMHS football team as a senior and a three-year standout in track, excelling in the 440-yard and 880-yard runs. Schantz went to the University of Pennsylvania where he wrestled three years varsity, going 10-1 his senior year, when he was the team�s co-captain. He finished fourth in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Tournament. He also played quarterback and halfback on the varsity football team, which won the Ivy League Championship in 1959. Schantz coached the Penn frosh wrestlers for two years while a student in the School of Veterinary Medicine. He also was a three-time Middle Atlantic AAU champion, wrestling at 167 and 177 pounds, and was named Outstanding Wrestler of that tournament in 1962. Among his most memorable moments were winning the South Jersey title in 1957 by beating defending champion William (Paycheck) Moore of Paulsboro in overtime, winning an AAU title a third time, and scoring two touchdowns against Princeton in a nationally televised game in 1959. He has practiced Tae Kwon do with his son Brendan the last seven years and earned a black belt in 1996.

 

Milt Schisler (Class of 1994)
Pemberton High School

A 1950 graduate, of Florence High School and 1955 graduate of Florida Southern University whose athletic participation was in basketball in high school and college, Schisler was one of the most colorful wrestling coaches of his time at Pemberton. Rivaling Paulsboro, Highland, Lenape, Moorestown, Rancocas Valley, Pennsville and other top programs of the day for the top spot in South Jersey, Schisler coached his teams to a 173-30-1 record � which ranks him 19th on the all-time win list in South Jersey through the 1993-94 season. Schisler coached 56 individual district champions, 21 regional champions and had four state champs. His teams won nine district championships in addition to numerous Christmas tournament titles at Pennsville and Council Rock. When the Group championships were started in 1980, Schisler�s team won the first Group 4 title. His team also was selected No. 1 in South Jersey in 1976. He is a past recipient of Coach of the Year awards in District 26 and region 7. His most memorable moment in wrestling was coaching his first state champion, Hall of Famer Daryll Burley (later a four-time national finalist and two-time NCAA champion for Lehigh University). He labels the highlight of his career as working with so many fine wrestlers at Pemberton.

 

Henry L. (Hank) Schnepf (Class of 1985)
Lenape High School

A 1946 graduate of Good Counsel High School in Newark, N.J., Schnepf served four years in the United States Marine Corps before attending the University of Delaware where he earned his Bachelor�s Degree in 1956. Schnepf played two years on the unbeaten Quantico football team and also played football for Delaware. He arrived on the South Jersey scene in 1956 when he took a job as teacher arid assistant football coach at Rancocas Valley High School. In 1978. he started the wrestling program at RV �� the first school with that sport in Burlington County. Schnepf moved over to Lenape High School in 1961 and started the wrestling program at that school. Schnepf, who also coached baseball and cross-country, left coaching in 1970 after his received his Master�s Degree in administration and became assistant principal at Lenape. He spent five years as an active wrestling official before devoting his time to running the entire athletic program at Lenape in 1975, where he hosted the District 26 Tournament. The University of Delaware graduate won more than a dozen championships in the Burlington County and Del-Val Leagues and the districts before retiring. He also produced 32 district, six regional and one state champion while compiling a 102-32-6 career record as coach. His state champion was Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Smith. The first wrestler from Burlington County to accomplish that feat.

 

F. Michael Schuld (Class of 2003)
Maple Shade High School

A  1965 graduate of Kailua (Hawaii) High School, Schuld was 14�3 and state 183-pound champion as a senior. A year before he compiled a 12-5 record in a first-year program at Santa Ana Valley (Calif.) High School. Schuld went on to post a 52-12 record in two years at Santa Ana Community College where he placed second in four tournaments, third in three and was third in the state Junior College qualifier. He was voted Most Inspirational Wrestler on the team in 1968. Schuld moved on to California State University at Fulerton where he compiled a 43-12 record, placing first in two tournaments, second in three and third in two. A team captain 1968-70, Schuld won the El Toro Marine Open Championship. His coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Fullerton 1970-72. He was a volunteer assistant at St. Joseph�s Camden 1972-74 and head coach at Monsignor Donovan in Toms River three years (building program into two complete teams and posting the first two winning seasons in school history). He also coached a year at Ocean County College, served seven years as assistant at St. Joseph/Monsignor Donovan and was head coach at Maple Shade from 1985�2002. He compiled a coaching record of 200-166-9 and his teams at Maple Shade won six Burlington County League Freedom Division titles. He coached 42 district place winners and eight regional place winners. His most memorable moment coaching at Maple Shade was being in the corner in 1995 when James Ross advanced to the state�s first 215 pound championship before finishing second, He was selected District Coach of the Year three times, Region 7 Coach once and Burlington County Coach of the Year once. His teams received three South Jersey Wrestling Officials Sportsmanship awards. He has served on the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame since 1987, including two terms as Vice-Chairman.

 

John Semar (Class of 2001)
Cherry Hill East, Cherry Hill West High Schools

A 1961 graduate of Fair Lawn (NJ) High School and a 1965 graduate of Springfield (Mass) College, Semar started his coaching career in Ellenville (NY) in 1967-68 and led his first team to a 10-3 record. He�s also coached at Pennsauken (1968-69, 12-2), Matawan (1970-71, 4-10), Ridgewood (1971-75, 18-26), Cherry Hill East (1975-81, 70-26) and Cherry Hill West (1985-90, 65-34-2) for a combined 17-year varsity record of 179-101-2. The most exciting highlight in Semar�S head coaching career was a January of 1987 meet that ended Highland�s 46 dual meet and 93 Olympic Conference dual meet streaks. He also was an assistant coach in Ellenville (NY), Onteora (NY), Carusi Junior High in Cherry Hill (1991-97) and at Cherry Hill West (1983-84; 1997-present). Semar�s teams won the D.U.S.O. (NY) League championship in 1968, South Jersey Conference North championships in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981, holiday tournament titles at Lenape (1979), Washington Township (1980), and Edgewood (1986, 1989) and a District 27 title in 1990. He was a Region 7 Coach of the Year in 1979, 1981 and 1987, a NJ State Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1987 and was inducted into the New Jersey State Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989. He is a past president of the NJ Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (1979-81), former Meet Director of Region 7, and twice served as Region 7 president.

 

Charles (Chick) Sherwood (Class of 1981)
Haddonfield High School

A 1956 graduate, Sherwood was unbeaten and won the 157-pound South Jersey and state championships in only his second year in the sport. He was talked into competing by wrestling coach Bill Frantz his junior year. Sherwood�s first season ended with a 1-0 loss in the South Jersey finals. Following graduation, Sherwood had three outstanding seasons at West Virginia University. He won two Southern Conference titles and was deprived of a chance at a third title when he was sidelined with an injury late in his senior season. He started the wrestling program at Falls Church, Va., where he coached two years while earning his Master�s Degree. In 1962 he moved to Central Michigan University as assistant coach in wrestling and track. Two years later he became head wrestling coach and led his team to 149 wins in 18 years. Last season his team placed eighth in the national championships.

 

Dean R. Sizemore (Class of 2007)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1973 graduate of Paulsboro High School, Sizemore compiled a record of 18-2-1. He won the District 28 championship with a 3-2 overtime win over Deptford's Bob MacMaster, finished 3rd in Region 7 and won the team's Tough Guy Award in his senior year. He was a three-time letter winner in football, a two-time letter winner in baseball and one-time letterman in track. Sizemore was selected Outstanding Male Athlete in his graduating class. He wrestled at Temple University and compiled a career record of 49-12-1. He won the Monmouth County Open and the NYAC Holiday Tournament in 1974 and was second two times at the Blue Hen Christmas tournament. A broken vertebra the first meet of his senior year ended his college career. He coached the Moorestown freshman team from 1977-1981 and compiled a 62-1-1 record. He also was the head baseball coach three years. Sizemore was a volunteer assistant at Camden Catholic 2004-2005 and at Paulsboro 2005-07. Through 2007, he had been a wrestling official for 26 years. Sizemore served as President of the Southern Chapter of New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association and state Vice President of the NJWOA. He officiated at midget, high school, and collegiate levels and was SJWCOA Wrestling Official of the Year for 1989-1990.

 

Dennis Smith (Class of 1983)
Lenape High School

A 1968 graduate, Smith never lost a dual meet in high school competition. He was 31-0 wrestling at 90 and 98 pounds in freshmen and jayvee competition won two district titles, one regional title and the 106-pound state championship for a 41-1 varsity record under Coach Hank Schnepf. His lone loss was in the semifinals of the regionals his junior year. After high school, Smith wrestled varsity at Rutgers University where he placed fourth in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships in 1970 and captained the team in 1972, winning the Wilfred E. Cann Award for contributions to Rutgers wrestling. Smith wrestled in numerous post-high school tournaments, won the South Jersey Open at Vineland four times and the East Stroudsburg Open. He was assistant coach at Trenton State in 1972-73 where he earned his Masters Degree. He was an assistant coach at Lenape 1973-75 and has been the head wrestling and cross-country coach at Delran High School since 1975. He has an eight-year coaching record of 84-54-2 (1-16 his first year after starting the program) and his teams have won three Burlco Freedom titles and last year won the District 27 championship.

 

Frank Smith (Class of 2010)
Pennsville Memorial High School

A 1982 graduate, Smith was a three-time District 31 champion and a two-time Region 8 finalist. In 1981 he lost in the regional finals and as a senior won the regional title. His junior year Smith went 1-1 and was eliminated from the State Tournament by eventual state champion Sal Lacorte of DePaul in a 24-2 campaign. In his senior year Smith carried a 31-0 record into the 115-pound state finals and had an 11-3 lead over two-time returning state champ John Barna of Phillipsburg with 58 seconds left when Barna rallied for a win by fall to complete his second straight 31-0 season and earn his second straight Outstanding Wrestler Award in Princeton's Jadwin Gymnasium. Smith was a two-time AAU Mid-Atlantic Freestyle and Greco-Roman champion and in 1982 won the 123-pound North Eastern Zone Olympic 200 Trials in Freestyle. He compiled a 77-8 scholastic record. Smith coached the Pennsville Youth and Middle School programs. He also spent two years as assistant coach in the high school. He co-founded the "Screaming Eagles Wrestling Club" which was started to provide training for K-12 wreslers in South Jersey.

 

Steve Smith (Class of 2003)
Paulsboro High School

A 1973 graduate of Washington Township High School, Smith compiled a 45-20-2 career record for the Minutemen winning a 98-pound district title in 1972 and finishing second in the district and region at 98 pounds in 1973. Smith went on to Delaware Valley College where he compiled a 46-18 record and twice qualified for the Nationals. Starting in December 1978, Smith ran the Washington Twp. Junior program for 22 years and served as an assistant coach at Washington Township when the team twice won the South Jersey Group 4 championship and finished 2nd and 3rd in the state. Products of his Junior Program in Washington Township won five state titles and over a dozen were state place winners. Smith was a member of the Gloucester County League 24 years and served as the league�s treasurer three years and its president seven years. His team won the GCL title four times in succession. He has run approximately 75 tournaments (and counting), has literally raised �The Orchard� and Joey Melchiore's �Sidewinders.� Smith has hosted a half dozen foreign exchange clubs and helped take a group of wrestlers to Puerto Rico. He coached Team New Jersey in 2002 for the NHSCA and is its current coach. Smith also is New Jersey state chairman for the National High School Coaches Association for National Teams Duals. His most memorable moment in wrestling has been watching two of his sons wrestle in Region 8 finals.

 

John C. Stafford (Class of 2000)
Highland High School

A 1982 graduate, Stafford capped a 33-0 senior season by winning the District 30, Region 8 and State championships at 158 pounds. A district and regional runner-up as a junior, he completed his career with a 56-5-0 record. Stafford later wrestled at Rider University and won East Coast Conference championships in 1986 and 1987. He was undefeated in dual meets his senior season as he qualified for the NCAA Division I championships for the second consecutive year. He competed in Freestyle and Greco-Roman events after graduating from Highland. He won the National Junior Olympic freestyle championship at 178 pounds in 1982 and was the Greco-Roman Grand National Champion in 1982. He also won a gold medal at the 1982 National Sports Festival in Freestyle in Indianapolis and made the World Elite Team in Freestyle and Greco, opting to compete in Freestyle. He won the silver medal in the World Elite Freestyle Championships and placed fifth in the Junior Olympic Grand National Freestyle Championships. The highlight of his scholastic career was winning his state title, while the most memorable moment in his career was qualifying for both the World Elite Freestyle and Greco Roman teams and winning the silver medal in the world championships.

 

David W. Stanton (Class of 1999)
Haddonfield High School

A 1981 graduate, Stanton was a two-time district champion (after finishing 2nd as a sophomore), was a three-time regional finalist (winning twice) and finished third in the state as a junior and second as a senior. The three-time Lenape Christmas Tournament champion compiled a 77-6 record in his three varsity seasons. Stanton continued his education at James Madison University in Virginia, compiling a 94-31 record. An Amateur Wrestling News Freshman All-American in 1982, Stanton won the West Virginia Open in 1985 and was third in the East Regional in 1982-83-84. A JMU captain in 1985, he was a four-time Virginia Intercollegiate State Championships place winner and a two-time place winner in the Naval Academy Tournament. Stanton was a 1982 Junior Pan American Games gold medalist. He was selected Courier-Post heavyweight of the decade in the 1980s. The highlight of his wrestling career was receiving a scholarship to college - a goal he set while in junior high school. His most memorable moment was being part of a district championship team in 1980.

 

David Steiler (Class of 1986)
Collingwood High School

A 1961 graduate, Steiler was a three-year varsity starter for Coach Sam Coursen at Collingswood. Steiler capped a brilliant career by placing second in the state at 168 pounds his senior year. Another outstanding career was next at Temple University. Steiler, who captained the team his junior and senior years, never lost a dual meet and was a three-time Mid-Atlantic runner-up. Following his graduation from Temple in 1965, Steiler moved on to Springfield College to work on his Masters Degree. While doing graduate work Steiler got his first experience in coaching and guided Suffield (Conn.) Academy to a pair of unbeaten seasons. Steiler then coached Delaware Valley College to an 8-4 record and followed with a 45-9 record from 1969-73 at York (Pa.) College. Steiler returned to Temple University as head coach and compiled a 53-20-1 record in a five-year stay. While in the South Jersey area Steiler helped organize international meets involving local scholastic athletes against wrestlers from several foreign countries and was active in the South Jersey Wrestling Club. Steiler then turned to athletic administration and was athletic director at Cinnaminson High School before moving to Goshen, N.Y. and heading the athletic program in the Pine Bush Central School District.

 

Bobby Ray Stinson (Class of 2015)
Camden Catholic High School

A 2002 graduate of Camden Catholic, Stinson was a four-time District Champion (twice in District 27 and twice in District 28) and a four-time Region 7 Champion and placed four times in the state tournament as well as being the only wrestler to date to be named OW twice in the prestigious Virginia Duals.  As a freshman, wrestling at 103 pounds in Atlantic City, Stinson advanced to the state finals before dropping a controversial 3-2 decision to Terrance Clendenin of Toms River North.  The following year, competing at 112 pounds at the state tournament in the Meadowlands, Stinson lost a close decision in the semi-finals before rebounding in the wrestlebacks to capture third-place honors.  His final two years found the state tournament back in Atlantic City where, as a junior, he found himself on the podium with a fourth-place medal.  With only one year left to win gold, Stinson didn’t disappoint. At 130 pounds, he advanced to the state finals, where he met the former State Champion (’00) and the previous year’s runner up, Matt Anderson of South Plainfield. Stinson won a 6-3 decision over Anderson to come away as the 2002 N.J.S.I.A.A. Champion, and emerged as the state’s record holder for wins with a career record of 144-6. After graduation from Camden Catholic, Stinson attended Rider University, where he was a Beast of the East Champion and a CAA conference winner and was named that conference’s Rookie of the Year.  He cites winning a state title and becoming a Division I NCAA Tournament qualifier as the highlights of his career.  Stinson began his wrestling career under the tutelage of his father, Bob, Sr., which he considers one of his fondest memories, along with being able to coach his younger brother, Hank. At Eastern.  In 2008, Stinson graduated from Wilmington University. He holds a Masters Degree in Special Education, and since graduating, he served as an assistant coach at Eastern High School for four years and has been Eastern’s head coach since 2011.  Currently, a special education teacher, Stinson lives in Blackwood with his wife, Heather and their daughter, Stella Ray.

 

Jason C. Suter (Class of 1999)
Paulsboro High School

A 1986 graduate, Suter finished his high school career as the winningest wrestler in school history. A four-year starter, Suter compiled a 113-12-1 record, the first Paulsboro wrestler to earn 100 career wins. A two-year captain, Suter won the Caldwell and Deep Creek tournaments three times. He won two District 29 and two Region 8 titles. A three-time state finalist, he capped an unbeaten season by winning the state title at 158 pounds and was selected the Outstanding Wrestler in the state tournament as a senior. He also won Outstanding Wrestler awards at the Caldwell, Deep Creek and Region 8 tournaments. His team never lost a dual meet or tournament team title during his four varsity seasons and was ranked No. 1 in the state in 1985. He continued his career at Penn State University where he was a four-year varsity starter, won over 100 matches and was twice an All-American, finishing eighth in 1990 and fifth in 1991. Suter considers winning a stale title as a senior in high school and becoming an All-American at Penn State as highlights of his athletic career. His most memorable moments included the state finals as a junior when he got pinned in 36 seconds; the state finals his senior year, when he won and saw the faces of his parents as they ran to him from the stands; and the goose bumps he got his freshman year when he put on a Paulsboro uniform on for the first time.

 

Matthew W. Suter (Class of 2006)
Paulsboro High School

A 1993 graduate, Suter was a four-time District 29 champion who became the first four-time Region 8 champion with consecutive wins over Ed Lutz of Overbrook (11-5), Brian Lewis of Highland (10-9), Kip Covington of Overbrook (6-3) and Jason Brown of Oakcrest (technical fall). In four trips to the state championships where he was a four-time state semifinalist, Suter finished 6th, 1st, 2nd and 1st in the state in a 138-7-1 career. Suter defeated Mike Francesca of Union 8-5 for his first state title, lost 6-1 to Covington in a Region 8 rematch as a junior in the state finals and capped his career with a 14-7 win over North Hunterdon�s Chris Vidak. A 1993 Asics Tiger Junior National Champion, Suter established a state record for wins (138) in his career. And as a sophomore he established a state record for victories in a season (37). A 1991 Cadet World bronze medalist, Suter was selected Paulsboro's Most Valuable Wrestler four times. He went on to wrestle for Arizona State University where he compiled 107 victories, twice won a PAC 10 title, twice finished 3rd in the Midlands and made the Round of 12 all four trips to the NCAA Tournament. He earned All-America honors in 1997 with an 8th-place finish. He had the most pins for ASU in 1995 as a freshman.

 

Albert G. Sye (Class of 2000)
Glassboro High School

A 1969 Delsea High School graduate, Sye was a two-time District 31 and Christmas Tournament champion who placed third and second in two trips to the regional tournament. Sye went onto Gloucester County College where he compiled a 44-2-1 record, twice winning Region 19 championships and twice earning All-America honors with second place finishes in the Junior College Nationals. The first All-American athlete in the history of GCC, he was the school�s wrestling MVP in 1970 and 1971. Sye earned a wrestling scholarship to the University of Arizona (1971-73) where he started two years, compiling a 58-9 record. He was twice a Western Athletic Conference champion and was fourth in the country for another All-America honor. He was ranked No. 3 in the mid-season NCAA All-American selections in 1973. Sye taught and coached at Catalina/Saharo and Vuma high schools in Arizona, and Pitman and Glassboro high schools in South Jersey for a combined 150-34-2 record. His teams won four Olympic Conference titles at Glassboro and five Christmas tournament titles. He coached 17 district champions and had six regional champions and one state champion. Sye has been inducted into the Gloucester County College Hall of Fame (1978) and the National Junior College Hall of Fame (1984). He was Founder/Past President of the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in Tucson, Arizona, 1989-91 and was a Gloucester County College Alumni Silver Anniversary Circle of Success Award recipient in 1992. Sye, who earned his bachelor�s and masters degrees in secondary education at the University of Arizona, moved out of the classroom and into administration as the Associate Principal in Dover, Del. (1991-93) and spent 1993-2000 as Associate Principal and later Assistant Superintendent in the Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Ill.

 

Aaron Taylor (Class of 2013)
Camden Catholic High School

Taylor was a four-time District 27 Champion and a two-time Region 7 Champion wrestling under Hall of Famer, Gary Papa, and who finished his scholastic career with a 121-9 record. In his state tournament appearances, Taylor placed 5th as a sophomore in �94 at 103 pounds, 4th as a junior in �95 at 112 pounds, while earning 3rd place honors in �96, his senior year. Though a state title eluded Taylor, he never lost a dual meet in high school, which he considers one of his proudest accomplishments. Upon graduation from Camden Catholic, Taylor enrolled at Cornell University, where he continued his success on the mat wrestling under the legendary Rob Koll. Taylor earned prestigious E.I.W.A. honors, placing 3rd, 3rd and 5th. He finished his wrestling career for the �Big Red� with a record of 96-48. Along the way to these honors, Taylor was also named to the All Ivy Team on two occasions. He not only succeeded on the mat, but in the classroom as well, graduating �Cum Laude with Distinction in Research� as well as earning a membership to the Sphinx Head Honor Society. Upon his graduation from Cornell, Taylor continued his love of wrestling by becoming involved in club wrestling, serving as head coach of both Team Intensity and Team Intensity�s travelling team. Looking back on his cherished memories of wrestling, Taylor considers being part of the wrestling�s fraternity the very best one. He claims the sport of wrestling permitted him to wrestle in front of thousands of loyal Cornell fans, to establish literally thousands of �wrestling family� friends and to stay active in the very unique sport of wrestling where every meeting with an old friend brings back so many fond memories. A team man from the beginning, Taylor continues to give of himself for the sport he loves so much.

 

Douglas R. Taylor (Class of 2002)
Millville High School

A 1982 graduate, Taylor was a four-time District 32 and three-time Christmas Tournament and Region B champion. In three trips to the state championships, Taylor finished third in 1980, second in 1981 (losing 2-0 to Glenn Hall of Voorhees) and first in 1982 (6-3 win over Hall in a repeat state final). He compiled a 102-5-2 record in his four-year varsity career. Taylor considers being on the mat with his father in his corner the most memorable moment of his career and fondly remembers the friendships made through wrestling throughout his travels from state to state, from camps to tournaments.

 

Rob Taylor (Class of 2002)
Millville High School

A 1955 graduate, Taylor culminated his high school career by winning the South Jersey championship and finishing second by a score of 5-4 to Warren Dixon of Union in the 1955 state tournament in the Elizabeth Armory. He went on to Oklahoma A&M (known today as Oklahoma State University) and finished second in the NCAA Tournament for a national championship team at the nationals in Laramie, Wyoming, as a sophomore in 1958 (freshmen were not eligible to compete in varsity sports so Taylor could only watch his first year at A&M). Taylor finished third in the NCAA Tournament for national champion Oklahoma State in Iowa City in 1959. In 1961 Taylor was offered an assistant�s job under Rutgers University wrestling Coach Dick Voliva. But a growing family convinced Taylor to move back home with steady employment. In 1973 he founded the Millville Junior Wrestling Program.

 

 

Doug TenBrook (Class of 2013)
Millville High School

A 1987 graduate, TenBrook won 3 District 31 Championships in four finals appearances; TenBrook also made 3 appearances in the Region 8 finals, winning the Region 8 Title twice. In TenBrook�s Region 8 Championship match in 1986, he defeated Hall of Famer, Joe Hollywood of Deptford, who became the State Champion that year. The following year in 1987, TenBrook defeated Hall of Famer, Sam Laspata of Glassboro in the Region 8 finals to win his 2nd Region 8 Title. In three trips to the State Championships, he did not place, each year dropping close decisions to either the eventual State Champion or a place winner. In Doug�s freshman year in 1984, he dropped an opening round decision to Tony Malba of Hunterdon Central, the wrestler who went on to be that year�s state runner-up. In Doug�s junior year, he lost a criteria decision in overtime to Madison Central�s Jim McCauley who went on to place 4th. In TenBrook�s final appearance at the State Tournament, he won his first-round match 8-2 over Walt Toto of East Brunswick before bowing out via a 5-2 decision to Joe Mocco of Fair Lawn, thus completing his high school career with a record of 101-10. Other accomplishments of TenBrook�s were becoming a State Champion in Greco Roman wrestling in 1986, qualifying him for a trip to the prestigious National Championships in Fargo, N.D.; and becoming a member of the Sea Gull Wrestling Club which toured southern California in 1986, where he compiled a 4-0 record. Upon graduation from Millville, TenBrook went on to attend American University and Thomas Edison State College, from which he graduated. After graduation, TenBrook served as an assistant coach one year at West Deptford and four years at Millville, before becoming Millville�s head coach. At Millville, TenBrook compiled a 67-25-3 record, captured the Cape Atlantic American Division Championship in 1996 and was named District 31 Coach of the Year. He prides himself with having coached 13 District 31 Champions, 3 Region 8 Champions and State Champion, Mark Saul. Highlights of Doug�s wrestling career include being coached by his father, John TenBrook, throughout his youth career, his association with Hall of Famers, Bobby Hogan and Will Goodwin and his affiliation with the entire Millville wrestling community.

 

James John TenBrook (Class of 1998)
Millville High School

A 1980 graduate, TenBrook was a four-year varsity starter for coaches Dave Neder and Rusty Corson. His varsity debut was in a tough 115-pound weight class, where he went 5-12-1. By the time he concluded his varsity career, TenBrook had compiled a 79-16-1 record. He capped his senior year by winning District 32, Region 8 and New Jersey State championships. Also an accomplished freestyle wrestler, TenBrook placed 2nd out of 144 in the largest International High School Freestyle Tournament in the world, the 1979 Joliet International Tournament in Chicago. In 1980 he was a Project 200 Inductee at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. TenBrook placed 3rd in the 1980 North East Region U.S. Olympic Trials. TenBrook also was the quarterback and captain of the 1979 Millville football team and received the prestigious Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club�s Offensive Back of the Year award. TenBrook continued his wrestling at Bucknell University, where he was a 1981 East Coast Conference champion and NCAA Division I qualifier as a freshman, TenBrook graduated from Gettysburg College in 1985 with a bachelor�s degree in biology, and in 1989 received a Doctorate in Dental Medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina. In 1992 he received a masters in medical sciences and a degree in orthodontics from Harvard University.

 

John C. Tettis (Class of 1985)
New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association

A 1946 graduate of St. Leo�s High School in Ridgeway, Pa., Tettis played basketball in high school. After two years in the service, he enrolled at Lock Haven State where he wrestled four years. After graduation in 1954, Tettis accepted a teaching position in Pemberton and four years later moved over to Rancocas Valley. He was an assistant wrestling coach for five years and then became actively involved as a wrestling official where he excelled for over two decades. He has officiated at all levels in the state and did the state finals 13 straight years. He has been an Eastern Intercollegiate official since 1967 and has worked the junior college nationals four times and received an assignment to work the 1986 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III national championships. He was president of the Southern Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association for 12 years and was the first official from South Jersey to be elected president (two-year term) of the state association (after serving as state vice-president). He also served as vice-president of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Association, was the first wrestling coach at Burlington County College and served on the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Organization.

 

Hedley “Sandy” Thame (Class of 2014)
Camden High School

A 1970 graduate of Bridgeton High School, Thame participated in football, wrestling and track before enrolling at Trenton State College, now known as TCNJ, where he wrestled for Coach Mike Curry. Upon graduating from Trenton State in 1974, Thame’s true calling began at Camden High School where he taught courses in the sciences and became the school’s head wrestling coach after one year as Ken Dodd’s assistant. Though the great successes eluded Thame’s teams, Camden still produced some good teams and individuals.  As a coach, Thame was named District 28 COY and Region 7 COY, as well as receiving a sportsmanship award from the NJWOA Southern Chapter, though due to his total commitment to his wrestlers, he is only able to recall that these accolades came in the decade of the 90s. Thame credits his late wife, Sharon, and his current wife of fifteen years, Gracelynn  Johnson, for supporting his efforts to promote wrestling in a town which has been steeped in basketball tradition for decades.  Thame also recognizes the efforts of his daughter, Morgan, for aiding him in doing anything he asked of her to promote Camden wrestling.  Aside from his family, Thame cites his assistant coaches, both past and present, as being an integral and memorable part of his coaching career. Sandy’s most memorable moment came at the 2014 N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament in Atlantic City. With the “final-call” warning in effect, Thame and his wrestler, Andrew Stevens, literally had to run to his semi-final match before it was declared a forfeit.  Thame got Stevens to the mat on time, and Stevens was able to secure a 3-1 win in sudden victory over his opponent, Kevin Wilkins of St. Joe’s Montvale. That victory propelled Stevens to the championship match with Robbinsville’s Tyler Gildner,  where Stevens was victorious via a 3-0 decision, making him Coach Thame’s first State Champion as well as the first State Champion from Camden High School, a feat which was richly applauded by the entire Atlantic City Convention Center. Retired, but still coaching, Thame lives in Pennsauken with his wife, Graceland Johnson.

 

Robert (Bobby) Thomas (Class of 1982)
Woodbury High School

A 1957 graduate, Thomas was a 3-year varsity performer in high school. Twice Thomas won a South Jersey championship and twice was a bronze medalist in the state championships, at 115 and 123 pounds, respectively. He finished with a high school record of 32-3-1. Thomas became acquainted with the sport at an early age in a three-year program in Kingston, Pa. When his family moved to Woodbury in 1954, he found the school had dropped the program some years earlier. Thomas and Clark Donlin, a Woodbury teacher who hailed from Kingston, urged Athletic Director Cap Paine to restart the program. For three years, Thomas not only wrestled varsity but helped coach his teammates. In 1961 Thomas became a wrestling official and helped form the Southern Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association in 1966. He has served as Secretary-Treasurer since then. He was Vice-President of the NJWOA from 1968 to 1980. He received the Outstanding Official Award by the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association in 1979 and in 1980-81 organized the Officials Evaluation Program and the NJWOA/NJCOA Grievance Committee.

 

Doug Umbehauer, Jr. (Class of 2017)
Lenape Regional High School

A 2004 graduate, Umbehauer was a three-time District 27 Champion, a three-time Region 7 Champion and a three-time N.J.S.I.A.A. place winner (5th, 4th and 2nd).  Umbehauer lost close decisions at 171 pounds in the quarterfinals in 2002 and in the semifinals in 2003, but succeeded in wrestling back to earn 5th place honors as a sophomore and 4th place honors as a junior. As a senior, Umbehauer moved up a weight class to 189 pounds where he reached the state finals via a bye, a fall in 3:43, a 7-1 decision in the quarterfinals and another 7-1 decision in the semifinals.  In the finals, Umbehauer dropped a tough 8-5 decision to the defending state champion, Ryan Goodman of Absegami. Undeterred by this setback, Umbehauer went on to finish as the runner up in the prestigious Senior National Tournament where he concluded his high school career with a record of 128-16. Umbehauer moved on to Rider University where he won 100 matches, was a four-time CAA Conference finalist and a two time champion.  In 2009, Umbehauer entered the Division I NCAA Tournament as the #7 seed at 184 pounds and earned All-American honors. He won decisions of 10-1 and 5-1 before defeating the #2 seed, Phil Keddy of Iowa in a come-from-behind 8-4 decision in double overtime. A 3-2 setback in the semifinals to the #3 seed, Mike Pucillo, of Ohio State put Umbehauer in the wrestlebacks where he won an exciting 13-11 overtime match over #9 seed, Joe LeBlanc of Wyoming. This win set up a rematch with Iowa’s Phil Keddy for the consolation finals. Umbehauer won their second meeting 5-3 and claimed the bronze medal. Upon graduation from Rider in 2009, Umbehauer continued his wrestling career with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club until 2012. During this time, he placed 2nd in University Nationals (’10), 3rd in the Sunkist Open (’10) and 3rd in the NYAC Open (’11). Upon completing his competitive career, Umbehauer remained active in the sport by serving as a clinician at several camps and wrestling clubs and is currently working with the Seneca Youth Wrestling Program.  Umbehauer cites some of his most memorable moments as winning his first Region 7 Tournament, earning silver medals in both the N.J.S.I.A.A. Tournament and Senior National Tournament and winning his double overtime match against Phil Keddy in the NCAA Tournament to go on to earn the bronze medal. Umbehauer greatly attributes his opportunities in life to his faith and is active in his local church. Currently, Umbehauer works in his family’s business, The Painting and Wallcovering Company, and lives in Shamong with his wife, Michelle and their five children: Baileigh (9), Dougie (6), Lilie (4), Grace (2) and Lucy (1).

 

 

 

Rick Ventura (Class of 2004)
Journalist, Courier-Post

A 1967 graduate of Merchantville High School, Ventura was the student team manager of the football, basketball and baseball teams for three years. Since 1973 Ventura has kept the Courier-Post wrestling records. He charts every individual�s record from results called into the newspaper and has also kept all the team coaching records for the newspaper. His individual and team records appear each Saturday in the Varsity Section. He also keeps team and individual records in field hockey and baseball for the paper. Following graduation, he was the manager of the Maple Shade baseball teams in the Camden City League (1972-75) and in the Tri-County League (1976-78). He also was the manager of the Cherry Hill teams in the Tri-County League, winning two championships (Maple Shade, 1976, and Cherry Hill, 1981). He has been president of the Tri-County Baseball League since 1988.

 

Jerry J. Villecco (Class of 1983)
Deptford High School

A 1972 graduate, Jerry is one of the most fabled wrestlers ever to come out of South Jersey. Villecco is one of five wrestlers ever to win four individual district championships and is one of only four wrestlers from South Jersey ever to win the state championship twice � at 157 pounds n 1971 and 168 pounds in 1972. Villecco finished with an 83-3-1 high school record under Coach Bob Exley and was undefeated in dual meet competition Following high school, Jerry had an 0utstandiflg career at Penn State University. A four-time NCAA Eastern champion. Villecco was a three-time All American � placing fourth in the country in 1974 and l976, and sixth in 1975. He was a winner in the East-West meet 1974 and was voted the Outstanding Wrestler in the Eastern Wrestling League championships in 1976. He was honored as �College Wrestler of the Year� by the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association in 1976 after compiling a 74-11-1 record In college. Jerry coached one year at West Deptford High School and five years at Temple University, where he compiled a 66-22-1 record.

 

John M Villecco (Class of 1984)
Deptford High School

A 1969 graduate, Villecco compiled a 46-7-1 record in three years of varsity competition. After a third-place finish in the districts as a sophomore, Villecco won two consecutive district and regional championships and was chosen the Region 4 Outstanding Wrestler in 1969. After a third-place finish in the state championships as a junior, Villecco capped a perfect senior season by winning the 157-pound state championship (Deptford�s first state champion) under Coach Bob Exley. Villecco continued his wrestling career at Glassboro State College where he compiled a 41-9-1 record in three varsity seasons. Villecco was a three-time NAIA District 31 champion (twice chosen Most Outstanding Wrestler) and twice gained All-American honors after a fifth-place finish in 1970 and a sixth-place finish in 1971. He did not wrestle the 1972 season after sustaining serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. During his college career his 18 falls in a three-year career was a Glassboro State record.

 

John H. Vogeding Jr. (Class of 1988)
Journalist

A 1958 graduate of Paulsboro Nigh School, Vogeding has worked both sides of the fence in wrestling, serving as a coach and a sportswriter during his career. After graduating from Glassboro State College in 1962, Vogeding returned to Paulsboro and was an assistant coach under the late Ed Pszwaro and then Sam Evangelista � both future Hall of Famers. He later coached under 1987 Hall of Fame inductee Bob Fredrick. Those three coaches combined for nearly 650 victories. Vogeding left teaching in 1968 to become a sportswriter and later assistant sports editor for the Gloucester County Times, covering wrestling and staying until 1972, when he returned to teach and coach at Paulsboro. Vogeding then moved to the Courier-Post as assistant sports editor in 1974. During his tenure as a sportswriter, Vogeding made many contributions to the sport of wrestling through his journalistic efforts in South Jersey and throughout the state. Co-founder of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame with Sam Coursen, Vogeding covered the NCAA wrestling championships and was named the Sportswriter of the Year by Scholastic Wrestling USA magazine in 1980. He was also honored by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for his contribution and service to high school athletics and was recipient of a Special Award presented by the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association for his contribution to South Jersey wrestling. Vogeding served as a clerk and seeding chairman for numerous tournaments, including District 29 and Region 8, until additional duties at the Courier-Post forced him to give up those positions. Vogeding also served as the press coordinator at the state tournament for six years and served as vice chairman of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame for seven years. He has served as the assigner for the Southern Chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association several years.

 

Thomas Walsh (Class of 2008)
Paul VI High School

A 1989 graduate, Walsh had a 92-19 career record as a four-year starter. After a runner-up finish in District 30 as a freshman for Washington Township, Walsh continued to excel as a three-year starter at Paul VI where he won three District 28 titles. A three-time Region 7 finalist, he twice finished second. A three-time qualifier for the state tournament at Princeton University, Walsh finished fourth as a junior and won the 125-pound championship as a senior, capping a 5-0 run with a 7-6 win over Victor Bernardino of Paulsboro. Walsh continued his wrestling career at Manhattan College where he had a 75-25-2 record. He was a 1991 Metro Conference champion and a three-time New England Conference finalist. Following graduation he was an assistant coach at Manhattan and NYU before becoming an assistant coach on the scholastic level.

 

Mike Waltz (Class of 2010)
Paul VI High School

A 1986 graduate, Waltz was a four-time Christmas Tournament Champion, a three-time District 28 Champion (winning by fall all three years) and a three-time Region 7 Champion (winning 2-1, 7-3 and by fall) at 188 pounds. Waltz lost in the first round of the state tournament as a sophomore, and lost in the state quarterfinals as a junior. In his senior year Waltz advanced to the state semifinals before losing to Rich Ceynowa of Clifton before rebounding with a 9-1 win over Delsea's Pat Daily for a third-place finish. Waltz went 71-7 his last three years as the varsity starter at 188 pounds. Waltz originally enrolled at Clemson but returned to New Jersey and competed at heavyweight one year for Rider University where he went 16-7 and finished second in the East Coast Conference Championships in 1990. He later attended Camden County College to earn his Associates Degree in 2003. Mike officated one year and was an assistant coach at Paul VI two years.

 

Bill Ward (Class of 2015)
St. Augustine Preparatory School

A 1985 graduate of St. Augustine, Ward was a one-time District 31 Champion (’83) and a two-time District 32 Champion (’84 and ’85). During Ward’s senior campaign, he took runner-up honors in Region 8 to earn a trip to the state tournament in the 149 pound weight class. He won his preliminary match 19-5 over Andy Iliff of Newton, then won by fall over Steve Crane of South Brunswick in 5:41 of the pre-quarter round before defeating Mark Sacco of South Plainfield by a 6-4 decision in the quarter-finals.  His 13-8 victory over Jon Fredrick of Gateway in the semi-finals pitted him against the defending state champion, Enzo Cattulo of Summit, and though Ward lost by decision, he came away as the silver medalist, boasting an impressive career record of 106-9.  Upon graduation from St. Augustine, Ward matriculated to Drexel University, where he won the Bloomsburg Invitational, the Trenton State Open, the Franklin and Marshal Open and was a two-time East Coast Conference finalist before being  sidelined with a career-ending injury his senior year.  Ward stuck with wrestling after graduating from Drexel in 1990 by becoming involved in coaching.  He  has served for twenty-four years, coaching at both the youth and high school levels.  At Buena High School, Ward helped the team earn 4 South Jersey Group Sectional Championships as well as four State Group runner-up finishes.  Since taking over as the head coaching job at his alma mater, Ward’s St. Augustine teams have captured two South Jersey Sectional Championships. During his combined career at Buena and St. Augustine, he has aided in coaching numerous individual district and region champions, and in 2014, coached his first N.J.S.I.A.A. champion at St. Augustine, Jack Clark.  Ward cites the highlight of his wrestling career as defeating a two-time Ohio State Champion in a dual meet between his alma mater and perennial powerhouse, St. Edward’s of Ohio.  He claims his most memorial moments in wrestling came while watching his son, Bill, Jr. win four District 32 Championships, four Region 8 Championships and third-place honors in the New Jersey State Championships.   A sales representative for Entenmann’s Bakeries, Ward lives in Vineland with his wife, Valerie.  They have five children: Katie (23), Billy (20), Abby (14), Ty (10) and Luke (5).

 

Michael A. Weidenbush (Class of 2011)
Toms River South High School

A 1977 graduate te of Toms River South, Weidenbush was a two-time District 25 and two-time Region 7 Champion at 101 pounds. He won his first two matches in the 1976 state tournament before losing back-to-back decisions in a fourth-place finish. In 1977 Weidenbush capped a 29-0-1 campaign by literally breezing through the state tournament. Decisions of 7-1, 10-6, and 8-1 preceded a 9-4 championahip final win over Tony Simeca of Lodi. Mike's teammates Frank Major (115) and Jeff Parker (170) were also state champions for the Toms River South team and Coach John DeMarco that year. Mike, who also competed in gymnastics in high school closed out an 80-plus win career by winning 60 matches and losing three as a junior and senior. Weidenbush went on to wrestle at Seton Hall University. He was second in the Catholic National Tournament and first in the Rutgers Tournament while compiling a career record of 80-20.

 

Jack Welch (Class of 1986)
Moorestown High School

A 1953 graduate of Otto Township High School in Duke Center, Pa., and 1957 graduate of Lock Haven State College, Welch started two highly successful wrestling programs in South Jersey. He inaugurated the program at Williamstown High School in 1959 and spent six years guiding one of the most competitive teams in South Jersey before moving on to Moorestown to start that program. He became the �dean� of South Jersey wrestling coaches at the end of last season with the completion of his 27th year as a head coach. During that time he has compiled a 246-128-5 record, third best on the all-time win list in South Jersey. Memories of nearly three decades as a coach include his 18-0 team at Moorestown in 1975 and his 11-0-1 team at Williamstown in 1965; his exciting meets with Pemberton while in the Burlington County Liberty Division and championship showdowns with Deiran in the Freedom Division; having seven district and three regional champions in 1975 and six district and four regional champions a year later on two of his most powerful Moorestown teams; and having coached his sons, Marty and Chris, at Moorestown. Burlington County Coach of the Year in 1974 and 1975 and Region 8 Coach of the Year in 1975, Welch is also active in the sport off the mat, where he has served as Secretary of the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Organization.

 

Gregzie L. White (Class of 1984)
Pennsville High School

A 1968 graduate, White compiled a three-year varsity record of 54-4-2 under Coach Jack Harford (1983 Hall of Fame inductee). He was a three-time District 31 champion, placed third in the regionals as a sophomore, second as a junior and capped an unbeaten senior year by winning the regional and state titles at 141 pounds to become Pennsville�s first state champion. Also an outstanding pole vaulter in track. White vaulted 13-4 �  to set meet and school records in winning the Tri-County championship in 1968. His exploits in high school earned White selection as an Outstanding Athlete in New Jersey by the House of Representatives his senior year. White continued his education at Lincoln (PA) University where he won the NAIA 158-pound national championship in 1971. White, who was listed in Who�s Who of College Athletes, was captain of the team and compiled a 54-4 record in varsity competition at Lincoln where an injury the week of the nationals prevented him from competing in the 1972 championships. White also attended California State University in Dominguez Hills, Calif.

 

Ivan Angelo Wiggins, II (Class of 2017)
Sterling High School

A 2003 graduate, Wiggins amassed four district championships (1 in District 30 and 3 in District 28) and three Region 7 championships on his way to four NJSIAA state place finishes.  As a freshman at 103 pounds, Wiggins advanced to the state finals via a fall in 1:11 and decisions of 10-6, 7-6 and 5-2 before losing the gold medal match to Matt Anderson of South Plainfield.  After his silver medal finish in ’01, Wiggins came back to the state tournament at the same weight, but dropped his semifinal match to C.J. Mays of Oakcrest to force him into the wrestlebacks, where he emerged with 5th place honors. In ’02 Wiggins moved up to 112 pounds and had his best season.  Wiggins opened his bid for a state title with a fall over Stephan Thompson of Winslow Twp, and then followed with a 16-5 major decision over Ryan Strobel of Pascack Hills in the quarterfinals and a 4-1 decision over Dan Hilt of Manalapan in the semifinals.  Once again in the state finals, Wiggins didn’t disappoint; he won an 8-4 decision over Zack Tanelli of Millburn to earn gold in the NJSIAA Championships.  For his senior campaign, Wiggins wrestled up at 130 pounds seeking to defend his title, but had a heart-breaking decision in the semifinals in a tie-breaker to Ryan Bridge of Absegami.  Once again in the wrestlebacks, Wiggins made quick work of grasping the bronze medal, pinning Rory O’Donnell of St. Joe’s Montvale in 1:48. Not quite ready to finish his high school career, Wiggins traveled to Senior Nationals where he claimed silver medal honors and ended his high school career with a record of 128-15. Upon graduation, Wiggins attended the University of Northern Iowa, and while there he impressed, placing 3rd in the UNI Open, then followed with a 4th place finish in the Kaufman-Brand Open.  Wiggins cites being coached by fellow inductee, Mike Ahern, in his state final win as one of the highlights of his career.  Wiggins also states wrestling for Hall of Fame coach Dale Bonsall (’95) at Team Renegade and competing with the Voorhees Youth Program, where he was coached by Bob Stinson, Sr. and his father, Ivan, Sr. were very meaningful to him.  The camaraderie Wiggins experienced with all those he competed during his youth wrestling career is something he claims is due to his father’s selflessness in committing to his successes on the mat and in life, and he dedicates his Induction night to him. Wiggins worked with his father at Kraemer Gunite, Inc., prior to Ivan, Senior’s passing in 2015. A bachelor, Wiggins lives in Somerdale, NJ.

 

 

 

Robert W. Wilkins (Class of 2008)
Rancocas Valley Regional High School

A 1974 graduate, Wilkins was a two-time District 26 champion and earned a trip to the state tournament his senior year (the first year first and second place finishers from each of the eight regions competed in the state championships) by winning Region 7. He reeled off three wins in the state tournament, including a 6-5 win over 23-1 Matt Reidel of Moorestown (a Region 8 runner-up) in the semifinals. Wilkins lost in the state finals to Woodbury's Howard Pendleton in a Region 7 rematch. Wilkins, 23-6 as a senior, compiled a 36-17-1 career at Rancocas Valley. He went on to Trenton State College and twice won Metropolitan Championships while posting a 60-15 record before graduating in 1978.

 

Charles E. (Chuck) Williamson Sr. (Class of 1989)
Gloucester County College

A 1960 graduate of Woodbury High School, Williamson played football for the Thundering Herd and at West Chester University. But his attention turned to wrestling in 1965 when he and Joe Folcarelli started the wrestling program at Gateway High School. Williamson spent the ensuing years building the Gateway program, capping his stint by sharing the Olympic Conference title with Edgewood in 1968. Williamson was then lured by athletic director Ed Creutzinger to Gloucester County College where he started its wrestling program. During a 16-year career at Gloucester CC, Williamson has developed a program that is respected nationally. He has compiled a gaudy 205-41-4 record at Gloucester CC, an .801 percentage, and has a combined career coaching record of 233-63-4. His 205 Junior College wins ranks him 11th nationally among active Junior College coaches. His Roadrunner teams have been ranked nationally 13 of 16 years and were ranked No. 1 in the nation heading into the 1971 national tournament. His �73-74 team finished 17-0 and ended up ranked 11th nationally. His 1988 team finished fifth in the national tournament and last year�s team lived up to its No. 4 national ranking with a fourth-place finish in the nationals with four individual All-Americans. Williamson has produced 43 Academic All-Americans, 34 Mid-Atlantic Zone Champions, 57 Garden State Conference first-team selections and 17 Junior College All-Americans. His teams have won eight Garden State Conference and four Mid-Atlantic zone titles. An inductee into the Gloucester County College Sports Hall of Fame and the National Junior College Hall of Fame in 1988, Williamson was inducted into the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame last March. Williamson, who also played a significant role in founding the Gloucester County Junior Wrestling League, coached both his sons,, Chuck Jr. and Jim,� at Gloucester CC and has had his son Chuck Jr. as associate head coach the last five years.

 

Ed Witzcak (Class of 1996)
Lenape High School

A 1965 graduate, Witzcak was twice a district champion � at 106 in 1963 and 115 in 1965. He was Lenape�s first district champion and voted the team�s Outstanding Wrestler as a sophomore. His senior year he captained the team, won the Region 7 115-pound title and placed third in the state, losing by referee�s decision in the semifinals and winning by referee�s decision in the consolations. His 34-9-2 career record included 19 pins, including 13 in the first period. Ed, who also participated three years in football, was named Outstanding Senior Athlete at Lenape. He wrestled a year at Wilkes College, going 12-3, placing third in the MAC Tournament and earning a trip to the Nationals. He also attended Cumberland County where he played soccer and scored the first goal in that school�s history, and graduated from Sam Houston State University, where he played intramural football, in 1970. Ed coached 10 years (1970-80) under Sam Evangelista at Lenape, coached five years in the midget ranks and has been a volunteer assistant the last seven years under Dave Chambers at Cherokee.

 

Randy Everett Worrell (Class of 1997)
Shawnee High School

A 1985 graduate, Worrell was a three-time District 26 champion 158 pounds in 1983 and 1984, 170 in 1985 and a three-time Region 7 champion under veteran coach Roger Pullen. In his three trips to the state tournament, Worrell went 1-1 and did not place in an injury-filled senior year. His high school career record was 89-6-0, and two of the six losses he had were avenged in subsequent rematches. Worrell continued his wrestling career at Delaware Valley College where he placed seventh in the NCAA Division Ill national tournament as a sophomore and first as a senior. He was the recipient of the Middle Atlantic Conference Tournament�s Outstanding Wrestler Award in 1989. The two-time All-American finished his collegiate career with a 105-7-1 record. Worrell considers his most memorable moment in high school winning the Region 7 title in 1983; and his collegiate career highlight winning the national title in 1989.

 

James R. Wright (Class of 2004)
Woodbury High School

A 1962 graduate, Wright twice won the District 15 title (at 98 and 106 pounds). He placed second to Collingswood�s Jim Robertson in Region 4 in 1961 and defeated Fred Makarow of Millville a year later to win the 106-pound title. Wright lost in the 106-pound state finals to Ken Carswell of Washington to culminate a 25-3 career over his last two years at Woodbury. Wright, who was co-captain of the cross country team as a senior and the team captain and No. 1 singles player in tennis his junior and senior years, went on to Brigham Young University on a wrestling scholarship. He wrestled one year of varsity (14-2) and placed third in the Western Athletic Conference in 1963 before a knee injury forced his retirement from the sport in 1964. Following graduation from BYU, Wright taught school in Utah, then at Woodbury (head wrestling coach 1968-70) and started an intramural wrestling program in the school that helped produce eventual state champion Howard Pendleton. Wright left teaching to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1971 and became a Special Agent for the FBI. He worked in New Haven, CT, San Francisco, CA (23 years) and Salt Lake City, Utah. Among his many high profile cases were the Patricia Hearst Kidnapping (1974-75), the Chowchilla, California kidnapping of a bus load of school children (1976), the Rev. Jim Jones Peoples� Temple mass suicide of 913 members (1978), the Walker/Whitworth espionage case where classified information was sold to the Soviet Union (1986); the Freeman Montana case (1996); and the Theodore John KaczynsKi Unibomber case (1996).

 

Kyle Young (Class of 2017)
Cherry Hill West High School

A 1992 graduate, Young was a three-time District 27 Champion, a two-time Region 7 Champion and a three-time state qualifier.  As a sophomore, Young fell ill after qualifying in the region tournament and had to withdraw from the state tournament.  The following year, Young moved up to 112 pounds but dropped his pre-quarterfinal match and his first wrestleback and did not place.  As a senior at 119 pounds, Young had his best finish at the NJSIAA State Tournament.  He began his run to the finals by winning by fall over Bernie Tennant of Absegami in 3:54 in the pre-quarterfinals, winning by fall over Washington Township’s Mike Sandelier in 2:43 in the quarterfinals and then capped off the semifinals by once again winning by fall over Passaic Valley’s Anthony Gencarelli in 5:42.  Not quite able to overcome Doug Detrick of Warren Hills, in the finals, Young took the silver medal and completed his high school career with a 92-20 record.  Upon graduation, Young enrolled in Southern Connecticut State College.  Once again, Young demonstrated his mat prowess by winning the Coast Guard Tournament, the Old Bridge Collegiate bracket at 135 pounds and finished as a bronze medalist in the college’s regional qualifier for the National Tournament in ’94. Though Young did not earn All-American status, his desire to continue in the sport took shape in the form of coaching, where after college he aided by coaching wrestlers at his high school alma mater as a volunteer as his time permitted. A resident of Philadelphia, Young decided to try his hand coaching closer to his home, and in 2014 he agreed to coach for free at Roman Catholic Parochial High School. Facing a daunting challenge in the basketball mecca of Philadelphia, Young’s team won only two matches during his first year, but improved each year after he began coaching there.  In 2015, Young took over as the school’s head coach.  After only three years under Young’s tutelage, Roman Catholic had the school’s first individual Public Catholic League Champion who also won District 12 Championship honors.  In 2017 his team made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and qualified 8 wrestlers for the Region Tournament.  The same team produced the first 2 wrestlers to ever qualify for the Pennsylvania State Tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Young delights in seeing the improvement his team has made, and has enjoyed seeing the team, which won only 2 matches his first year, improve its record to a season which produced 15 victories in 2017.  Young cites his success at Roman Catholic as a most memorable moment in his wrestling career.  A personal highlight of Young’s came during the semifinals of the ’92 NJSIAA State Tournament; trailing 10-6 to Anthony Gencarelli (Passaic Valley), Young hit a throw which produced a victory by fall and propelled him into the state finals.  Single, Young lives in Philadelphia and works there as an IT consultant for the Franklin Recruitment Group.

 

 

Todd P. Young (Class of 2003)
Haddon Township High School

A 1987 graduate, Young started wrestling competitively in the 8th grade. He went on to wrestle for Hall of Famer Miller Preston. Young was a two- time Haddon Township Christmas Tournament champion, and a four-time District 28 and two-time Region 7 champion. After a third-place finish in the state tournament as a junior, he capped a 33-0 senior season and a 96-9-1 career by winning the 129-pound state championship in 1987. His team went 19-2 his senior year and won the South Jersey Group 2 championship. Young said his most memorable moment in wrestling was in the 119-pound finals in the 1985 Haddon Township Christmas Tournament. Losing 11-0 to Eastern�s Mark Kelly midway through the second period, Young battled back before losing 12-11 but said the experience taught him more in six minutes than any practice, camp or match - to believe in inner strength and confidence and never give up. Young wrestled a year at Rider University before concentrating on studies and moving into the business world, He recently moved back to the area after spending nine years in San Diego, Calif. He intends to get involved again in wrestling as a volunteer coach for Haddonfield High School under his cousin Chuck Klaus.

 

Alan E. Zellner (Class of 2005)
Williamstown High School

A 1968 graduate, Zellner compiled a 37-7-1 career record while winning two Highland Christmas Tournament titles and placing second in the state as a senior. Zellner was 3^rd in District 30 as a sophomore and 2^nd as a junior. As a senior, Zellner won the Outstanding Wrestler Award in District 30 and Region 4 on the way to winning the 148-pound title. After a 14-0 win in the district final and a first-period fall over Vinelandâs Dave Homiak in the regional final, Zellner won by fall in the state semifinal before losing by decision to Gary Markowski of Newton. A two-time All-Olympic Conference selection in wrestling who won 14 of his 20 matches by fall, Zellner scored a perfect 60 team points in dual meet competition. Zellner, his high schoolâs ãUnderclassmen Athlete of the Yearä in 1967, won seven varsity letters (two in football and baseball, three in wrestling). Zellner went on to Wilkes College where he compiled a 65-11 record and won three Middle Atlantic Conference championships (twice winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award). The 1972 Wilkes graduate was 4^th in the NCAA College Division Nationals to gain All-American honors. He held the Wilkes record for most team points and most falls in a season, and most falls in a career, for 30 years. He was the head coach one year at Williamstown, five years at Kutztown University and at Wilkes from 1996 until retiring in 2003. A 32-year member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, Zellner also served as a wrestling official from 1975-1984.

 

Andy Zuckerman (Class of 1993)
Northern Burlington High School

A 1978 graduate, Zuckerman was a three-time district champion, a regional champion, a state champion in 1977 and a state runner-up in 1978. Zuckerman compiled an impressive 82-5-0 record in high school and later wrestled at Trenton State under Coach Dave lcenhower, where he had a modest 42-12 record. Zuckerman got his feet wet coaching in South Jersey at Pennsauken Tech before moving on to Pemberton Township High School. In seven years with Pemberton through 1993, Zuckerman coached 15 district, six sectional and one state champion. His teams have been ranked among the top 20 teams in South Jersey each year. He was selected District 25 Coach of the Year twice and had compiled a 74-43-2 coaching record throu9h 1993. His most memorable moments in high school wrestling were winning the 1977 state championship and coaching his first state champ, Kemal Pegram in 1990. He coached Region 7 in the Garden State Games the summers of �91 and �92, where his team finished third and first, respectively.