New Jersey Mat Chat
Season 2
077: Joey Monticello
076: John Martin
075: Jayce Cappello
074: Billy Damiana
073: MJ Gorrell
072: Jason Nase
071: Julius Feliciano
070: Adam Derengowski
068: Mark Manchio
067: Eli Glover
1 of 8
by Peter Normandia
Second in New Jersey isn't good enough for Joey Monticello. The Hanover Park senior came within one match of an NJ State Championship last season. Now he's coming back with bigger expectations. Joey joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about growing up in one of North Jersey's traditional wrestling communities, his journey through high school wrestling, his state-final loss—and why his entire senior season is being built around finishing the job. And Joey isn't hiding what he expects: 🏆 Win Beast of the East 🏆 Win Escape the Rock 🏆 Win an NJ State Championship 🔥 Go undefeated In this episode, Joey talks about: 🤼 Starting wrestling at just four years old 💪 Why he's always been physically advanced for his age 🏈 Giving up football to go all-in on his state-title chase 🏫 The wrestling tradition and expectations at Hanover Park 🔥 His “in your face for six minutes” wrestling style 🤼 How Rich Patito, Diego Crespo and Nicky Raimo influenced his wrestling 💥 Training at Ruthless Wrestling 🏆 Entering high school expecting to become a state champion 🥈 His run to the NJ state final last season 😤 Why being a state runner-up still isn't a win in his mind 🎯 His goal of going undefeated as a senior 🏟️ The atmosphere inside Hanover Park wrestling 🎓 His goal of wrestling Division I in college 🥇 Why he believes he can eventually make a run at an NCAA final ⚖️ His thoughts on wrestling's changing rules 🍝 Cutting weight in a traditional Italian family ❤️ The huge Monticello family contingent that follows him to Atlantic City One thing becomes pretty clear talking to Joey: He's not interested in almost. Last season ended one match short of his goal. Now he gets one more shot. 🤼 Guest: Joey Monticello 🏫 Hanover Park High School 🥈 NJ State Finalist 🎯 Goal: NJ State Champion Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet Hanover Park’s Joey Monticello 02:43 Growing Up in a Hanover Park Wrestling Town 03:38 Starting Wrestling at Four Years Old 04:39 Being Bigger & Stronger From a Young Age 05:56 Playing Football as a Junior 06:28 Why He Gave Up Football for Wrestling 07:50 The Expectations at Hanover Park 08:25 School, Grades & an Interest in Finance 09:19 Joey’s Wrestling Style: Six Minutes in Your Face 10:10 How Ruthless Wrestling Changed His Game 12:35 Training Inside the Ruthless Room 13:21 Entering High School Expecting to Win States 14:39 Realizing High School Wrestling Was Different 15:57 His Run to the NJ State Finals 16:34 The State Final Against Canova 17:20 Why Second Place Isn’t Good Enough 17:42 Senior Year Goal: Go Undefeated 18:10 Treating Every Match Like an Olympic Final 19:11 The Atmosphere at Hanover Park 20:47 College Wrestling & Division I Goals 22:17 How Far From Home Will He Go? 23:15 Freestyle, Greco & His Wrestling Style 24:16 Understanding Wrestling’s Changing Rules 25:08 The One Wrestling Rule He Would Change 26:12 Mom, Dad & the Monticello Wrestling Machine 27:17 Cutting Weight in an Italian Family 28:37 The Monticello Family Takes Over Atlantic City 29:33 Life Away From Wrestling 30:17 What’s Next for Joey & Hanover Park 30:51 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
Legends never die. Their stories live on through the people they inspired. New Jersey Mat Chat is proud to present the first installment of Legends Never Die, honoring the life and legacy of Johnny Martin, the 1992 New Jersey State Champion from Absegami High School. Johnny Martin's life was cut far too short, but more than three decades after he won his New Jersey state championship, the wrestlers who competed against him, trained beside him and grew up watching him still remember. That's a legacy. Legends Never Die. 🤼 Johnny Martin 🏫 Absegami High School — Class of 1992 🏆 1992 New Jersey State Champion 📈 123-8 High School Record ⭐ Oklahoma State Wrestling 00:00 Legends Never Die: The Story of Johnny Martin 01:05 1992 State Final: Johnny Martin vs. Jay Nase 02:04 Jay Nase Remembers His State Finals Opponent 03:36 “He Was Lightning Fast” 05:49 The Heart & Work Ethic Wrestling Reveals 07:37 One Word for Johnny: Speed 09:15 How Johnny’s Passing Affected Jay Nase 11:12 Johnny’s Brother Joe Martin 12:41 How Johnny Got Started in Wrestling 14:45 Meeting John Smith in Seventh Grade 15:28 Johnny’s Dream: Oklahoma State 16:51 His College Career & Leaving Oklahoma State 17:58 The Back Injury That Changed Everything 19:55 Doctors Tell Johnny His Wrestling Career Is Over 20:40 The Cancer Diagnosis 22:19 Fighting Cancer & Returning to the Wrestling Room 23:42 The Conversations Between Two Brothers 24:36 “The Closest Thing I Have to Having My Own” 25:03 One Word for Johnny: Driven 26:48 A Surprise Call With John Smith 28:48 John Smith Remembers Johnny Martin 31:31 Why NJ Wrestlers Fit at Oklahoma State 32:50 The Malatesta Family & an Incredible Wrestling Story 35:40 A Young Johnny Idolizes Bobby Malatesta Jr. 36:52 Bobby Wins the 1985 NJ State Championship 37:21 The Medal That Changed Johnny’s Life 38:12 Johnny Fulfills the Promise 39:13 Honoring Johnny After His Passing 41:36 The Two State Championship Medals 42:28 “I Knew That Was Going to Be His Day” 43:41 One Word for Johnny: Determined 44:51 Sean Scannell: The Next Generation at Absegami 46:43 How Johnny Paved the Way 48:12 Remembering the Day Johnny Passed 49:29 Carrying Johnny’s Memory Into College 50:39 One Word for Johnny: Innovator 52:55 Teammate Bernie Tenet Remembers Johnny 53:46 Visiting Johnny During His Battle With Cancer 55:07 Johnny’s Oklahoma State Dream 55:58 One Word for Johnny: Awesome 57:45 George Florence Remembers His Teammate 59:21 Watching Johnny Win the 1992 State Title 01:01:09 Visiting Johnny at Oklahoma State 01:04:24 Learning From the Best Wrestlers in the World 01:06:47 Johnny Martin vs. Cary Kolat 01:09:06 One Word for Johnny: Elite 01:10:25 Kathy Barber Remembers Johnny 01:12:48 Johnny’s Letters From College 01:13:26 Their AOL Instant Messenger Conversations 01:14:02 “The Fastest Ankle Pick I’ve Ever Seen” 01:14:21 Johnny & Legendary Coach Gene Barber 01:15:09 One Word for Johnny: Humble 01:17:55 Thank You to the Martin Family 01:18:22 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
Jayce Cappello didn't grow up as an elite year-round wrestler. He was a baseball player who got serious about wrestling entering high school. Now he's chasing an NJ State Championship. Toms River East standout Jayce Cappello joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about his rapid rise in New Jersey high school wrestling, balancing two sports, and why he's choosing wrestling as the path he wants to pursue at the next level. Jayce entered his freshman season with virtually no expectations—and ended it wrestling at the NJ State Championships. After placing the following year, he's entering his junior season with a completely different mindset. In this episode: ⚾ Growing up as a serious baseball player 🤼 When he realized he could be really good at wrestling 🔥 Making States as a freshman 💪 How athleticism, scrambling and conditioning helped close the experience gap ⚾ Balancing high school baseball with year-round wrestling ❤️ Why he ultimately fell in love with wrestling 🎓 Choosing wrestling over baseball if he gets the opportunity in college 🤼 Training at Shore Thing and Top Dog 🏫 Why he chose to stay at Toms River East instead of going private 🧠 How Coach Mark Grey transformed his wrestling 💪 Why Toms River East believes toughness can separate them this season ⚖️ His approach to weight cutting 😂 Life inside the Toms River East wrestling room 🏆 His goal of becoming a New Jersey State Champion 🧠 The mental work he believes will get him there Jayce also talks about the expectations surrounding Toms River East wrestling this season and why he believes their difficult schedule will have them battle-tested when the postseason arrives. This is a great conversation for young athletes who don't necessarily specialize in wrestling from the time they're five years old. Jayce's development shows what can happen when athletic ability meets the right coaching, training partners and commitment. 🤼 Guest: Jayce Cappello 🏫 Toms River East Wrestling 🎯 Goal: NJ State Champion Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey high school wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet Toms River East’s Jayce Cappello 01:48 Big Expectations for Toms River East 03:10 When Wrestling Became Serious 03:39 Making States as a Freshman 04:09 How Athleticism Helped His Wrestling 05:29 Balancing Baseball & Wrestling 06:17 Why He Fell in Love With Wrestling 07:33 Baseball vs. Wrestling: Which Helps More? 08:15 Choosing Wrestling for College 08:28 Training at Shore Thing & Top Dog 09:36 Why He Chose Public School 10:18 The Impact of Coach Mark Grey 11:03 Inside the Toms River East Wrestling Room 12:11 Why He Doesn’t Cut Much Weight 13:24 Turning His Family Into Wrestling Fans 14:29 The Toms River East Team Clown 15:19 The Goal: Win an NJ State Title 16:35 The Mental Side of Wrestling 17:30 Wrestling vs. Baseball Officiating 18:18 His Family’s Toms River Baseball Connection 19:19 Coaches, Family & Final Thoughts 19:55 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
Are we making New Jersey high school wrestling better—or making the path too easy? Lower Cape May head wrestling and football coach Billy Damiana joins New Jersey Mat Chat: Coach’s Corner for a wide-ranging conversation about coaching, toughness, athlete development and some of the biggest issues facing NJ wrestling. Billy grew up in Cape May, competed in wrestling and football at the college level, and eventually returned home to coach the next generation at Lower Cape May. But this conversation goes well beyond his own career. Billy believes coaches have a responsibility to create an environment that challenges young athletes, makes them tougher and prepares them for far more than winning wrestling matches. 🤼 Guest: Billy Damiana 🏫 Lower Cape May Regional 🤼 Head Wrestling Coach 🏈 Head Football Coach Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. #NJWrestling #NewJerseyMatChat #BillyDamiana #LowerCapeMay #LowerCapeMayWrestling #NJHighSchoolWrestling #SouthJerseyWrestling #WrestlingPodcast ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet Lower Cape May Coach Billy Damiana 01:49 Growing Up in Cape May 04:20 From Being Bullied to Martial Arts & Wrestling 06:10 Choosing Division I Wrestling 07:23 College Wrestling, Football & Coming Home 08:36 Teaching at Lower Cape May 10:12 Becoming a Wrestling Coach 12:19 Learning to Coach at Buena Regional 14:27 Coaching Football & Wrestling Year-Round 17:00 What Football and Wrestling Teach Each Other 20:02 What Makes an Elite Athlete? 22:48 Why Coaching Is Really About the Kids 25:25 The Relationships That Last After Wrestling 27:07 Why Coaches Need to Stop Ducking Matches 28:17 Growing Wrestling Means Wrestling the Big Matches 31:24 What Happened to Packed NJ Wrestling Gyms? 32:34 NJ Realignment: Did We Get It Wrong? 33:59 Should 4th Place Advance to States? 35:35 The Disappearance of Multi-Sport Wrestlers 38:00 Are Today’s Wrestlers Better — But the Path Easier? 40:18 The Scariest Match of Wrestling Season 41:10 Why One-Day Districts Need to Go 42:09 Is 100 Career Wins Still a Big Milestone? 43:31 Chase Hansen: Wins, Goals & Taking Ownership as a Coach 47:07 Roasting Tristan Rosemeyer & Eli Glover 48:33 The Culture Inside Lower Cape May Wrestling 51:01 Greatest NJ High School Wrestler Ever? 52:28 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
New Jersey wrestling has a new name to watch this season: MJ Gorrell. Except MJ isn't exactly new. The Somerset, NJ native spent his first two high school seasons competing across the border at Conwell-Egan in Pennsylvania, reaching the state blood round as a freshman and placing Top 8 in PA as a sophomore. Now he's coming home. MJ is transferring to St. John Vianney, stepping into the Shore Conference and setting one very clear goal for his first season wrestling high school in New Jersey: 🏆 Win an NJ State Championship. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, MJ talks about: 🤼 Why he originally left NJ to wrestle at Conwell-Egan 🏠 Living away from home during wrestling season 🔥 Training with Pennsylvania wrestlers at NPR 🥇 His first two runs through the PA postseason ➡️ Why he decided it was time to return to New Jersey 🦁 Choosing St. John Vianney 🌊 What he expects from Shore Conference wrestling ⚖️ The differences between Pennsylvania and New Jersey wrestling 🤼 Why his funky, scrambling style is better suited for folkstyle 💪 Training at Frost, Duro and NPR 🧠 The coach who's had the biggest influence on his career 🏆 His goal of becoming a New Jersey State Champion 💥 The intense strength and conditioning program he does with his father 🎓 His interest in forensic science 🐯 Training at Princeton and his goal of wrestling in the Ivy League MJ has spent years wrestling and training around high-level competition on both sides of the Delaware. Now New Jersey gets to see what he can do. Welcome home, MJ. 🤼 Guest: MJ Gorrell 🏫 St. John Vianney 📍 Somerset, NJ 🏆 PA State Top-8 Finisher 🎯 Goal: NJ State Champion Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet MJ Gorrell 01:41 Leaving NJ to Wrestle at Conwell-Egan 03:00 Training at NPR & Wrestling in Pennsylvania 04:05 PA State Tournament Success 04:48 Living Away From Home During Wrestling Season 05:51 Why He’s Coming Back to New Jersey 06:53 Choosing St. John Vianney 07:49 What MJ Expects From NJ Wrestling 09:28 Entering the Shore Conference 10:24 Academics & Life After Wrestling 11:09 Freestyle vs. Folkstyle 12:32 Training at Frost, Duro & NPR 13:36 PA vs. NJ Wrestling Rules 15:35 Getting to Know His New SJV Teammates 16:36 His Biggest Coaching Influence 17:52 The Goal: Win an NJ State Title 19:18 How His Dad Drives His Training 20:08 MJ’s Wrestling Style 20:48 State Title or Bust? 21:19 His Dream Training Partner 22:04 Princeton & Ivy League Goals 22:52 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
What does New Jersey high school wrestling need to change? Coach Jay Nace has some ideas. Former Division I All-American, longtime Rider assistant and respected New Jersey wrestling coach Jay Nase joins New Jersey Mat Chat: Coach’s Corner for a wide-ranging conversation about coaching, athlete development and the future of wrestling in New Jersey. Jay grew up wrestling at Point Pleasant Boro before becoming a Division I All-American at Rider. He later spent 11 seasons coaching at Rider and is now preparing to take the reins at Wall. But this conversation quickly becomes much bigger than one coach's career. We get into: 🤼 Growing up in NJ wrestling before today's club system 🎓 The difference between coaching high school and Division I athletes 🏫 Why being a teacher inside the school matters as a coach 🇺🇸 His love for freestyle and developing Team New Jersey wrestlers 🤝 Coaching club wrestlers who may eventually compete against his own team 🔥 Whether wrestlers SHOULD train at multiple clubs 💰 Why club loyalty can sometimes become complicated 🤼 Why NJ's best wrestlers need to compete together in freestyle 👀 Why today's high school dual meets are becoming less exciting 🚫 Coaches moving or ducking wrestlers to avoid marquee matchups 📅 Why Jay believes high school wrestlers compete too much ⚖️ How constant weight management can actually prevent wrestlers from improving 🏆 Why producing state qualifiers and college wrestlers matters more to him than dual-meet records 🎓 Why your best wrestling should still be ahead of you when you graduate high school ❤️ The family decision that led him to leave Rider 🐴 The Rider philosophy that shaped him as a coach 🥇 His pick for the greatest New Jersey high school wrestler ever Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet Coach Jay Nase 02:39 Growing Up Wrestling at Point Pleasant Boro 04:35 The Advantage of Having a Non-Wrestling Dad 05:42 Learning to Trust & Listen to Your Coach 07:12 Wrestling Before the Club Era 08:17 When Coaching Became His Future 09:23 Returning to Wall as Head Coach 09:33 11 Years Coaching at Rider 10:37 College vs. High School Coaching 12:25 What a Wrestling Program Needs to Succeed 14:03 Coaching Where You Teach 16:13 A Life Consumed by Wrestling 18:47 Why He Loves Coaching Freestyle 21:13 Coaching Wrestlers From Rival High Schools 23:08 The Wrestling Brotherhood 24:01 Should Wrestlers Train at Multiple Clubs? 27:25 Can NJ Wrestling Clubs Coexist? 28:50 Why New Jersey Needs to Improve at Freestyle 30:13 Why Jay Loves Coaching Freestyle 31:02 The Problem With High School Dual Meets 32:26 Are NJ Wrestlers Competing Too Much? 34:30 How Jay Would Fix the High School Schedule 36:31 State Qualifiers Over Dual Meet Wins 38:49 Rider Wrestling & the NCAA Mindset 40:03 Coaching Wrestling — and Coaching People 41:27 What Comes After High School Coaching? 43:29 Why He Left Rider for His Son 45:55 Why Wrestlers Should Peak in College 47:32 The Greatest NJ High School Wrestler Ever? 49:46 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
Fourth in New Jersey as a freshman. Now Julius Feliciano wants the top of the podium. Toms River East standout Julius Feliciano joins New Jersey Mat Chat after an incredible freshman season that ended with a 4th-place finish at the New Jersey State Championships in Atlantic City. And he's nowhere near satisfied. Julius takes us through his journey from discovering wrestling because of **WWE at seven years old to becoming one of New Jersey's top young high school wrestlers. We get into: 🤼 How watching WWE accidentally introduced him to wrestling 🔥 Why he chose Toms River East and Coach Mark Grey 💪 Training at Top Dog, Dragon and Shore Thing ⚔️ Starting his high school career against elite competition 🏆 His run through districts and regions 🌊 Walking into Atlantic City for the first time 🥇 Placing 4th in New Jersey as a freshman 🎯 What he believes he needs to improve to WIN a state title 🔥 Winning his match at the NJ Wrestling Showcase ⚖️ Moving toward 126 pounds for the upcoming season 🏆 Toms River East's goal of winning a Group 4 State Championship 💪 His relentless offseason training schedule 🤼 Why he's interested in adding Greco to his game ❤️ The family members and coaches behind his success 🧠 His simple advice to nervous incoming freshmen: Have fun. Julius brings plenty of personality, but underneath it is a wrestler with huge expectations for himself. He reached the podium in Atlantic City during his first high school season. Now the question is: How high can he climb? 🤼 Guest: Julius Feliciano 🏫 Toms River High School East 🏆 4th Place — NJ State Championships 🎯 Next Goal: NJ State Champion Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey high school wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:25 Meet Toms River East’s Julius Feliciano 02:17 How WWE Got Him Into Wrestling 03:08 Reclassing & Choosing Toms River East 04:12 Training at Top Dog, Dragon & Shore Thing 05:43 Entering High School With State Title Expectations 06:50 Starting His Freshman Season Against Shiloh 08:15 Inside the Toms River East Wrestling Room 08:57 Districts, Regions & the Road to Atlantic City 09:32 His First Experience at the NJ State Championships 10:43 Placing 4th in NJ as a Freshman 11:20 What He Needs to Become a State Champion 11:52 Winning at the NJ Wrestling Showcase 12:31 Looking Ahead to 126 Pounds 13:26 Toms River East’s Group 4 Championship Goals 14:49 His Insane Offseason Training Schedule 15:43 Freestyle, Greco & Expanding His Wrestling 16:35 The Family Behind His Success 17:20 His Advice to Incoming Freshmen: Have Fun 17:52 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
Adam Derengowski went 0–8 as a freshman and was pinned in every match. Four years later, he was a New Jersey State Champion. And that was only the beginning. In this episode of the New Jersey Mat Chat Legends Series, former Paul VI standout and Rider NCAA All-American Adam Derengowski tells the incredible story of how hard work, dedication and persistence transformed his wrestling career. Adam didn't start wrestling until his freshman year of high school. After going winless his first season and then losing in the first round of districts as a junior, he made a decision: go all-in. One year later, he found himself wrestling two-time defending state champion Dave Boncher for a New Jersey State Championship. We get into: 🤼 Going 0–8 and getting pinned eight times as a freshman 🔥 The district loss that completely changed his mentality 🎬 How Vision Quest became part of his own wrestling journey 🏆 His incredible run to a New Jersey State Championship ⚔️ Taking down two-time champion Dave Boncher 🔄 Developing the tilt system that became his trademark 🎓 How Temple dropping wrestling unexpectedly led him to Rider 🐴 Becoming an NCAA All-American at Rider 💪 Training with two-time NCAA Champion Jack Cuvo 🦊 Entering the legendary Foxcatcher wrestling room 🌎 Competing internationally in freestyle 🌪️ Getting hired by Iowa State immediately after college 🧠 Why hard work, dedication and persistence remain his three pillars for success 🏆 His choice for the greatest NJ high school wrestler of all time 🤼 The one thing he would change about New Jersey wrestling today Adam's story is proof that where you start has very little to do with where you can finish. For New Jersey wrestling fans, this episode is also a trip through some incredible NJ wrestling history—from Paul VI and the old district system to Rider, Foxcatcher, Iowa State and the NCAA Championships. Guest: Adam Derengowski 🏆 New Jersey State Champion — Paul VI 🇺🇸 NCAA All-American — Rider 🤼 Former Assistant Coach — Iowa State & Cornell ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet NJ Wrestling Legend Adam Derengowski 03:01 The “Wanted” Poster That Started His Wrestling Career 03:51 Going 0–8 as a Freshman 06:15 The District Loss That Changed Everything 08:59 Why Wrestling Became His Sport 11:52 The Vision Quest Begins 13:29 Facing 2X State Champion Dave Boncher 15:35 Dominating His Senior Season 17:49 The Incredible Run to the State Finals 20:00 Taking Down Dave Boncher for the NJ State Title 23:43 Life After Becoming a State Champion 26:07 Becoming a Tilting Machine 27:16 College Recruiting & Temple Dropping Wrestling 29:20 How He Ended Up at Rider 31:04 Preparing for Division I Wrestling 32:07 Getting Beat Out as a College Freshman 32:52 Breaking Through at Rider 34:52 One Year Left — Another Vision Quest 36:40 Training at the Legendary Foxcatcher 38:21 Entering His Senior Year Ranked #2 40:51 The Run to NCAA All-American 43:42 State Champion vs. NCAA All-American 44:08 Getting the Call From Iowa State 47:06 Coaching at Cornell & Leaving College Coaching 49:39 Staying Connected to NJ Wrestling 50:20 How Wrestling Has Evolved 51:09 Hard Work, Dedication & Persistence 52:13 Why None of His Kids Wrestled 53:43 The Greatest NJ Wrestler Ever? 54:45 What He Would Change About NJ Wrestling 55:47 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro
Few wrestlers in New Jersey history competed with more confidence than Mark Manchio. A 4-time New Jersey State Finalist, 3-time State Champion, Beast of the East champion, and Division I wrestler at Northern Iowa, Mark built a reputation as one of the most exciting—and polarizing—wrestlers of his era. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat Legends Edition, Mark opens up about his legendary career, his unforgettable rivalry with Joe Alexander, and why he believes wrestling—and South Jersey wrestling in particular—has changed dramatically. In this episode: 🏆 Growing up at Sterling and Team Renegade 🤼 The rivalry with Joe Alexander that fueled his career 🔥 Why losing his first state final became his greatest motivation 👊 Winning three New Jersey State Championships 💥 Dominating the Beast of the East Tournament 🎓 Choosing Northern Iowa over other Division I programs 🍻 The honest story of why his college wrestling career ended early 📣 Coaching in South Jersey and why he believes the region has fallen behind 🥇 Naming Damien Hahn as New Jersey's greatest high school wrestler ⚔️ Why he believes the wrestlers of the '80s and '90s were mentally tougher than today's generation Mark also shares stories about legendary coach Mike Ahern, Team Renegade, his experiences at Northern Iowa, and his unfiltered thoughts on the evolution of New Jersey wrestling. Whether you watched Mark compete or are discovering his story for the first time, this is an honest look at one of the most memorable personalities the sport has produced. 🤼 Guest: Mark Manchio 🏆 3× New Jersey State Champion 🥈 4× New Jersey State Finalist 🎓 University of Northern Iowa Wrestling Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the athletes, coaches, and legends who built New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:25 Meet NJ Wrestling Legend Mark Manchio 03:42 Team Renegade & Becoming an Elite Wrestler 06:34 Choosing Sterling Over Camden Catholic 10:24 High School Antics & Coach Mike Ahern 11:12 The Joe Alexander Rivalry 18:20 Losing the State Finals as a Freshman 20:33 Chasing Revenge & Winning Three State Titles 22:18 Beast of the East Domination 23:51 Recruiting & Choosing Northern Iowa 27:31 Why His College Career Ended Early 31:38 Coaching Wrestling & Why South Jersey Has Fallen Behind 36:38 Sterling Wrestling, Legacy & The Hall of Fame 40:00 Who Is NJ's Greatest Wrestler Ever? 40:57 Could the Legends Beat Today's Wrestlers? 45:31 Final Thoughts
One decision changed the course of Eli Glover's wrestling career. After struggling in middle school, Lower Cape May standout Eli Glover made the difficult decision to reclass. That extra year of development gave him the confidence and experience to become one of South Jersey's rising wrestlers. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Eli discusses: 🏆 Why reclassing completely changed his wrestling career 🤼 Choosing Lower Cape May over other programs 💪 The culture inside one of South Jersey's toughest wrestling rooms 🔥 Lower Cape May's run to the Team State Finals ⚖️ The challenges of cutting from 160 to 132 pounds 🥇 His first trip to the New Jersey State Championships 🧠 Building confidence through training instead of fear 👊 Why Orchard Wrestling Club has been such a big part of his development Eli also shares his goals of standing on the podium in Atlantic City, what makes Lower Cape May's practices different, and why he believes this year's team can make another championship run. If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is packed with insight from one of South Jersey's fastest-rising wrestlers. 🤼 Guest: Eli Glover 🏆 Lower Cape May Regional High School 🔥 Orchard Wrestling Club Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for weekly conversations with the athletes, coaches, and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:22 Meet Lower Cape May's Eli Glover 01:40 Getting Started in Wrestling 02:26 Moving South & Finding Wrestling Clubs 03:09 Why Reclassing Changed Everything 04:27 His Funky Wrestling Style 04:42 Choosing Lower Cape May Over Ocean City 05:39 Inside Lower Cape May Wrestling 06:26 Team State Finals Run 07:11 Freshman Year Adjustments & Weight Cutting 08:32 Confidence, Freestyle & Wrestling Style 11:25 Atlantic City & State Tournament Experience 12:17 Knicks Basketball & Shark Bait Drills 13:42 Goals for Next Season 14:33 Orchard Wrestling Club & Coach Jimmy Garrett 15:28 Final Thoughts