Few people in New Jersey wrestling have lived as many sides of the sport as Mark Grey.

From becoming the first-ever 4-time Beast of the East Champion, to wrestling at Blair Academy, competing internationally, wrestling at Cornell, fighting professionally in MMA, and now leading Toms River East Wrestling, Mark Grey has seen it all.

In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, we dive into:

🔥 Why he chose Blair over Delbarton

🔥 Wrestling under legendary coach Jeff Buxton

🔥 Life at Cornell and competing on the world stage

🔥 His transition from wrestling to MMA

🔥 Building a winner at Toms River East

🔥 What separates state placers from state champions

🔥 The Shore Conference wrestling scene

🔥 PowerPoints, public vs private wrestling, and what needs to change in NJ wrestling

Mark also shares coaching insights from his brother, Cornell Head Coach Mike Grey, and discusses how he's applying lessons learned from some of the greatest wrestling minds in the country.

If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is packed with stories, perspective, and behind-the-scenes insight from one of the most accomplished wrestlers and coaches in the state.

🤼‍♂️ Toms River East Wrestling

🏆 Blair Academy • Cornell Wrestling

🌎 World Team Member

🥋 MMA Competitor

📍 New Jersey Wrestling

••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com

00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Meet Mark Grey

01:39 – Choosing Blair Academy Over Delbarton

03:02 – Becoming the First 4-Time Beast of the East Champion

03:50 – Why Blair Was the Right Fit

04:50 – Wrestling Under Jeff Buxton

05:25 – Learning From His Brother Mike Grey

06:21 – Why He Chose Cornell Wrestling

07:10 – Freestyle vs Folkstyle: Why Both Matter

08:15 – Making U20 World Teams & Traveling the World

09:17 – Growing Up in a Wrestling Family

10:00 – The Reality of Wrestling at an Ivy League School

10:52 – Cornell Wrestling & College Expectations

11:10 – Pressure, Expectations & Handling Big Moments

12:10 – Starting His Coaching Career in New Jersey

12:47 – Training Future NJ State Placewinners

13:18 – Why He Transitioned Into MMA

14:20 – Chasing the UFC Dream

15:05 – Why MMA Came to an End

15:24 – Coaching at Donovan Catholic

16:07 – How He Landed at Toms River East

16:40 – Taking Over a Shore Conference Program

17:02 – Winning a Sectional Title in Year One

17:40 – Learning the Shore Conference Wrestling Landscape

18:39 – Team Titles vs Atlantic City Podiums

19:20 – The Formula for Peaking at the Right Time

20:05 – Coaching Lessons From Mike Grey & Buxton

21:06 – Building Confidence Before States

21:50 – Being a Non-Teacher Head Coach

22:22 – Support From Toms River East Administration

23:01 – Creating a Tough Schedule for His Wrestlers

24:13 – Sending Wrestlers to Ironman

24:58 – Does Ironman Determine the Best Teams?

25:53 – PowerPoints, Seeding & NJ Wrestling Frustrations

27:36 – Why Public Schools Need a Seeding Committee

28:59 – What Needs to Change in NJ Wrestling

29:49 – Could He Ever Coach at Cornell?

30:30 – Helping Wrestlers Get Recruited

31:10 – Coaching at Triumph & Top Dog Wrestling

31:46 – Club Wrestling vs High School Wrestling

32:10 – Why NJ's Coaching Restrictions Hurt Development

33:18 – Spotlighting the Future of Toms River East

33:36 – Outro