New Jersey Mat Chat

Most wrestlers would've shut it down. Noah Hernandez kept competing.

Seton Hall Prep standout Noah Hernandez joins New Jersey Mat Chat to share the story of wrestling through a torn elbow during the postseason, winning a district title, finishing as a regional runner-up, and earning a trip to the New Jersey State Championships.

In this episode, Noah talks about:

🔥 Why he chose Seton Hall Prep over other powerhouse programs

🔥 How a reclass year transformed his wrestling career

🔥 Training with Ruthless Wrestling Club and Jeff Buxton

🔥 Why freestyle wrestling has elevated his folkstyle game

🔥 Winning districts despite a torn elbow

🔥 Wrestling in Atlantic City with one arm

🔥 Missing Fargo because of injury

🔥 His goal of becoming a Division I wrestler

Noah also discusses the brotherhood at Seton Hall Prep, balancing academics with wrestling, cutting weight, and the unforgettable experience of stepping onto the mats in Atlantic City for the first time.

Despite being only a freshman, Noah has already shown the toughness, discipline, and mindset that make New Jersey wrestling special. With another offseason ahead, he's determined to come back stronger than ever.

🤼‍♂️ Seton Hall Prep Wrestling

🏆 District Champion

🥈 Regional Finalist

📍 New Jersey State Championships

🔥 New Jersey Mat Chat

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00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor

01:26 – Meet Seton Hall Prep's Noah Hernandez

01:37 – How Noah Got Started in Wrestling

02:30 – Growing Up in a Wrestling Family

03:17 – The Reclass Year That Changed Everything

04:59 – Why He Chose Seton Hall Prep

06:20 – The Daily Train Ride to School

06:37 – Training at Seton Hall Prep, Ruthless & With Jeff Buxton

07:24 – Freshman Expectations & Early Confidence

08:00 – The Win That Changed His Season

08:39 – Why Freestyle Made Him Better

09:16 – Managing Weight & Using CutPro

10:19 – Seton Hall Prep's Team Culture

10:49 – Winning Districts With a Torn Elbow

11:24 – Battling Through Regions Injured

12:00 – Wrestling at Atlantic City With One Arm

12:46 – Missing Fargo & Recovering From Injury

13:30 – Why Every Wrestler Should Try Freestyle

14:15 – State Title or Fargo Title?

16:38 – Why He's Moving Up to 126 Pounds

17:13 – The Mindset That Got Him Through Injury

18:00 – Why Seton Hall Prep Feels Like Family

18:42 – Dreams of Wrestling Division I

19:14 – Academics & Life at Seton Hall Prep

20:19 – Preparing for Next Season

21:30 – Lessons From His Freshman Year

22:31 – Thanking His Coaches & Family

22:53 – Walking Into Atlantic City for the First Time

23:11 – Final Thoughts & Outro

What really happens between coaches and officials during a wrestling match?

For the first-ever New Jersey Mat Chat Coaches Roundtable, veteran wrestling official Gary Wade sits down with two of South Jersey's most respected coaches — Mike Ahern (Audubon) and Mike Lamb (Haddonfield) — for an honest conversation about the relationship between coaches and referees.

Nothing is off limits.

They discuss:

🔥 Why coaches get so emotional during matches

🔥 How officials are trained in New Jersey

🔥 What officials wish coaches understood

🔥 State tournament consistency and controversial calls

🔥 Video replay in high school wrestling

🔥 The PowerPoint system and weight classes

🔥 Stalling, edge wrestling, and rule interpretations

🔥 Coaching your own son

🔥 Building respect between coaches and officials

The episode also opens with a heartfelt tribute to Chase Sedano and the St. Augustine wrestling community, reflecting on the impact he had on those around him.

Whether you're a wrestler, coach, official, parent, or lifelong NJ wrestling fan, this episode provides a rare look at the sport from both sides of the whistle. It's a conversation about passion, accountability, and making New Jersey wrestling even better.

🤼 Guests:

Gary Wade – New Jersey Wrestling Official

Mike Ahern – Head Coach, Audubon

Mike Lamb – Head Coach, Haddonfield

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping New Jersey wrestling.

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

00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor

01:26 – Welcome to the First Coaches Roundtable

02:00 – Mike Ahern & Mike Lamb's Coaching Backgrounds

02:52 – Rivalries, Respect & Wrestling Brotherhood

04:15 – Remembering Chase Sudano

06:30 – Why Coaches and Officials Clash

08:08 – Gary Wade's District Tournament Story

09:33 – Seeing Wrestling Through an Official's Eyes

11:35 – How New Jersey Officials Are Trained

15:08 – Wrestle-Offs, Tough Decisions & Parent Pressure

18:52 – Coaching Your Own Son

21:10 – Why Officials Need a Short Memory

24:07 – Are Officials Consistent at the State Tournament?

28:32 – NCAA Replay Reviews & Overtime Controversies

30:28 – Should High School Wrestling Have Video Review?

35:31 – How Many Weight Classes Should NJ Have?

38:20 – Too Many Matches, Not Enough Practice?

41:44 – Edge Wrestling, Stalling & Rule Changes

46:35 – What Makes a Great Wrestling Official?

49:25 – Coaches Admit Their Biggest Regrets

52:44 – Bridging the Gap Between Coaches & Officials

54:55 – Final Thoughts & Coffee Toast

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From discovering wrestling in 8th grade to becoming a 3-time New Jersey State Champion, a Penn State All-American, a Division I football player, and eventually training alongside Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, David Taylor, and Bo Nickal, Jimmy's story is one of the most unique in NJ wrestling history.

In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Jimmy discusses:

🔥 Growing up in Manchester Wrestling

🔥 Winning three NJ State Championships at heavyweight

🔥 Why he chose Manchester over powerhouse private schools

🔥 Balancing football and wrestling recruiting

🔥 Playing Division I football at Monmouth

🔥 Leaving football to join Penn State Wrestling

🔥 What it was really like wrestling for Cael Sanderson

🔥 Becoming an NCAA All-American

🔥 Training with MMA legends at AKA

🔥 Fighting in front of Dana White

🔥 Why he still feels he has unfinished business

Jimmy also shares powerful lessons about discipline, identity, adversity, and finding purpose after athletics.

For New Jersey wrestling fans, this is a fascinating look inside one of the Shore Conference's greatest heavyweights and one of the most unique athletic careers to come out of the state.

🤼‍♂️ Manchester Wrestling

🏆 3-Time NJ State Champion

🦁 Penn State Wrestling All-American

🏈 Monmouth Football

🥊 MMA & AKA Training

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00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Meet Manchester Legend Jimmy Lawson

01:48 – Growing Up as a Football Player First

02:43 – Discovering Wrestling in 8th Grade

03:42 – Why He Chose Manchester Over Private Schools

04:48 – Being Underdogs in the Shore Conference

05:21 – The Coach Who Changed His Life

06:13 – Starting Wrestling & Learning Fast

06:54 – The Mindset That Made Him Dangerous

07:48 – Athletic Family & Football Roots

09:00 – Freshman Year: The Wrestling World Takes Notice

09:49 – Winning a State Title as a Sophomore

10:11 – The Losses That Fueled His Success

11:10 – Losing at Regions, Then Winning States

12:18 – Wrestling Heavyweight at Just 205 Pounds

13:24 – Football Recruiting vs Wrestling Recruiting

14:13 – Committing to Monmouth Football

14:39 – Chasing a Third State Title

15:14 – The Call From Cal State & Rutgers Interest

15:46 – Why He Chose Monmouth Football First

16:18 – Losing Himself at Monmouth

17:13 – Football vs Wrestling: Which Is Harder?

18:18 – The Decision to Leave Football Behind

18:57 – Changing His Life & Transferring to Penn State

20:06 – First Impressions of Penn State Wrestling

21:31 – Learning the Penn State Culture

22:05 – What Makes Cael Sanderson Special?

23:12 – The Mental Toughness Penn State Builds

24:31 – The Toughest Conversation He Had With Cael

25:33 – The Knee Injury That Changed Everything

26:00 – Wrestling Inside Rec Hall

27:11 – Training With David Taylor & Bo Nickal

27:51 – Becoming a Penn State All-American

28:41 – Does He Ever Reflect on His Accomplishments?

29:22 – Coaching Manchester Wrestling's Future

30:31 – How MMA Entered the Picture

31:06 – Meeting Daniel Cormier Through Phil Davis

32:37 – The NFL Dream Comes to an End

33:20 – Training at AKA With DC & Cain Velasquez

34:02 – Fighting in Front of Dana White

35:05 – Marriage, Family & Future Fighting Plans

36:06 – Why He Loves Combat Sports

38:11 – NCAA Finals or The Super Bowl?

39:02 – His Relationship With Penn State Today

39:36 – Greatest NJ Wrestler of All Time?

40:16 – Final Thoughts & Outro

This is one of the most passionate conversations we've ever had on New Jersey Mat Chat.

Gateway Wrestling head coach Jim Rutter shares the incredible story of how he built a wrestling program, overcame unimaginable family tragedy, and dedicated his life to mentoring generations of wrestlers in South Jersey.

But this episode goes far beyond one coach's story.

Coach Rutter gives his honest opinions on some of the biggest topics in New Jersey wrestling today, including:

🔥 Building Gateway Wrestling from the ground up

🔥 The family tragedy that changed his life forever

🔥 Why coaching is about far more than wins and losses

🔥 The rise of Antonio and Dante Menino

🔥 Why South Jersey wrestling has fallen behind North Jersey

🔥 Public vs. non-public wrestling

🔥 The PowerPoint system, seeding and dual meets

🔥 Why there are simply too many weight classes

🔥 How we can make high school wrestling more exciting for fans

Whether you're a coach, wrestler, parent, or lifelong fan of New Jersey wrestling, this episode is packed with stories, opinions, and decades of perspective from one of South Jersey's most respected voices.

If you care about the future of New Jersey wrestling, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

🤼‍♂️ Gateway Wrestling

🏆 South Jersey Wrestling

📍 Gloucester County, NJ

🎙️ New Jersey Mat Chat

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00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Meet Gateway Wrestling Coach Jim Rutter

01:43 – Falling in Love With Wrestling in the 1970s

02:38 – Choosing Gateway Over Basketball

03:17 – Wrestling's Early Days in South Jersey

05:27 – Becoming a Coach by Accident

07:01 – Building a Youth Wrestling Program From Scratch

08:47 – Growing Gateway Wrestling One Family at a Time

10:40 – Interviewing for the Head Coaching Job

12:14 – Volunteering Before Becoming a Head Coach

14:15 – Williamstown, New Opportunities & Coming Home

16:11 – Becoming Gateway's Head Coach

16:45 – The Family Tragedy That Changed Everything

19:05 – Why He'll Never Leave Gateway Wrestling

19:58 – Building a Blue-Collar Wrestling Culture

20:50 – Keeping Kids Accountable Without Being in the School

22:00 – Coaching Beyond Wrestling

23:58 – New Jersey Wrestling vs Pennsylvania Wrestling

24:52 – Scheduling Tough Competition Every Season

27:54 – Coaching Antonio & Dante Menino

29:43 – Antonio Menino's Historic State Championship

31:33 – Has South Jersey Wrestling Fallen Behind?

32:30 – Why North Jersey Has Pulled Ahead

34:00 – Does the Wrestling Room Matter More Than the School?

35:24 – Why Families Should Stay Home & Wrestle for Gateway

38:54 – What Changes Would He Make to NJ Wrestling?

40:03 – Why Fans Deserve Better Matchups

42:08 – The Problem With Too Many Weight Classes

44:17 – Fixing the Dual Meet & Quad System

45:56 – Should the PowerPoint System Change?

47:47 – Public vs Non-Public Wrestling Debate

49:31 – Seeding, Politics & Atlantic City

53:50 – Roundtable: The Future of NJ Wrestling

55:28 – Is 100 Wins Still a Meaningful Milestone?

57:28 – Too Many State Tournament Groups?

58:34 – Final Thoughts & Outro

Tyler Going's story is one every New Jersey wrestler can relate to.

He wasn't the youth phenom.

He wasn't the kid winning everything growing up.

In fact, he lost a wrestle-off as a freshman and spent years watching teammates achieve goals he wanted for himself.

But through consistency, offseason work, and a love for the sport, Tyler transformed himself into a New Jersey State Placewinner for Howell.

In this episode, Tyler talks about:

🔥 Growing up in a Howell wrestling family

🔥 Losing a wrestle-off as a freshman

🔥 Wrestling over 100 offseason matches

🔥 Learning from teammates like Tanner and Luke

🔥 Making his breakthrough in Atlantic City

🔥 Why he doesn't believe in major weight cuts

🔥 The culture inside Howell Wrestling

🔥 The future of Howell's young team

Tyler also shares hilarious stories from the Howell room, including Coach Gagliano's legendary pranks, the origin of his "Holy Breads" nickname, and why Howell truly is a wrestling town.

If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and a reminder that success doesn't always come early—but hard work eventually gets rewarded.

🤼‍♂️ Howell Wrestling

🏆 New Jersey State Placewinner

📍 Shore Conference Wrestling

🔥 Wrestling Town USA

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

00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Meet Howell State Placewinner Tyler Going

01:39 – Growing Up in a Howell Wrestling Family

02:27 – Wrestling, Baseball & Avoiding Burnout

03:04 – “I Was Never The Guy” Growing Up

03:34 – Why He Stuck With Wrestling

04:02 – The Reclass Year That Changed Everything

04:50 – Losing a Wrestle-Off as a Freshman

05:00 – Watching Teammates Succeed & Wanting More

05:43 – The Offseason That Changed His Career

06:19 – Wrestling 100+ Matches in the Offseason

06:48 – When He Started Believing in Himself

07:12 – Building Confidence Through Experience

08:14 – Learning From Missing the State Podium

08:47 – The Mindset Shift Before Junior Year

09:08 – His Only Losses Came to Brock Mantanona

09:43 – The Difference Between First & Second Trips to AC

10:11 – Entering States With a New Mentality

10:43 – Wrestling Loose & Letting It Fly

11:06 – Why Experience Matters at States

11:45 – Why He Doesn't Believe in Big Weight Cuts

12:41 – Inside Howell Wrestling's Team Culture

13:18 – The Funniest Stories From the Howell Room

13:38 – Who's the Funniest Wrestler on the Team?

14:18 – How "Holy Breads" Got His Nickname

15:00 – What He'll Miss Most About Howell Wrestling

15:42 – Training Partners Who Made Him Better

16:02 – Pickleball, Golf & Life Outside Wrestling

17:06 – The Incredible Support Behind Howell Wrestling

17:49 – Growing Up Around Howell Wrestling History

18:15 – Looking Ahead to Next Year's Howell Team

19:05 – Why This Year's Team Learned So Much

19:50 – The Freshman Class That Changed Everything

20:24 – Incoming Talent & Future Stars

20:46 – Goals for Howell Wrestling Next Season

21:10 – Why Tough Schedules Make Better Wrestlers

21:48 – How Losing Helped Him Improve

23:00 – Learning From Wrestlers Like Tanner & Luke

23:48 – Shoutouts to Coaches, Family & Teammates

25:05 – Wrestling in College? Future Plans

25:45 – Working at Jersey Mike's While Chasing Wrestling Goals

26:22 – Howell Freshmen Are Absolute Knuckleheads

27:20 – Why School Is Fun When You're on the Wrestling Team

28:00 – Coach Gagliano's Legendary Pranks

29:00 – Final Thoughts & Outro

A state title. Four state placers. A state champion. Not a bad first year.

New Delsea head coach Kurt DeWoody joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about taking over one of New Jersey's most successful wrestling programs and navigating the pressure that comes with it.

In this episode, Coach DeWoody discusses:

🔥 Winning a state championship in his first season as head coach

🔥 Learning from Mike Barikian at Kingsway

🔥 Returning home to Delsea Wrestling

🔥 Building championship culture

🔥 Why tough schedules create state champions

🔥 The inside story behind Greyson Pettit's unbelievable run to a state title

🔥 Team states, PowerPoints, seeding and NJ wrestling politics

🔥 The importance of youth wrestling and community support

Coach DeWoody also shares stories about unsung heroes, weight management at Atlantic City, and what truly makes Delsea Wrestling one of the premier programs in New Jersey.

If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build and sustain a championship program.

🤼‍♂️ Delsea Wrestling

🏆 New Jersey Team State Champions

📍 Franklinville, NJ

🔥 South Jersey Wrestling

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00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Meet Delsea Head Coach Kurt DeWoody

01:36 – First Year as Head Coach: State Title & State Champ

02:10 – Biggest Adjustment: Dealing With Parents

03:02 – Learning Under Mike Barikian at Kingsway

03:23 – Why He Never Wanted to Be a Head Coach

04:03 – Coming Home to Delsea Wrestling

04:48 – Growing Up in Franklinville & Wrestling for Delsea

05:11 – Leaving Delsea for Kingsway

05:38 – Returning to Delsea Full-Time

06:11 – Surviving Year One as a Head Coach

07:13 – Building a Schedule for Team & Individual Success

07:50 – Why Tough Losses Matter Before States

08:35 – The Match That Built Confidence Early

09:43 – What Makes a Delsea Practice Different

10:00 – The Culture of Being Comfortable Uncomfortable

10:44 – Winning a State Title Without "Blowing It"

11:02 – Managing a Room Full of Different Personalities

12:02 – Why the Coaching Staff Is Delsea's Secret Weapon

12:53 – The Future of Delsea Wrestling

13:13 – Inside Delsea's Massive Youth Program

13:54 – Unsung Hero Story: Chris Diaz Steps Up

15:00 – CJ Powell's Team States Moment

16:04 – Why Team Wrestling Is Different

16:35 – Delsea vs St. Augustine: The Atmosphere Was Crazy

17:18 – Wrestling in Front of a Packed Home Crowd

17:55 – Thoughts on NJ Wrestling PowerPoints

19:42 – Does Scheduling Affect PowerPoints?

20:15 – Why Great Teams Don't Fear Tough Matchups

21:09 – Focus on Opponents, Not Seeds

21:50 – Greyson Pettit's Historic State Tournament Run

22:22 – Understanding the State Tournament Seeding Process

23:17 – How Greyson Ended Up as the 21 Seed

24:04 – Game Planning for Haggerty & DeLorenzo

25:05 – Training for Six-Minute Matches

26:04 – Why Pettit's Run Was So Special

26:49 – Coaching Multiple Wrestlers in Atlantic City

28:10 – The Reality of Managing Weights at States

29:24 – The Physics Closet Weight-Cut Story

30:40 – Expectations for Delsea Next Season

31:02 – What Wrestling Teaches Beyond Winning

32:41 – Former Wrestlers Who Made Him Proud

33:30 – Wrestling's Impact on the Community

34:08 – Final Thoughts & Outro

One year he was leaving Atlantic City disappointed. The next year he was standing on top of the podium.

CBA standout and Iowa commit Bobby Duffy joins New Jersey Mat Chat to break down the journey that led him from heartbreak at the New Jersey State

Championships to becoming a New Jersey State Champion.

In this episode, Bobby discusses:

🔥 Missing the podium as a freshman

🔥 The mindset shift that changed his wrestling career

🔥 Placing at Fargo and gaining national confidence

🔥 Why CBA was the right fit for him

🔥 The recruiting process with Rutgers, Maryland, and Iowa

🔥 NIL, college wrestling, and life as an incoming Hawkeye

🔥 What separates high school wrestling from college wrestling

🔥 His goals at Fargo and beyond

Bobby also opens up about the coaches, teammates, and mentors who helped shape his path, including the influence of the Kenny family, Vinny DelleFave, and the culture at CBA Wrestling.

If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is a must-watch. It's a story about resilience, confidence, and what happens when talent finally meets commitment.

🤼‍♂️ CBA Wrestling

🏆 New Jersey State Champion

🌽 Iowa Wrestling Commit

📍 New Jersey Wrestling

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00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Meet New Jersey State Champion Bobby Duffy

01:55 – Missing the Podium as a CBA Freshman

02:15 – The Weight Cut to 106 Pounds

03:00 – Falling Short at States & The Blood Round Loss

03:59 – Why He Didn't Reach His Potential Early

04:12 – The Mental Shift That Changed Everything

04:50 – The Fargo Trip That Changed His Career

05:45 – Placing at Fargo & Gaining Confidence

06:30 – Recruiting Interest Starts to Heat Up

06:58 – How Fargo Helped Him Win a State Title

07:22 – Why He Chose CBA Over Public School Wrestling

07:44 – The Kenny Family Influence

08:05 – What Makes CBA Different

08:46 – Brotherhood, Coaches & Wrestling Culture

09:02 – Academics at CBA & Balancing School

09:42 – GPA Expectations for College Wrestling

10:21 – Preparing for College Academics

10:49 – Inside the Iowa Recruiting Process

11:27 – Visits to Rutgers, Maryland & Iowa

11:50 – Arriving in Iowa With No Expectations

12:21 – Scholarship Offers & NIL Conversations

13:13 – Why Iowa Stood Out From Everyone Else

14:13 – Future Weight Class at Iowa

14:49 – Staying Connected With the Iowa Coaches

15:32 – Life as an Incoming Iowa Wrestler

16:05 – Training With the Hawkeye RTC

16:57 – Leaving for Iowa & Starting the Next Chapter

17:22 – Winning a New Jersey State Title

18:13 – High School Wrestling vs College Wrestling

19:03 – Life After Wrestling & Career Goals

20:19 – Could Law Enforcement Be in His Future?

21:05 – Coaching His Younger Brothers

21:49 – Wrestling Clubs That Shaped His Career

22:05 – Meeting the Kenny Family

22:38 – The Influence of Coach Vinny DelleFave

22:47 – Was a State Title Necessary for Success?

23:28 – Fargo Goals & Chasing a National Title

24:21 – Final Thoughts & Outro

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

Four straight group titles. A top-ranked Delsea team. And now, Division I wrestling at Drexel.

Delsea standout Sal Marchese joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about one of the most successful eras in South Jersey wrestling and what comes next as he prepares for college wrestling.

In this episode, Sal discusses:

🔥 Delsea's fifth straight group championship

🔥 Why his freshman team was the best Delsea team he's seen

🔥 The culture that built a South Jersey powerhouse

🔥 Training at Seagull Wrestling Club

🔥 His journey to becoming a New Jersey state medalist

🔥 Recruiting visits to Drexel, Penn, Columbia & Navy

🔥 Moving from 190 pounds to heavyweight in college

🔥 What it's really like balancing elite wrestling and academics

Sal also opens up about confidence, enjoying the process, and what he wishes he knew as a younger wrestler.

If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the state's most consistent programs and one of South Jersey's top wrestlers.

🤼‍♂️ Delsea Wrestling

🏆 New Jersey State Placewinner

🎓 Drexel Wrestling Commit

📍 South Jersey Wrestling

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

00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:27 – Meet Delsea Senior Sal Marchese

01:39 – Delsea's Fifth Straight Group Title

02:15 – Wrestling 157 as a Freshman

03:10 – Why His Freshman Team Was the Best Delsea Team Ever

04:40 – Life in Franklinville & Delsea Wrestling Culture

05:45 – Growing Up as the Son of a Football Coach

06:30 – Why He Never Played Football

07:00 – Team Success vs Individual Goals

07:49 – How Delsea Prepares for Big Team Matches

08:24 – Delsea's Secret Sauce: Youth Wrestling & Culture

09:35 – Coach Kurt DeWoody Takes Over the Program

10:05 – Can Delsea Keep the Streak Alive?

10:58 – Training at Seagull Wrestling Club

11:02 – How Seagull Elevated His Wrestling

11:24 – His Wrestling Style: "I'm a Brawler"

11:27 – Biggest Regret From His High School Career

12:05 – Learning to Enjoy the Process

12:48 – Confidence Struggles & Missed Opportunities

13:40 – Transitioning From Middle School to High School Wrestling

14:43 – Academics: 6th in His Class

15:19 – AP Classes, Wrestling & School Balance

15:56 – Coach DeWoody vs Coach Maxwell

16:26 – Why Delsea's Coaching Staff Works So Well

16:52 – Choosing Drexel Wrestling

17:29 – Penn, Columbia, Navy & Recruiting Process

17:52 – Why Drexel Won Out

18:18 – Moving Up to Heavyweight in College

19:00 – The New Era of Athletic Heavyweights

19:45 – Leaving South Jersey for Philadelphia

20:07 – Business, Finance & Future Career Goals

20:54 – Drexel's Co-Op Program & Opportunities

21:08 – What "A Lot of Money" Means to a 19-Year-Old

22:20 – Ocean City, Wildwood & South Jersey Summers

22:33 – Funniest Guy on the Delsea Team

23:24 – Would He Walk the Ocean City Boardwalk in a Singlet?

23:55 – Final Thoughts & Outro

What separates a New Jersey state champion from everyone else?

According to Gene Zannetti, it isn't always technique, strength, or conditioning.

It's mindset.

In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Gene Zannetti of Wrestling Mindset joins us at Shore Thing Wrestling Club for a deep conversation about confidence, discipline, pressure, mental toughness, and what it really takes to maximize your potential on the mat.

We discuss:

🔥 Growing up wrestling in New Jersey

🔥 Wrestling at Rutgers and Penn

🔥 Building Wrestling Mindset into a national brand

🔥 Why athletes choke under pressure

🔥 The relationship between mindset, nutrition and weight cutting

🔥 Mental health in wrestling

🔥 Parents, coaches and athlete development

🔥 What separates state champions from everyone else

Whether you're a wrestler, coach, parent, or fan of New Jersey wrestling, this episode is packed with lessons that apply far beyond the mat.

🤼‍♂️ New Jersey Wrestling

🧠 Wrestling Mindset

🏆 Mental Toughness • Confidence • Discipline

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

00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

01:26 – Welcome to Shore Thing Wrestling Club

01:31 – Meet Gene Zannetti of Wrestling Mindset

01:39 – Growing Up Wrestling in New Jersey

02:08 – Learning Wrestling From His Dad

03:17 – Wanting to Follow His Father's Path

04:05 – Discovering Psychology in High School

04:47 – Wrestling at Rutgers & Penn

05:42 – The Birth of Wrestling Mindset

05:59 – The Books That Changed His Life

07:20 – Why Wrestling Mindset Focused on Wrestlers First

08:10 – Building a National Sports Psychology Business

09:15 – Sports Psychology Then vs Now

10:24 – What Mindset Training Really Is

11:10 – Mental Muscles: Confidence, Discipline & Focus

11:47 – Is Making Weight Wrestling's Toughest Opponent?

12:17 – How Mindset Impacts Nutrition & Weight Management

13:00 – Why Discipline Beats Motivation

14:00 – Wrestling, Anxiety & Mental Health

15:11 – Medication vs Mental Skills Training

16:15 – Why Young Athletes Need Tools, Not Just Prescriptions

17:25 – Who Is the Ideal Wrestling Mindset Client?

18:07 – When Parents Need Coaching Too

19:06 – Why Some Athletes Don't Improve

20:00 – Building a Team of 80 Mindset Coaches

21:05 – Matching Athletes With the Right Coach

22:18 – Why Wrestlers Open Up to Mindset Coaches

23:01 – How Wrestling Mindset Partnerships Work

24:45 – How Many NJ State Placers Use Mindset Training?

25:45 – Natural Talent vs Developing Potential

27:05 – Can Great Athletes Still Improve Mentally?

28:08 – The Most Influential People in Gene's Life

29:15 – Aaron Pico, Elite Athletes & Mental Training

30:01 – Coaching, Communication & Giving Feedback

31:18 – Final Thoughts & Outro