Borgia and Pack Pound Wins Records, but Wrestling Section Title Eludes

2/22/26

By David Yaskulka

Photos from Jen Sheppard and Sheryl Reed. Special thanks to team statisticians Adriana Georgiev, Alexa Moscotello, Kaylee Viera and Tilly Vazquez.

On a bittersweet night electrified by the West Morris Central home crowd, Tommy Borgia bolted after Caldwell's Franklin Calle and decked him in 15 seconds. It was his 145th career win, breaking Shane Metzler's all-time WMC record.

But for WMC wrestling, seeking its first state section championship since 1988, it wasn't enough as the Knights captured the crown 49-29 Feb. 18 in Chester.

Then WMC set its own wins record three days later with its 21st, the most in any season in WMC history.

“Obviously, we'd rather be walking out of here with a sectional championship, but, sometimes life happens,” said Borgia.

"Caldwell's really, really tough up and down the lineup. It was really 50/50 in some of those matches and it rolled their way."

WMC is 21-8 after NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 playoff wins over Elmwood Park and Governor Livingston, followed by the devastating championship loss to Caldwell, and then additional wins over Wall, Matawan, and Montgomery.

“We worked all year as a team for a sectional title,” said head coach Chris Marold. “It didn't happen, but the guys bounced right back to pick up these three wins and the school record. That talks a lot about their character.”

Districts are Next

Now the squad turns its focus to individual glory, starting with the Feb. 28 District 12 Championship at Randolph. Every WMC starter competes, as Borgia (HWT, 35-1 record, ranked #5), Brody Neill (138, 29-4, #18), and Jacob Harrison (144, 29-9, #29) look to defend their district crowns (injured champion Chris Kowalik will not).

Deacon Frayne (190, 34-5, #10), Michael Borgia (215, 11-2, #55), Rob Fazzino (175, 27-10, #29) and Jonathan Cabarle (150, 20-9, #33) look to advance to regions again, as Ryan Tie (106, 24-15, #101), Van Muttart (113, 11-13, #179), Jake Reed (120, 6-20, #223), Lucas Harrison (126, 22-15, #138), Mason Vazquez (132, 17-15, #108), John Garcia (157, 20-19, #101), and Kurt Beyer (165, 22-16, #89) look to become first-time district medalists.

Seven important contributors to the Wolfpack history-making 2025-26 season see their seasons end before districts, including Alex Dymnicki (9 wins), Hayden Hurst (4), Julian Healy (3), Grant Baker (3), Nick Galvin (2), Antonio Montella (1) and Giancarlo DeBiasse (1 match).

Borgia Passes Metzler for All-Time Wolfpack Wins Record

With his 145th win vs. Caldwell, and then three more on Saturday, Tommy Borgia’s 148 wins (and counting) stand alone in Pack history. Three-time state medalist Shane Metzler’s record has stood since 2017, when the eventual Rutgers starter passed Nick Matthews (131).

“It felt awesome, it was really exciting,” said Borgia who received a standing ovation from the packed home crowd. “All my friends came out, the town was here. A really cool moment for me and my family.”

“It’s a big deal Shane was there,” Borgia continued. “I’ve looked up to him for a long, long time and he’s a stud. I was sitting on the bench, sixth grade, watching him win county titles, district titles, region titles, and he’s just an animal. So, to see him here tonight after I got that win is absolutely amazing.”

Metzler noticed Tommy and Michael Borgia early on, saying, “They were great wrestlers. It was exciting to watch them grow up.”

“I noticed Tommy’s tenacity and, most importantly, his confidence. I think confidence in your skill is what’s most important to create winning matches. Some of the best wrestlers have all the talent and skill in the world, but they might not believe in themselves. So belief is the number one aspect, and I see that he has it.”

“Every year I think about [the record],” said Metzler. “Nine years later, it’s broken, and I’m happy that it’s somebody that I know and I watched grow up through the program, somebody who decided to stay home and win it all for West Morris [versus leaving for a non-public school]. So I couldn’t be happier, and I’m very proud of him.”

Borgia's mark is even more impressive when you consider that each and every win was in the two heaviest weight classes. It’s rare for underclassmen to excel at these weights. They usually bide their time while getting beat up by seniors. Borgia was 34-9 as a freshman at 215.

Among the top-15 in WMC career wins, not a single match was wrestled in the two heaviest weights – except Borgia’s. Even Jesse Windt and Henry Frayne, at #s 17 and 23 respectively on the wins list, wrestled in lower weight classes as underclassmen.

In fact, there isn’t a single active NJ HWT with more career wins. This writer could not find a single wrestler in NJSIAA history to match Borgia’s totals exclusively in the top two weights. Jimmy Lawson of Manchester (three-time state champion) had 141. Three-time champ Jimmy Mullin may have exceeded it, but missed a year and finished with 111.

Is there anyone in line who could possibly pass Borgia? Amazingly, yes. Neill had more wins as an underclassmen than either Metzler or Borgia, and he’s maintaining the torrid pace this season. Frayne’s pace is not far behind – and big guys tend to accelerate their dominance as upperclassmen.

Chris Kowalik’s 33 wins as a 190 lb. freshman put him on pace to challenge the mark, but his injury this year illustrates another reason why such records are so hard to break.

Win totals aside, Borgia has one main goal – a state championship.

“It’s time to make a run at the top,” he said. “It’s districts, regions, states time. I know it’s my year. There’s nothing else to it. I got to go out there and get it done. I know what I’m capable of, just got to put my nose down and do what I know I can do down in AC and get on top of that podium.”

2025-26 Wolfpack is Winningest in History

Last year’s Pack tied the all-time record season with 18 wins, but the 2025-26 squad just raised the bar, finishing 21-8.

“These guys, this team, they’re absolutely family,” said Tommy. “We’ve been grinding since November, just getting better every day, working up to this point.”

“We had a sectional championship in mind and weren't able to finish it out, but I wouldn’t change anything this season. The effort we put in, the grind, the blood, sweat, and tears we put into the sport – I wouldn’t change anything for the world. And it’s only going to make us better going into the individual postseason.”

“I think this record means a lot to the wrestlers,” said Marold. “It says you're a part of history in a program that already has a really good history.

“And we're getting even better. So, they're the groundwork for this next tier where we want to get.”

State Sectional Title Remains Elusive as Caldwell is Crowned Champion

Echoes of WMC’s 1988 state section title still haunt – despite Jocelyn Kulczyckyj’s rousing rendition of the national anthem, and an electric home crowd.

Five straight pins from the Chiefs sucked oxygen out of the room before the Wolfpack could even catch their breath.

The dual was won and lost in the brutal margins of the middleweights, where the "what ifs" will linger long after the mats are rolled up.

Two moments, in particular, felt like a punch to the gut. First, the heartbreaking sight of state medalist Neill being forced to forfeit due to injury—a necessary call for his safety, but a devastating swing for the Pack’s momentum.

Then came the controversy, as Cabarle appeared to have Anthony Barrett pinned not once, but twice. As the crowd roared for the slap of the mat that never came, the officials remained unmoved, resulting in a ten-point swing that may have sealed the Wolfpack’s fate.

By the time the WMC "bigs" ignited a ferocious 29-0 run, the Chief’s championship was sealed.
Jacob Harrison halted a punishing eight-bout Caldwell streak with a defiant pin—his 16th straight win—while Fazzino, Frayne, and Tommy Borgia (win #145) all hammered home pins of their own. Michael Borgia added a technical fall to the late-round surge, but the mountain was simply too steep.

In a match where every bout followed the cold logic of the rankings (RankWrestlers.com), WMC needed some upsets in the middle, or to prevent bonus points down low. Instead, they found a relentless Caldwell team that capitalized on every bonus point available (except versus Garcia, who saved three for the Pack) for the 49-29 championship win.

The Pack’s district medalists will have one more chance for redemption against Caldwell’s best: at the Region 3 Championships.

“We had a bunch of close matches,” said Tommy. “Caldwell’s one of the top teams in our region, so we got them, we know what they feel like now. Maybe if we didn’t pull it off tonight, we’re going to pull it off in two or three weeks. Yeah.”

Ties Bind WMC and Borgia to History as they Defeat Gov. Livingston 69-9

WMC avenged their 2025 semifinals loss to Gov. Livingston with a history-tying 69-9 shellacking Feb. 16 in the 2026 sectional semis. It was the Pack’s 18th victory of the season, tied for the most in school history. Tommy Borgia won his 144th career match to tie Metzler.

The third tie was freshman Tie starting the match with a less-historic but still impressive 15-0 first period tech fall.

Cabarle and Jacob Harrison pinned two of GL’s best, as Muttart, Lucas Harrison, Neill, Fazzino (his fifth straight win) and Frayne all delivered pinfalls. Garcia (winning his fifth straight to secure the WMC victory with five bouts to go) and Beyer delivered techs, as WMC won 12 bouts to advance.

Lucas Harrison, who was 0-8 with seven pins last season, got his 21st win in one of the most impressive improvements in Pack history.

Fazzino, J. Harrison Lead Pack Over Elmwood Park in Round One, 66-6

Elmwood Park brought three top-100 wrestlers to the playoff quarterfinals, but Fazzino and Jacob Harrison topped two of them to lead the Pack to a 66-6 round one victory Feb. 16.

Cabarle came in with an incredible streak of eight-straight pins (topping multiple top-70 ranked wrestlers), but he won by injury forfeit over Cameron Laterra (24-9). By the end of the day, he’d delivered max-points for the team in 10 straight. Jacob Harrison also won by injury time, over a region qualifier.

After Abigail Theesfeld gave the Wolfpack faithful a heartwarming rendition of the national anthem, Tommy Borgia’s 45 second pin started the postseason. Then Tie delivered his first of two tech falls on the day in what could have been a swing bout.

Lucas Harrison, Vazquez and Frayne pinned, Garcia majored, Fazzino’s won 4-1, and the Pack received three forfeits to advance.

Borgia Shows He’s Ready, Leads Pack Over Matawan

In the quad’s marquis match, Tommy Borgia put on a display of dominance, defeating NJ #8 ranked Mohammad Targali (33-1) by tech fall, 15-0.

It's the high school wrestling equivalent of watching Aaron Judge in his prime, seeing your team captain achieve historic greatness right in front of you.

Kurt Beyer also teched one of Matawan’s six top-100 grapplers, defeating Tyheed Richardson 16-1.

Fazzino, Frayne and Tie delivered pins; Jacob Harrison another tech fall, and a Vazquez victory completed the Wolfpack scoring in the 42-22 victory, its 20th of the season.

Vazquez Huge Pin Leads Pack Over Wall

WMC got its historic 19th victory against the tough Wall Crimson Knights 37-22 to open the Matawan quad Feb. 21. But after Tie led off with a pin, it got dicey for WMC. The Shore Conference historic powerhouse won six of seven.

Among those Wall wins were district champs #16 Michael Boulard (31-4) ending Jacob Harrison’s 16 match winning streak, and #19 Parker Quinn (27-5) topping Cabarle.

In the middle, Vazquez delivered a key upset, pinning #88 ranked district champion Mason DiStefano.

WMC was down 32-12 , but Beyer turned the tide back Packward with an 11-4 win. Fazzino followed with a major over #60 ranked Alan Bagagem.

Frayne got another pin, then Michael Borgia pinned #100 Cylas Coyne in 37 seconds (Michael’s 8-1 since returning). Tommy Borgia pinned #46 Eric Clauburg in 47 seconds to secure the team wins record.

Fazzino and Four Pins Propel Pack Over Montgomery for 21st Win

The Cougars came to the quad dog and cat fight without enough paws, as the Wolfpack womped Montgomery for its record 21st victory, 63-11.

Fazzino took down #48 Jahkee Carr 11-4 to lead the way.

Lucas Harrison kicked off a pinfall parade with Hayden Hurst, Frayne and Tie following suit.

Montgomery forfeited five times (one a double forfeit), including the season's 12th to WMC’S big dog. Tie, Vazquez, Fazzino (ninth straight), Frayne (16 straight) and Tommy Borgia got their third wins of the day at Matawan.

D12 Preview: Entering the Crucible

“This team is loaded,” says Tommy Borgia. But as the Wolfpack enters the District 12 tournament, the regular season safety net of second chances is gone. The individual post-season is cold-blooded. District Pre-quarters and Quarterfinals are single elimination. One slip, one lapse in focus, and the season ends in a heartbeat.

Seeding is no longer just a number—it’s a lifeline. While seeding correlates with RankWrestlers.com ranking, it’s different. And only the seeding counts, based on "Prestige" and "Caliber" points via Trackwrestling, and a seeding meeting on February 26. There, coaches review head-to-head results and common-opponent data to fight for their wrestlers' lives. In a bracket where the top two advance to the finals and the "Blood Round" determines the bronze, being seeded 7th or lower is often a death sentence (except for those who can beat the top-two).

Here is how the path to the D12 podium (and to regions) looks for the Wolfpack.

Please keep in mind :
1) brackets can still change!
2) this is based on rank, which is different from seeding
3) of course, ranks (and seeds) just look at statistical odds, but anything can happen (because humans aren’t algorithms!). The history of sports drama is about beating the odds.

106 lbs.
Ryan is ranked third (projected to advance), with #159 the third-highest-ranked competitor.

113 lbs.
Van is sixth ranked, and would need to upset #48 to advance.

120 lbs.
Jake is fifth ranked and would need to upset #102 to advance.

126 lbs.
Lucas is fifth ranked, and would need to upset #56 to advance.

132 lbs.
Mason is third ranked, projected to advance. Davey Rhinehart is a big favorite at #34, but 2-5 are virtually equal. So it would not take an upset to advance, nor would it take an upset to be sent home.

138 lbs.
Brody is an overwhelming top rank, followed by #80.

144 lbs.
Jacob is a solid top rank, followed by #81.

150 lbs.
Jonathan is top ranked, but followed closely by #43 and #47, a clear top three in any order.

157 lbs.
John is second ranked and projected to advance. But after a prohibitive favorite from Madison, the next five wrestlers are fairly evenly ranked from #101-144 and could finish in any order from 2nd to 6th.

165 lbs.
Kurt is fourth ranked, but essentially tied with the second and third ranked. Note that Hayden Hurst would also be fourth ranked if he started.

175 lbs.
Rob is top ranked, followed by #41 (whom Rob pinned), #92.

190 lbs.
Deacon is top ranked, followed by #34 (whom Deacon beat), then #118.

215 lbs.
Michael is third ranked, behind #24 and #52, with #128 in the way of advancing.

285 lbs.
Tommy is an overwhelming favorite in an otherwise weak bracket (he’s currently the only WMC wrestler not facing a single top-100 wrestler in the district). A 215 pounder could bump here, but that wouldn’t impact Tommy.

Ranks and Recognition Review

RankWrestlers.com notes Frayne is among NJ’s leaders in pins with 26 and pins+techfalls with 29.

Freshman Phenoms: Julian Healy is already the #21 ranked freshman at 144. Van Muttart is the #38 ranked freshman at 113, and Ryan Tie is #47 at 106.

Among sophomores, Lucas Harrison is #37, Jonathan #4, Deacon #1 at their respective weights. Grant Baker is already #42. Chris Kowalik would no doubt be at or near the top as well.

Here’s our cheat sheet on Rankings.

Next Up: NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 Individual State Championship Playoffs

February 28: District 12 championship at Randolph for all WMC starters.
Gold, silver and bronze medalists advance to Regions.

March 6-7: Region 3 championship at West Orange for all District medalists.
The top four region placers advance to face the best of the best in Boardwalk Hall.

March 12-14: The NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 State Championship in Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City for the top-32 wrestlers in NJ.
Top eight finishers ascend the historic podium climbed by the likes of Jordan Burroughs, Anthony Ashnault, Nick Suriano, and current NCAA hopefuls.

And here’s a cheat sheet on tournament and playoff structure for the season:

Districts? Goles? Sections? AC? Oh My! A Guide to WMC Wrestling's Road to Glory

About David Yaskulka

To avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben joined WMC in 2012, David revived his sportswriter dream, and still covers the Pack. He’s a sustainability advocate and pet industry executive, having served as CEO of Nature’s Logic, SVP of Mid America Pet Food, and Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition and Greater Good Charities. He currently advises Love, Nala cat food, Archway Pet Food, and rePurpose Global plastic action platform. He invites all WMC wrestlers and their families to connect with him (and with each other!) on LinkedIn.