Nick Matthews' Wrestling Career in a Defining Moment

Matthews Medals for Sixth at NJ Wrestling Championships – Becomes First Homegrown Placewinner in Two Decades

“I knew that my whole season came down to that moment – to get that win was the most important of my career,” reflected Nick Matthews.

But with 40,000 screaming wrestling fans packing Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, Matthews’ opponent, Bishop Ahr’s Brian McCrystal, likely had retribution on his mind.

The West Morris Central High School senior had narrowly defeated McCrystal just a day earlier, to win his 138 lb. New Jersey State wrestling championships’ opening round by just one point.

Now, in the tournament’s only same-weekend rematch, Matthews knew he had to win again. The winner was guaranteed a medal for a top-8 finish. The loser? Go home.

“The goal that motivated me on my way to Atlantic City as well as throughout the season was to place at the State Tournament,” he said. “When I got my 100th win [early in the season] I was happy but the main goal I had in mind has always been placing at States.”

Matthews defeated McCrystal 3-1. Not surprisingly, he says, “My new favorite moment [of my wrestling career] was winning that match.” 

He accomplished the dream he had since he was a small boy, and then would win yet another match, over St. Peter’s Ryan Burkert to achieve a sixth place finish.

On Sunday, Matthews stood on the podium with the legendary Anthony Ashnault, who placed first at 138. The South Plainfield senior became New Jersey’s undefeated State Champion for an unprecedented fourth season. Ashnault was 170-0 in his storied career.

According to NJWrestlers.com, Ashnault has won every New Jersey State Championship since 2003, when he wrestled at 50 lbs. That’s 11 undefeated championship seasons in a row.

Matthews finishes his senior year going 42-7, and completing his illustrious high school career at 131-34 – the most wins in school history. He said he hopes to continue his wrestling career at the post-secondary level by competing in Division III for New York University (NYU).

Matthews is the first homegrown WMC wrestler to place in States since Brian McGuire in 1993, according to the WMC Wrestling 2012-13 Program. McGuire finished fourth at 140. Dillon Landi, who transferred to WMC for his senior year in 2006, also placed fourth in States, at 171.

This was Matthews’ second trip to Atlantic City for the NJSIAA Championships. He had his parents Lena and George Matthews at his side, and of course WMC head Coach Ken Rossi, and Assistant Coaches Jim Balella, Chris Marold, John Barnett and Jeremy Adickes.

But he also had two teammates competing with him – fellow seniors Brandon Carcuffe and Adam Kratch. 

“Entering the tournament with my two teammates Brandon and Adam was definitely different from last year,” reflected Matthews. “It was nice to know that I had other kids to share the experience with and teammates that I had been working hard with all season long.”

Carcuffe and Kratch completed their stellar senior seasons reaching their ultimate goal, competing in Atlantic City.

Matthews credits his teammates, coaches, parents and other family members for his success.

“The list of people that have helped me become the wrestler I am today is a long one,” he explains. “First and foremost are my coaches at West Morris Central who have put in a lot of extra time to me during the season to make sure I was ready for my tough competition. Also there are my coaches at Red Hawk wrestling club, Olympic wrestling club, and my uncle Pete Georgoutsos who have worked endless hours with me in the off season and helped me make huge leaps in my wrestling starting since middle school to today.

“And dad has been taking me to clubs and pushing me to wrestle ever since I was little. Without him I wouldn't have been able to reach my full potential.”