Sports
Coach Marold Medicine: Michael Borgia's Back for WMC Postseason Wrestling
WMC defeats Jefferson and Morristown, now 16-7 as the postseason top seed. Baker, Hurst, Healy and Kolawole win Newton JV Tourney Gold.
2/15/26
By David Yaskulka
Photos from Jen Sheppard and Sheryl Reed. Special thanks to team statisticians Adriana Georgiev, Alexa Moscotello, Kaylee Viera and Tilly Vazquez.
When West Morris Central wrestling head coach Chris Marold lost standout district champion Chris Kowalik to injury in December, a recovery plan was put in place.
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“We've been saying it for a long time now, ‘can't wait for February 11th’,” said senior district finalist Michael Borgia (215 lbs., 6-1 record).
Just as the doctor ordered – and just one week before playoffs – #31 ranked Borgia emerged from the bench Feb. 11, and #9 sophomore hammer Deacon Frayne (27-5) cut to 190 lbs.. That (again) gives Marold one of NJ’s most formidable trio of bigs, including Borgia’s brother, #3 Tommy Borgia (HWT, 29-1).
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“Since Chris got hurt, we definitely realized it would set our lineup back a little bit,” recounted 215 pounder Borgia.
“We got the idea that Deacon can make 190. We looked at the descent plans [dates by which a wrestler is permitted to safely cut weight] and had this date planned out.”
So what does it mean for the team to add Borgia to the lineup for playoffs?
“Huge,” said Marold. “We have a state qualifier level kid sliding into the lineup.”
So far, Marold’s new-look lineup has bolstered the playoff’s North Group 2, Section 2 top-seed.
The Pack overwhelmed a shorthanded Jefferson squad 75-0 on Feb. 11, and Morristown 43-30 Feb. 13, raising its record to 16-7. Michael Borgia won in both.
The “Plan A” Problem
While the season-opening big man trio Kowalik, Frayne and Tommy Borgia was historically formidable, there was a painful corollary.
With four of WMC’s five highest-ranked wrestlers stacked up top and a logjam at 215 and HWT, the painful part of plan A was sending Michael, a three year starter and senior leader, to the bench.
“When you have that many tough guys in the room, the sad truth is that someone's going to get put to the bench,” acknowledged Michael. “That's unfortunate, but sometimes that’s just the way it rolls. And if anything, it's a testament to our program that we have that many good people.”
But the glass-half-full Borgia admitted the empty part.
“When you play sports for so long, it's part of your identity. And having that part of me ripped away was definitely hard.”
Ironically, he had also earned a starting spot on the football team, but lost his entire senior season there as well due to injury.
Last season Marold had a similar logjam with district champ and true heavyweight A.J. Codella the odd man out. The now-senior gridiron standout never wrestled again.
“Plan B” Solutions
With the injury to Kowalik in December, the February 11 “plan B” began with two critical components.
Solution Part 1
First, senior second-year wrestler Alex Dymnicki (9-14) cut to 190 and capably held the fort since December.
“Alex Dymnicki, one of my best friends in the world, did a phenomenal job,” said Michael. “He stepped in, got nine wins on varsity, and placed in a tournament. As a second-year wrestler, that's almost unheard of, and super impressive.”
“Alex stepping in and being very competitive was huge for us," confirmed Marold.
Dymnicki (and the entire squad, especially Rob Fazzino, going 4-1 bumping to 190) stepped up with both Kowalik and Michael Borgia out of the lineup to nonetheless become the playoff top seed.
Solution Part 2
To add three-year starter Michael Borgia back into the lineup, Frayne would have to cut to 190 before playoffs.
“Props to Deacon, stepping on it and cutting that weight, and making it for Feb. 11,” said Borgia, who himself descended from 285.
“Being able to get back on the mat does feel super nice. Not to get all cliché, but it just kind of fills that missing piece in you, that part of you that you always had. It feels nice to have it back.”
“I’m glad I got to help the team,” said Dymnicki. “It kind of sucks I don’t get to wrestle in the postseason, but I’m happy Mikey gets to because he’s a great athlete, and deserves it.”
“Now that I got it back, I have the motivation,” said Borgia, who said his pre-season goals were 30 wins (which won’t happen), a district championship, and a trip to Atlantic City.
“I'm thankful my main goals are still very much obtainable,” he said. “I feel like it's very possible, and I'm ready to go.”
Muttart, Cabarle Lead Pack Over Morristown 44-30
At home in the final match before playoffs Feb. 13, Marold sat four top starters and cruised to a 44-30 win over Morristown.
Van Muttart (113, 8-10) got the Pack on the board with an impressive 13-3 major victory in a bout that (on paper) could have gone either way.
Jonathan Cabarle (150, 17-6) had the strongest win, taking down a top-100 ranked Gavin Rivera (15-7) in a blistering 12 seconds. It was the sophomore’s eighth straight pin (including wrestlers ranked #47 and #57), and 15th of the season. Cabarle is now ranked #28, an Atlantic City prediction.
Lucas Harrison (132, 19-12), Mason Vazquez (132, 13-13), John Garcia (157, 16-17), Frayne and Michael Borgia all pinned, as Kurt Beyer (165, 19-14) bumped up to deliver a 21-8 major.
Hayden Hurst (165, 4-6) impressed the Wolfpack faithful, thrice nearly headlocking Morristown’s best #41 Evan Curnow (22-4) and hanging in with a major decision loss.
Giancarlo DeBiasse made his varsity debut, taking one for the team versus the Colonials’ second-highest ranked wrestler.
Pack Overwhelms Jefferson 75-0 Behind Cabarle and M. Borgia
On Feb. 11, WMC made quick work of a short-handed Jefferson. Jefferson was once one of the best in the nation, but is now facing a school-wide athletics crunch.
Cabarle took down one of Jefferson’s best, pinning #46 ranked Christopher Frank.
In the last bout wrestled, Michael Borgia outlasted #58 Alexander DaSilva 10-7.
Frayne, debuting at 190, Muttart and Rob Fazzino (175, 21-10) delivered pinfalls for the Pack. Ryan Tie (106, 19-13), Vazquez and Julian Healy (144, 4-2) all won by tech fall. Lucas Harrison won 6-2, and five WMC wrestlers accepted forfeits for the Pack’s second shoutout of the season, 75-0.
Pack Playoff Preview
WMC hasn’t won a section title in nearly four decades (since 1988), but is the top seed in 2026. NJ.com has defending champion Caldwell as the favorite to three-peat, but three out of their five writers predict WMC to take the crown.
Mon. Feb. 16 at WMC, 3 PM
Section Quarterfinals vs. #8 seed Elmwood Park (8-12).
The Pack is an overwhelming favorite, but EP brings #107 ranked Logan Biziak (10-3) at 106, #188 Romello Torres (10-13) at 120, #160 Jesse Schratz (10-6) at 157, #42 Sebastian Laterra (24-4) at 165, and #56 Carlos Rivera (17-4) at 175) in potentially the most interesting bouts.
Section Semifinals vs. winner of #4 seed Gov. Livingston (6-17) vs. #5 Madison (8-8).
If WMC beats EP as expected, it will again be a strong favorite against either squad.
WMC dominated Gov. Livingston 75-6 one week ago. Some of the best rematch bouts might be at 132 with #58 Eduardo Ribeiro (20-4), 150 vs. #62 Joshua Knuth (23-10), 144 vs. #76 Thomas Dinorscio (22-11). Last season, GL eliminated WMC in the semis.
If it’s Madison, look for good matches at 120 vs. #185 Harrison Smith (11-12), 126 vs. #50 David Defilippis (22-3), 132 vs. #168 Michael Smith (7-7), 144 vs. #98 Karl Maurer (18-8), and 215 vs. vs. #104 Patrick Finkelday (15-7). Madison’s best is #25 Joshua Ortiz (24-2) at 157.
Wed. Feb. 18 at WMC
State Section Championship vs. (most likely) winner of Hackettstown vs. Caldwell
If it materializes, top seed WMC vs. 2-seed Caldwell is the match everyone’s been waiting for.
Caldwell defeated WMC 47-27 last season Jan. 3, 2025, but this match could absolutely go either way.
Look for a tale of two distinct halves, with Caldwell dominating the lightweights, and WMC dominating up top. Both squads look to minimize bonus points one half, and maximize the other.
Caldwell’s top six wrestlers are all in the lower weights, led by two-time state medalist and #5 ranked Carmine Sipper (28-2) at 120. Out of roughly 7,000 competitors across the state, Sipper’s 150 wins is second most for any career. Across the mat, Tommy Borgia's 142 is fourth most.
Key bouts could include Vazquez vs. #76 KJ Lissenden (18-9), a Caldwell Tournament finals rematch of centurion Brody Neill (138, 27-3) vs. #15 Solomon Soriente (27-4), yet another rematch between Jacob Harrison (144, 24-8) and #15 Anthony Barret (24-6), and Beyer vs. #53 Nicco Capaldo (2-0), who is back in the lineup.
Wins Records
WMC’s all-time wins record of 18 was set in 2017 and tied last season. A section championship would be the record 19th win for the 2025-26 Wolfpack.
If Tommy Borgia were to win in three playoff matches this week he would reach 145 in his career, breaking Shane Metzler’s all-time school record. Borgia could wrestle 10 or more additional bouts before he hopes to finish his career on the Atlantic City podium.
Pack Pinfalls
Garcia's pin against Morristown, his 10th, gave Marold eight starters with double digit pinfalls.
Frayne leads the squad with 20, followed by Tommy Borgia's 17. Borgia has also received 10 forfeits, so he's delivered max points for the team in 90% of his bouts.
Neill has 16, followed by Cabarle (15 despite time missed with injury), Jacob Harrison and Fazzino (11), and Garcia and Beyer (10).
Pack Historically Great at Newton JV Tournament
The junior Wolfpack dominated the Newton JV tourney, with Grant Baker (150, 3-8 varsity), Hurst, Healy and still-undefeated Tobi Kolawole (undefeated JV, 1-0 varsity) crowned champions. Antonio Montella took home silver, and Erik Forsbrey took silver.
Importantly for the future Pack, Baker is just a sophomore, while Healy and Forsbrey are freshmen. This writer cannot recall WMC ever crowning four champions at a JV tournament.
Ranks and Recognition Review
As of 2/11, half the Pack's starting lineup was ranked in the top 40 in New Jersey according to Rankwrestlers.com. Eight more grapplers were in the top 200.
In the 2/9 Full Circle ranks, Tommy Borgia remained #3, Frayne #9, Neill #11, and even the injured Chris Kowalik remained top 25.
At NJ Wrestling, Borgia is #3, Neill is #19.
At NJ Wrestling Times, Tommy is #3, Neill #14, Frayne #26, Jacob Harrison #32.
Garden State HS Wrestling has WMC #2 in Morris County to Mt. Olive.
Here’s our cheat sheet on Rankings.
Next Up: Playoffs
NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 Team State Championship Playoffs
State Section Championship
Feb. 16 quarterfinals vs. Elmwood Park, and semifinals vs. winner of Madison vs. Gov. Livingston (at WMC).
Feb. 18 finals (at WMC if it wins semis)
State Group Championship
(for winners of State Section Championship)
Friday, February 20, 2026: State Group Semifinals (hosted by the higher seed).
February 22, 2026: State Group Finals ) Rutgers University.
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 hopefulls.
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.
