Pack Celebrates Ferrante, Shepard, DiPaolo, & Marold’s 1st Season

By David Yaskulka, 3/13/22

Speaking in a well-appointed banquet room, Coach Chris Marold confessed to the Wolfpack wrestling family that things looked bleak when only four wrestlers showed up to his first practice as West Morris Central’s head coach – the first practice after a winless season.

But the Black Oak Golf Course crowd Wednesday night (3/10) knew the rest of the story. Marold and fellow coaches Tom Borgia, Tommy Nicolicchia and Caleb Isemann celebrated a season of all-time great seniors, 10 team wins, and exhilarating individual glory.

Seniors Malachi Shepard, Michael Ferrante and Marisa DiPaolo were celebrated, and will leave huge shoes to fill next season. All are prominent in the WMC record books.

“Wrestling has helped me realize that not everything in life is going to be handed to you,” reflected Ferrante. “You have to work for it.”

Shepard (138, 27-10), honored with the Coach’s Award, won his second consecutive District championship, placed fourth in the county, and sixth at Regions this season.

Ferrante (113, 29-10) received the Wolfpack Achievement Award. He won silver at Districts, placed fourth at both X-Calibur and Counties, and sixth at Regions.

Girls Wrestling Pioneer

DiPaolo, the WMC girls wrestling pioneer, placed fourth at the NJSIAA Girls State Championship. She’s the first WMC wrestler with consecutive podium placements since Shane Metzler. Courted by coaches from multiple colleges, she's considering competing at the next level.

And DiPaolo’s take away after two history-making years of wrestling? First, it’s that you can never train hard enough. But her most important message, perhaps reflected Coach Jimmy Valvano’s famous speech made to those he knew would outlive him.

“You can never give up,” said DiPaolo, “even at the last second because that can be the difference between a loss and a win.”

Hare MCs Year-End Celebration

Marold and WMC Parents Club leader Sean Hare, who served as master of ceremonies, thanked esteemed guests. They included the coaches and their families; the trainer, school administrators; active Club supporters the Campanaros, the Deans, Laura Ferrante, the Hares, and longtime Wolfpack haberdashers – and now head coach providers – Bob and Patty Marold.

Freshman Mark Montuore offered a brief but poignant invocation to begin the event, as guests bowed their heads in thanks.

Junior Michael Campanaro (120, 32-9) was named team MVP for the second consecutive year. The three-time state qualifier was also named All-Conference (2nd team) after winning District and Region championships.

Henry Frayne (HWT, 30-11), a junior and first-time state qualifier, won the Blue & Gray Award, which Marold called “my favorite.” A District champ, he was fifth at X-Calibur, fourth in the County, and took Region silver. Frayne’s the team’s only first-team All-Conference member.

Two Freshman Phenoms

Brandon Dean (132, 33-6) won Rookie of the Year after leading the team in wins, pins, points, and net points. He won the District championship, was an X-Calibur finalist, won County bronze, and was fourth in the region. He was also named All-Conference (honorable mention).

Montuore (106, 26-14) also had one of the best debut seasons in team history. He was the District bronze medalist, and perhaps even more impressively, placed fourth in both X-Calibur and Counties. In fact, he and Dean nabbed the highest County places for freshmen in memory.

Toughest Letter in Sports, Sophomores

Acknowledging perhaps the toughest varsity letter to achieve in any sport, Marold proudly bestowed the honor on a crop of first-time winners, which included Henry DeFrance, Brandon McBride, and Ethan Toe in addition to Dean and Montuore.

Marold’s favorite Swiss army knife, sophomore Sam Rizzuto (132, 17-3) led the team in winning percentage, and was awarded his second letter, along with classmate Cooper Stetz. Rizzuto's win to wrap up an epic comeback over Mendham was a season highlight.

Jam-Packed Junior Class

Dean Muttart, who delivered a stellar season (144, 21-12) despite often being asked to bump up two weight classes, received his second letter. He was the District silver medalist, and placed at Counties and Regions.

Junior Shaun Seabeck was awarded a letter in his first-ever year wrestling.

Michael Hare (126, 25-10), often dominant this season, won his third letter, along with Campanaro and Frayne. Hare’s 14 pins trailed only Dean and Frayne. He took District bronze, County fifth, and sixth at X-Calibur.

A Place in WMC History

The dynamic duo of Ferrante and Shepard delivered deep experience for the Wolfpack – and usually, two wins.

In fact, They delivered combined victories 12 times this season including, incredibly, against Kittatinny, Del Val, High Point, and Pope John.

Amazingly, Shepard (25th) and Ferrante (28th) rank among WMC’s all-time wins leaders, despite junior years cut short by the pandemic. Otherwise, they likely would have been top-15.

Shane Metzler tops that list, followed by Nick Matthews, Marco Gaita, Kade Loughney, Dylan Luciano, Brandon Carcuffe, Justin LeMay, David Migliaccio, John Sickles and Eli Shepard.

Both senior boys' seasons were among the school’s all-time wins leaders and dual meet points leaders. Gaita tops that wins list, followed by Dean, Jesse Windt and Frayne.

Ferrante’s 21 reversals this year were also among the most ever, a category topped by Luciano.

Both Ferrante and Shepard were top-eight all-time in career reversals. Shepard is top-10 in career near-fall points. Both are Luciano-led stats.

DiPaolo continued a string of eight-straight state championship podium appearances by the Pack that included Metzler (3rd, 5th and 7th starting in 2015), Gaita (5th), LeMay (7th), Colin Loughney (8th) and then DiPaolo (3rd and 4th).

Matthews took fifth in 2013 when Anthony Ashnault topped the same podium for the fourth and final time prior to his legendary Rutgers career.

Dillon Landi’s 2006 4th place finish started this century’s Wolfpack success.

Stellar Statisticians

The team recognized its outstanding team statisticians Jordan LeMay and Gianna Balella for their dedication, as well as for their wrestling expertise (and pedigrees).

LeMay is the sister of Wolfpack legend Justin, and the daughter of former youth coach Michael LeMay. Balella is the daughter of longtime WMC coach Jim Balella. Amazingly, both girls are high honor roll students while still maintaining that dedication to the team.

JV Exploits

Coach Nicolicchia recounted the unheralded commitment of the junior varsity squad, led by Vincent Caruso (7-2). DeFrance (4-1), Lucas Barisonek, Josh Harrison, Ethan Toe, and Seabeck competed for the Pack. Scores of WMC JV squad members have gone on to the upper squad, including multiple state qualifiers.

Next Generation Wolfpack – A Family Affair

Long Valley wrestler Thomas Borgia concluded perhaps the finest youth wrestling career in town history with his third State Championship Saturday in Trenton. Sporting Iron Horse gear, coach Tom Borgia’s son gutted out a dramatic 1-0 finals upset of defending Intermediate state champion Robert Ekins at 215 lbs.

He and Frayne could become powerful twin towers atop the Wolfpack lineup next season.

Dean had not one, but three siblings competing at the youth state championships – Peggy Susan Dean, James Dean, and Jessica Dean. Jessica Dean won silver, and Peggy Dean came home with a bronze medal.

Deacon Frayne, the heavyweight’s brother, also competed. All signs point to a bright future for the Pack with this crop of youth in the wings.

Dean is Cadet State Champion

Brandon Dean took home a USAW NJ Cadets State Championship Saturday, going undefeated in round-robin competition. Rizzuto won bronze, and Montuore took fourth place in his bracket.

Final Word

Asked what is the top thing he gained from wrestling, Ferrante was quick to reply, “It’s the friends I’ve made, and the memories we shared together.”

Contributing writer David Yaskulka’s day job is Senior VP, Corporate Social Responsibility at Mid America Pet Food in Mt. Pleasant, TX. He’s also Board Chair of Greater Good Charities, and Board Vice Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition. His sons wrestled for the Pack.