Recharged Wolfpack wrestling has podium potential

By David Yaskulka

“Brave and adept from this day on . . . there’s hope that you will reach your goal . . . the journey that stirs you now is not far off.”
–Homer

The sport began millennia prior, but Odysseus’ 700 BC sentiments capture the purposeful excitement of a wrestling season about to begin.

“I am blown away by the effort the boys have put in so far,” said Chris Marold, entering his third season as West Morris Central High School Wrestling’s head coach. It’s a season with podium potential, untested promise, and team-wide hope of reaching lofty goals. That journey begins this week.

Newly minted team captains Sam Rizzuto and Mark Montuore captured the team’s mood during the grueling practices leading to Saturday’s season start.

“The team right now is extremely motivated to prove we can compete in the higher conference, after last year’s [NWJAC-National] conference win,” said Montuore. “We're training to be ready for any team to come our way.” Montuore is referencing the team’s move to the NWJAC-American conference with state powerhouses Delbarton, Pope John and Mount Olive.

Sophomore Tommy Borgia, fresh off a decorated football season, felt the excitement. “ The guys have really brought it thus far, working hard day in and day out to get better,” he said. “Guys who wrestle year-round are chomping at the bit for live action, so we have been in a focused and certainly excited mindset. Even the newest guys are ready for some live action.”

Rizzuto summed it up, saying “the team Is hungry. We want a sectional title.”

Returning NJSIAA 6th place medalist Brandon Dean echoed Montuore’s sentiments,
“The team is very motivated right now after moving up a conference,” said Dean. “We lost a few guys from last year so we have a lot of newer guys stepping in.”

Returning Medalists

Dean, a junior, and State qualifier Borgia, a sophomore, are team hammers. They are joined by returning Region 3 qualifiers Montuore (junior) and sophomore Jacob Fahmi, and tournament medalists Rizzuto (senior) and Vincent Caruso (junior).

While Dean and Borgia are the headliners, Borgia pointed to Fahmi as a wrestler to watch.

“A lot of guys have been working over the off season to get better, but Fahmi really stood out to me. Don't get me wrong, Jacob was a very good wrestler last year. But in my opinion if you put him up against last year’s Fahmi, this year’s Fahmi wins by major decision. He is stronger, in better shape, and much more technically sound. I'm excited to watch him wrestle this year, and how he can contribute to the team.”

New Starters

You can’t replace graduating wrestling legends Michael Campanaro and Henry Frayne, or top-level starters like Michael Hare and Dean Muttart. But there’s exciting new blood to root for this season.

“Brody Neill is an athletic freshman who had a decorated youth career,” said Marold. “He pulled back from wrestling for a couple of years, but is now fully invested and has the potential to find his way down to AC this year.” Only two freshmen in WMC history have accomplished that feat – Campanaro, and Tommy Borgia.

Montuore is bullish on the team’s ninth graders, saying, “The freshmen are going to be outstanding and be a key part of our team. Specifically my practice partner Brody Neil is going to do very well.”

“I think Brody Neil is going to surprise a lot of people,” concurred Rizzuto. “He's explosive, works hard in the room, and he’s a great kid.”

Marold and Dean cited the arrival of sophomore Robert Fazzino who moved to Long Valley this summer.

“He wrestled for Perth Amboy last year and was 11-8,” said Marold. “He is a very solid wrestler and shows a lot of promise. I think he is going to have a great season for the Wolfpack.”

“I think Rob Fazzino will surprise people this season,” said Dean. “He is working hard in the room which is going to pay off later in the season.”

Montuore also pointed to sophomore heavyweight A.J. Codella, who placed fourth at the prestigious X-Caliber Tournament last season, resulting in an impressive state ranking despite limited action behind Frayne.

“We also have a mix of freshman that some are brand new and picking things up very quickly,” said Marold, “and then some guys that have some experience from our rec program such and Mason Vasquez, Jacob Harrison, and Kurt Beyer that I expect to see time in the starting lineup if not this year then very soon.”

Starting lineup

Marold predicted this starting lineup:

106 Brody Neill*
113 Mason Vasquez*
120 Mark Montuore (ranked #28, All Conference, Region qualifier)
126 Jacob Fahmi (#89, 2nd team All Conference, Region qualifier)
132 Jacob Harrison*
138 Vincent Caruso (#92, honorable mention All Conference) / Brendan McBride#
144 Sam Rizzuto (#28, 2nd team All Conference) / Kurt Beyer*
150 Robert Fazzino (Perth Amboy starter)
157 Brandon Dean (#4, All Conference, NJSIAA #6 in NJ)
165 Henry DeFrance (#205, senior)
175 Lucas Barisonek# (#196, senior)
190 Michael Borgia (#188, sophomore)
215 Tommy Borgia (#12, All Conference, State qualifier)
285 A.J. Codella (#113, sophomore, returning medalist)

*freshman, not yet ranked
# = pre-season New Jersey-wide rank from RankWrestlers.com

DeFrance, McBride, Barisonek and Michael Borgia each delivered multiple varsity victories last year, with DeFrance winning three of his last five.

“Off season”

Wrestling lifers will say that wins aren’t so much determined on the mat, but are decided by the level of – usually grueling – off-season preparation. In other words, there’s no “off” season for many wrestlers.

“Off season training is where you can separate yourself from the competition,” said Marold.

For example, since climbing the podium in Atlantic City in March, Dean traversed the nation to hone his craft against the country’s best. He earned three new “stop signs" (All-America awards for national top-8 finishes). He placed second at the USAW Boys National Recruiting Showcase, and at the US Marine Corps 16U National Championship, he placed fifth in Greco-Roman and seventh in Freestyle.

Others sharpened their athleticism with impressive seasons on the gridiron, including both Borgias, Rizzuto and Codella.

Parent’s Club President Mark Montuore Sr. put a team together for a Duals Tournament at Warren Hills over the summer, with promising results. “We went 3-1 losing our only match in a close one to Phillipsburg and convincingly beating North Hunterdon, Watchung Hills, and Westfield along the way. I was very proud of the results.”

Next Up

On Saturday 12/16/23 the team will kick off its season at the tough Morris Knolls Tournament which promises to feature 10 wrestlers ranked top-12 if their weight classes, including Dean and Tommy Borgia. Others include Watchung Hills #1 ranked Anthony Diandrea (106), Hackettstown senior Nick Balella (144), Dumont senior Jeremy Quezada (165), and a bevy of ranked Seton Hall Prep grapplers: junior Anthony Pellegrino (120), sophomore Rocco Salerno (285), senior Logan Brzozowski (126), junior Nicholas Orejola (157), and senior Carlo Vanvolkenburgh (150).

Possible matchups to watch include: Dean vs. Balella, Borgia vs. Salerno round three (Salerno is the only returning wrestler in the state to have beaten Borgia last season, and he did it twice), Rizzuto vs. Vanvolkenburgh, and Neill working to establish his level vs. a group of top-55 wrestlers.

(Note: RankWrestlers.com was missing data from Hopatcong at press time).

Pope John visits WMC 12/19 for the season’s first dual, followed by 12/20 at High Point, a 12/22 quad at Randolph (including Warren Hills and High Point), and the historic John Goles Tournament 12/28 at Warren Hills. A visit to Mount Olive 12/30 closes out the calendar year. While there’s more wrestling in between, mark your calendars for home matches 1/16/24 for Wolfpack Night vs. Hackettstown (with youth wrestlers competing on an adjacent mat), and 1/31/24 vs. Mendham for Senior Night.

Photos by Jen Sheppard, WMC Wrestling Parent's Club

About David Yaskulka

David began living his sportswriter dream to avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben began wrestling for the Wolfpack in 2012. His day job is Senior Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility for Mid America Pet Food, whose family of brands is led by VICTOR Super Premium Pet Food and Nature’s Logic. He also serves as Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, and as Board Director at Greater Good Charities.