New Jersey Mat Chat

Peter Normandia
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Wrestling
  • Updated Weekly

The #1 video podcast and content provider for New Jersey high school wrestling. Up close, in depth and uncensored.

  1. 1d ago

    061: Evan Tallmadge

    From Fargo champion to New Jersey state champion to Division I wrestling at Pitt, Evan Tallmadge's journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, former Brick Memorial standout Evan Tallmadge shares his path through New Jersey wrestling, his time at the Naval Academy, his decision to transfer to Pitt, and how his faith has transformed both his wrestling career and his life. In this conversation, Evan discusses: 🏆 Winning a Fargo National Championship 🏆 Capturing two New Jersey State Championships 🏆 Why freestyle wrestling elevated his folkstyle game 🏆 The challenges of competing at the Naval Academy 🏆 Why Pitt was the right fit after transferring 🏆 The reality of Division I wrestling and college recruiting 🏆 NIL, the transfer portal, and the future of college wrestling 🏆 How his relationship with Jesus Christ changed his outlook on competition and life Evan also talks about his goals of becoming an NCAA champion, competing on the world stage, and building a life rooted in faith as he prepares for marriage. Whether you're a New Jersey high school wrestler, a college wrestling fan, or someone looking for perspective on competition, purpose, and perseverance, this episode offers an honest look at one athlete's journey on and off the mat. 🤼 Guest: Evan Tallmadge 🏆 2× New Jersey State Champion (Brick Memorial) 🥇 Fargo National Champion 🟦 University of Pittsburgh Wrestling Subscribe for more conversations with the athletes, coaches, and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:26 – Meet Evan Tallmadge 01:37 – How Wrestling Found Him at Age 5 03:05 – Brick Township to Brick Memorial 05:22 – Becoming a New Jersey State Contender 06:41 – Winning Fargo Changed Everything 09:00 – Why Freestyle Made Him Better 11:05 – Two NJ State Titles at Brick Memorial 13:14 – Fargo Opens the Door to College Wrestling 14:13 – Why He Chose Navy 15:12 – The Reality of Wrestling at a Service Academy 18:43 – Transferring to Pitt & Starting Over 20:42 – Why Pitt Wrestling Is on the Rise 22:29 – The New Pitt Wrestling Facility 24:31 – Chasing NCAA & World Titles 25:18 – The Jump from NJ Wrestling to Division I 30:15 – NIL, The Transfer Portal & College Wrestling Today 31:22 – Looking Ahead to Next Season at Pitt 32:10 – Finding Faith Through Wrestling & Life 34:51 – How Faith Changed His Wrestling Career 36:19 – Wrestle With Faith & Sharing His Message 39:26 – Life Beyond Wrestling & Getting Married 42:40 – Raising the Next Generation of Wrestlers 45:21 – What He Would Change About His Career 47:21 – Final Thoughts & Wedding Plans

    061: Evan Tallmadge

  2. 4d ago

    060: Joe Melchiore

    Before there was social media, there was Joe Melchiore. Long before today's national rankings and viral highlights, Joe Melchiore became one of the most feared wrestlers New Jersey had ever produced. A 3-time New Jersey State Champion, South Jersey's first 100-match winner, 4-time NCAA All-American, and NCAA finalist under Dan Gable at Iowa, Joe's career helped define an era of New Jersey wrestling. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Joe shares incredible stories from one of the greatest wrestling careers in state history, including: 🏆 Building Highland into a national powerhouse 🏆 Winning three New Jersey state championships 🏆 Wrestling internationally as a teenager 🏆 Why he left Oklahoma to wrestle for Dan Gable at Iowa 🏆 Rooming with NFL legend Brian Bosworth 🏆 Wrestling John Smith in the NCAA Finals 🏆 The reality of Foxcatcher and life at John du Pont's farm 🏆 How wrestling—and New Jersey wrestling specifically—has changed over the last 40 years Joe also reflects on the sacrifices, injuries, and lessons that shaped his career, while sharing his thoughts on why toughness and fundamentals still separate the best wrestlers from everyone else. Whether you're a longtime fan who remembers Highland's dynasty or a young wrestler chasing your own dreams, this episode is packed with history, perspective, and timeless wrestling wisdom. 🤼‍♂️ Highland Regional Wrestling 🏆 3-Time New Jersey State Champion 🥇 4-Time NCAA All-American 🦅 University of Iowa Wrestling 🎙️ New Jersey Mat Chat ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:26 – Meet NJ Wrestling Legend Joe Melchiore 01:46 – Building Highland Wrestling From the Ground Up 03:47 – Recruiting Before Recruiting Existed 05:22 – The Tattoo That Cost Him Iowa 07:17 – Becoming South Jersey's First 100-Match Winner 08:42 – Why Freestyle Made Him Dominant 10:05 – Wrestling Around the World as a Teenager 11:03 – His Unique Wrestling Style & Greco Influence 13:56 – Falling Short as a Freshman at States 16:06 – Winning Three NJ State Championships 17:18 – Why Pennsylvania Made Him Better 19:05 – The Oklahoma Recruiting Process 20:40 – Rooming With Brian Bosworth 22:11 – Choking Out "The Boz" 22:39 – Becoming a 4-Time NCAA All-American 24:06 – The Match That Still Haunts Him 25:54 – Cutting 22 Pounds in 18 Hours 29:10 – Leaving Oklahoma for Dan Gable & Iowa 31:39 – Life Inside the Iowa Wrestling Room 34:15 – What Made Dan Gable So Great? 36:36 – Wrestling John Smith in the NCAA Finals 40:15 – Career-Ending Injuries & Knee Surgeries 43:19 – Foxcatcher: What the Movie Got Wrong 46:36 – Walking Away From Competition 49:18 – Would His Generation Beat Today's Wrestlers? 52:25 – Why Toughness Never Goes Out of Style 55:02 – The Greatest NJ High School Wrestler Ever? 56:03 – Training the Next Generation 58:29 – Final Thoughts & Outro

    060: Joe Melchiore

  3. Jul 8

    059: Noah Hernandez

    Most wrestlers would've shut it down. Noah Hernandez kept competing. Seton Hall Prep standout Noah Hernandez joins New Jersey Mat Chat to share the story of wrestling through a torn elbow during the postseason, winning a district title, finishing as a regional runner-up, and earning a trip to the New Jersey State Championships. In this episode, Noah talks about: 🔥 Why he chose Seton Hall Prep over other powerhouse programs 🔥 How a reclass year transformed his wrestling career 🔥 Training with Ruthless Wrestling Club and Jeff Buxton 🔥 Why freestyle wrestling has elevated his folkstyle game 🔥 Winning districts despite a torn elbow 🔥 Wrestling in Atlantic City with one arm 🔥 Missing Fargo because of injury 🔥 His goal of becoming a Division I wrestler Noah also discusses the brotherhood at Seton Hall Prep, balancing academics with wrestling, cutting weight, and the unforgettable experience of stepping onto the mats in Atlantic City for the first time. Despite being only a freshman, Noah has already shown the toughness, discipline, and mindset that make New Jersey wrestling special. With another offseason ahead, he's determined to come back stronger than ever. 🤼‍♂️ Seton Hall Prep Wrestling 🏆 District Champion 🥈 Regional Finalist 📍 New Jersey State Championships 🔥 New Jersey Mat Chat ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:26 – Meet Seton Hall Prep's Noah Hernandez 01:37 – How Noah Got Started in Wrestling 02:30 – Growing Up in a Wrestling Family 03:17 – The Reclass Year That Changed Everything 04:59 – Why He Chose Seton Hall Prep 06:20 – The Daily Train Ride to School 06:37 – Training at Seton Hall Prep, Ruthless & With Jeff Buxton 07:24 – Freshman Expectations & Early Confidence 08:00 – The Win That Changed His Season 08:39 – Why Freestyle Made Him Better 09:16 – Managing Weight & Using CutPro 10:19 – Seton Hall Prep's Team Culture 10:49 – Winning Districts With a Torn Elbow 11:24 – Battling Through Regions Injured 12:00 – Wrestling at Atlantic City With One Arm 12:46 – Missing Fargo & Recovering From Injury 13:30 – Why Every Wrestler Should Try Freestyle 14:15 – State Title or Fargo Title? 16:38 – Why He's Moving Up to 126 Pounds 17:13 – The Mindset That Got Him Through Injury 18:00 – Why Seton Hall Prep Feels Like Family 18:42 – Dreams of Wrestling Division I 19:14 – Academics & Life at Seton Hall Prep 20:19 – Preparing for Next Season 21:30 – Lessons From His Freshman Year 22:31 – Thanking His Coaches & Family 22:53 – Walking Into Atlantic City for the First Time 23:11 – Final Thoughts & Outro

    059: Noah Hernandez

  4. Jul 5

    058: Roundtable

    What really happens between coaches and officials during a wrestling match? For the first-ever New Jersey Mat Chat Coaches Roundtable, veteran wrestling official Gary Wade sits down with two of South Jersey's most respected coaches — Mike Ahern (Audubon) and Mike Lamb (Haddonfield) — for an honest conversation about the relationship between coaches and referees. Nothing is off limits. They discuss: 🔥 Why coaches get so emotional during matches 🔥 How officials are trained in New Jersey 🔥 What officials wish coaches understood 🔥 State tournament consistency and controversial calls 🔥 Video replay in high school wrestling 🔥 The PowerPoint system and weight classes 🔥 Stalling, edge wrestling, and rule interpretations 🔥 Coaching your own son 🔥 Building respect between coaches and officials The episode also opens with a heartfelt tribute to Chase Sedano and the St. Augustine wrestling community, reflecting on the impact he had on those around him. Whether you're a wrestler, coach, official, parent, or lifelong NJ wrestling fan, this episode provides a rare look at the sport from both sides of the whistle. It's a conversation about passion, accountability, and making New Jersey wrestling even better. 🤼 Guests: Gary Wade – New Jersey Wrestling Official Mike Ahern – Head Coach, Audubon Mike Lamb – Head Coach, Haddonfield 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:26 – Welcome to the First Coaches Roundtable 02:00 – Mike Ahern & Mike Lamb's Coaching Backgrounds 02:52 – Rivalries, Respect & Wrestling Brotherhood 04:15 – Remembering Chase Sudano 06:30 – Why Coaches and Officials Clash 08:08 – Gary Wade's District Tournament Story 09:33 – Seeing Wrestling Through an Official's Eyes 11:35 – How New Jersey Officials Are Trained 15:08 – Wrestle-Offs, Tough Decisions & Parent Pressure 18:52 – Coaching Your Own Son 21:10 – Why Officials Need a Short Memory 24:07 – Are Officials Consistent at the State Tournament? 28:32 – NCAA Replay Reviews & Overtime Controversies 30:28 – Should High School Wrestling Have Video Review? 35:31 – How Many Weight Classes Should NJ Have? 38:20 – Too Many Matches, Not Enough Practice? 41:44 – Edge Wrestling, Stalling & Rule Changes 46:35 – What Makes a Great Wrestling Official? 49:25 – Coaches Admit Their Biggest Regrets 52:44 – Bridging the Gap Between Coaches & Officials 54:55 – Final Thoughts & Coffee Toast ✅ Follow us on... 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/newjerseymatchat 🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FSWGcAZgr6I4IDjDX0i7d?si=c377f97049fc4c6d 🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-jersey-mat-chat/id1813387872 #NJWrestling #HighSchoolWrestling #WrestlingLife #WrestlingSeason #NJMatTalk #NJWrestlers #NJWrestling #NewJerseyMatChat #HighSchoolWrestling #WrestlingOfficials #SouthJerseyWrestling #WrestlingPodcast #Coaching

    058: Roundtable

  5. Jul 5

    057: Jimmy Lawson

    From discovering wrestling in 8th grade to becoming a 3-time New Jersey State Champion, a Penn State All-American, a Division I football player, and eventually training alongside Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, David Taylor, and Bo Nickal, Jimmy's story is one of the most unique in NJ wrestling history. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Jimmy discusses: 🔥 Growing up in Manchester Wrestling 🔥 Winning three NJ State Championships at heavyweight 🔥 Why he chose Manchester over powerhouse private schools 🔥 Balancing football and wrestling recruiting 🔥 Playing Division I football at Monmouth 🔥 Leaving football to join Penn State Wrestling 🔥 What it was really like wrestling for Cael Sanderson 🔥 Becoming an NCAA All-American 🔥 Training with MMA legends at AKA 🔥 Fighting in front of Dana White 🔥 Why he still feels he has unfinished business Jimmy also shares powerful lessons about discipline, identity, adversity, and finding purpose after athletics. For New Jersey wrestling fans, this is a fascinating look inside one of the Shore Conference's greatest heavyweights and one of the most unique athletic careers to come out of the state. 🤼‍♂️ Manchester Wrestling 🏆 3-Time NJ State Champion 🦁 Penn State Wrestling All-American 🏈 Monmouth Football 🥊 MMA & AKA Training ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Manchester Legend Jimmy Lawson 01:48 – Growing Up as a Football Player First 02:43 – Discovering Wrestling in 8th Grade 03:42 – Why He Chose Manchester Over Private Schools 04:48 – Being Underdogs in the Shore Conference 05:21 – The Coach Who Changed His Life 06:13 – Starting Wrestling & Learning Fast 06:54 – The Mindset That Made Him Dangerous 07:48 – Athletic Family & Football Roots 09:00 – Freshman Year: The Wrestling World Takes Notice 09:49 – Winning a State Title as a Sophomore 10:11 – The Losses That Fueled His Success 11:10 – Losing at Regions, Then Winning States 12:18 – Wrestling Heavyweight at Just 205 Pounds 13:24 – Football Recruiting vs Wrestling Recruiting 14:13 – Committing to Monmouth Football 14:39 – Chasing a Third State Title 15:14 – The Call From Cal State & Rutgers Interest 15:46 – Why He Chose Monmouth Football First 16:18 – Losing Himself at Monmouth 17:13 – Football vs Wrestling: Which Is Harder? 18:18 – The Decision to Leave Football Behind 18:57 – Changing His Life & Transferring to Penn State 20:06 – First Impressions of Penn State Wrestling 21:31 – Learning the Penn State Culture 22:05 – What Makes Cael Sanderson Special? 23:12 – The Mental Toughness Penn State Builds 24:31 – The Toughest Conversation He Had With Cael 25:33 – The Knee Injury That Changed Everything 26:00 – Wrestling Inside Rec Hall 27:11 – Training With David Taylor & Bo Nickal 27:51 – Becoming a Penn State All-American 28:41 – Does He Ever Reflect on His Accomplishments? 29:22 – Coaching Manchester Wrestling's Future 30:31 – How MMA Entered the Picture 31:06 – Meeting Daniel Cormier Through Phil Davis 32:37 – The NFL Dream Comes to an End 33:20 – Training at AKA With DC & Cain Velasquez 34:02 – Fighting in Front of Dana White 35:05 – Marriage, Family & Future Fighting Plans 36:06 – Why He Loves Combat Sports 38:11 – NCAA Finals or The Super Bowl? 39:02 – His Relationship With Penn State Today 39:36 – Greatest NJ Wrestler of All Time? 40:16 – Final Thoughts & Outro

    057: Jimmy Lawson

  6. Jun 28

    056: Jim Rutter

    This is one of the most passionate conversations we've ever had on New Jersey Mat Chat. Gateway Wrestling head coach Jim Rutter shares the incredible story of how he built a wrestling program, overcame unimaginable family tragedy, and dedicated his life to mentoring generations of wrestlers in South Jersey. But this episode goes far beyond one coach's story. Coach Rutter gives his honest opinions on some of the biggest topics in New Jersey wrestling today, including: 🔥 Building Gateway Wrestling from the ground up 🔥 The family tragedy that changed his life forever 🔥 Why coaching is about far more than wins and losses 🔥 The rise of Antonio and Dante Menino 🔥 Why South Jersey wrestling has fallen behind North Jersey 🔥 Public vs. non-public wrestling 🔥 The PowerPoint system, seeding and dual meets 🔥 Why there are simply too many weight classes 🔥 How we can make high school wrestling more exciting for fans Whether you're a coach, wrestler, parent, or lifelong fan of New Jersey wrestling, this episode is packed with stories, opinions, and decades of perspective from one of South Jersey's most respected voices. If you care about the future of New Jersey wrestling, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. 🤼‍♂️ Gateway Wrestling 🏆 South Jersey Wrestling 📍 Gloucester County, NJ 🎙️ New Jersey Mat Chat ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Gateway Wrestling Coach Jim Rutter 01:43 – Falling in Love With Wrestling in the 1970s 02:38 – Choosing Gateway Over Basketball 03:17 – Wrestling's Early Days in South Jersey 05:27 – Becoming a Coach by Accident 07:01 – Building a Youth Wrestling Program From Scratch 08:47 – Growing Gateway Wrestling One Family at a Time 10:40 – Interviewing for the Head Coaching Job 12:14 – Volunteering Before Becoming a Head Coach 14:15 – Williamstown, New Opportunities & Coming Home 16:11 – Becoming Gateway's Head Coach 16:45 – The Family Tragedy That Changed Everything 19:05 – Why He'll Never Leave Gateway Wrestling 19:58 – Building a Blue-Collar Wrestling Culture 20:50 – Keeping Kids Accountable Without Being in the School 22:00 – Coaching Beyond Wrestling 23:58 – New Jersey Wrestling vs Pennsylvania Wrestling 24:52 – Scheduling Tough Competition Every Season 27:54 – Coaching Antonio & Dante Menino 29:43 – Antonio Menino's Historic State Championship 31:33 – Has South Jersey Wrestling Fallen Behind? 32:30 – Why North Jersey Has Pulled Ahead 34:00 – Does the Wrestling Room Matter More Than the School? 35:24 – Why Families Should Stay Home & Wrestle for Gateway 38:54 – What Changes Would He Make to NJ Wrestling? 40:03 – Why Fans Deserve Better Matchups 42:08 – The Problem With Too Many Weight Classes 44:17 – Fixing the Dual Meet & Quad System 45:56 – Should the PowerPoint System Change? 47:47 – Public vs Non-Public Wrestling Debate 49:31 – Seeding, Politics & Atlantic City 53:50 – Roundtable: The Future of NJ Wrestling 55:28 – Is 100 Wins Still a Meaningful Milestone? 57:28 – Too Many State Tournament Groups? 58:34 – Final Thoughts & Outro

  7. Jun 24

    055: Tyler Going

    Tyler Going's story is one every New Jersey wrestler can relate to. He wasn't the youth phenom. He wasn't the kid winning everything growing up. In fact, he lost a wrestle-off as a freshman and spent years watching teammates achieve goals he wanted for himself. But through consistency, offseason work, and a love for the sport, Tyler transformed himself into a New Jersey State Placewinner for Howell. In this episode, Tyler talks about: 🔥 Growing up in a Howell wrestling family 🔥 Losing a wrestle-off as a freshman 🔥 Wrestling over 100 offseason matches 🔥 Learning from teammates like Tanner and Luke 🔥 Making his breakthrough in Atlantic City 🔥 Why he doesn't believe in major weight cuts 🔥 The culture inside Howell Wrestling 🔥 The future of Howell's young team Tyler also shares hilarious stories from the Howell room, including Coach Gagliano's legendary pranks, the origin of his "Holy Breads" nickname, and why Howell truly is a wrestling town. If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and a reminder that success doesn't always come early—but hard work eventually gets rewarded. 🤼‍♂️ Howell Wrestling 🏆 New Jersey State Placewinner 📍 Shore Conference Wrestling 🔥 Wrestling Town USA ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Howell State Placewinner Tyler Going 01:39 – Growing Up in a Howell Wrestling Family 02:27 – Wrestling, Baseball & Avoiding Burnout 03:04 – “I Was Never The Guy” Growing Up 03:34 – Why He Stuck With Wrestling 04:02 – The Reclass Year That Changed Everything 04:50 – Losing a Wrestle-Off as a Freshman 05:00 – Watching Teammates Succeed & Wanting More 05:43 – The Offseason That Changed His Career 06:19 – Wrestling 100+ Matches in the Offseason 06:48 – When He Started Believing in Himself 07:12 – Building Confidence Through Experience 08:14 – Learning From Missing the State Podium 08:47 – The Mindset Shift Before Junior Year 09:08 – His Only Losses Came to Brock Mantanona 09:43 – The Difference Between First & Second Trips to AC 10:11 – Entering States With a New Mentality 10:43 – Wrestling Loose & Letting It Fly 11:06 – Why Experience Matters at States 11:45 – Why He Doesn't Believe in Big Weight Cuts 12:41 – Inside Howell Wrestling's Team Culture 13:18 – The Funniest Stories From the Howell Room 13:38 – Who's the Funniest Wrestler on the Team? 14:18 – How "Holy Breads" Got His Nickname 15:00 – What He'll Miss Most About Howell Wrestling 15:42 – Training Partners Who Made Him Better 16:02 – Pickleball, Golf & Life Outside Wrestling 17:06 – The Incredible Support Behind Howell Wrestling 17:49 – Growing Up Around Howell Wrestling History 18:15 – Looking Ahead to Next Year's Howell Team 19:05 – Why This Year's Team Learned So Much 19:50 – The Freshman Class That Changed Everything 20:24 – Incoming Talent & Future Stars 20:46 – Goals for Howell Wrestling Next Season 21:10 – Why Tough Schedules Make Better Wrestlers 21:48 – How Losing Helped Him Improve 23:00 – Learning From Wrestlers Like Tanner & Luke 23:48 – Shoutouts to Coaches, Family & Teammates 25:05 – Wrestling in College? Future Plans 25:45 – Working at Jersey Mike's While Chasing Wrestling Goals 26:22 – Howell Freshmen Are Absolute Knuckleheads 27:20 – Why School Is Fun When You're on the Wrestling Team 28:00 – Coach Gagliano's Legendary Pranks 29:00 – Final Thoughts & Outro

    055: Tyler Going

  8. Jun 21

    054: Kurt DeWoody

    A state title. Four state placers. A state champion. Not a bad first year. New Delsea head coach Kurt DeWoody joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about taking over one of New Jersey's most successful wrestling programs and navigating the pressure that comes with it. In this episode, Coach DeWoody discusses: 🔥 Winning a state championship in his first season as head coach 🔥 Learning from Mike Barikian at Kingsway 🔥 Returning home to Delsea Wrestling 🔥 Building championship culture 🔥 Why tough schedules create state champions 🔥 The inside story behind Greyson Pettit's unbelievable run to a state title 🔥 Team states, PowerPoints, seeding and NJ wrestling politics 🔥 The importance of youth wrestling and community support Coach DeWoody also shares stories about unsung heroes, weight management at Atlantic City, and what truly makes Delsea Wrestling one of the premier programs in New Jersey. If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build and sustain a championship program. 🤼‍♂️ Delsea Wrestling 🏆 New Jersey Team State Champions 📍 Franklinville, NJ 🔥 South Jersey Wrestling ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Delsea Head Coach Kurt DeWoody 01:36 – First Year as Head Coach: State Title & State Champ 02:10 – Biggest Adjustment: Dealing With Parents 03:02 – Learning Under Mike Barikian at Kingsway 03:23 – Why He Never Wanted to Be a Head Coach 04:03 – Coming Home to Delsea Wrestling 04:48 – Growing Up in Franklinville & Wrestling for Delsea 05:11 – Leaving Delsea for Kingsway 05:38 – Returning to Delsea Full-Time 06:11 – Surviving Year One as a Head Coach 07:13 – Building a Schedule for Team & Individual Success 07:50 – Why Tough Losses Matter Before States 08:35 – The Match That Built Confidence Early 09:43 – What Makes a Delsea Practice Different 10:00 – The Culture of Being Comfortable Uncomfortable 10:44 – Winning a State Title Without "Blowing It" 11:02 – Managing a Room Full of Different Personalities 12:02 – Why the Coaching Staff Is Delsea's Secret Weapon 12:53 – The Future of Delsea Wrestling 13:13 – Inside Delsea's Massive Youth Program 13:54 – Unsung Hero Story: Chris Diaz Steps Up 15:00 – CJ Powell's Team States Moment 16:04 – Why Team Wrestling Is Different 16:35 – Delsea vs St. Augustine: The Atmosphere Was Crazy 17:18 – Wrestling in Front of a Packed Home Crowd 17:55 – Thoughts on NJ Wrestling PowerPoints 19:42 – Does Scheduling Affect PowerPoints? 20:15 – Why Great Teams Don't Fear Tough Matchups 21:09 – Focus on Opponents, Not Seeds 21:50 – Greyson Pettit's Historic State Tournament Run 22:22 – Understanding the State Tournament Seeding Process 23:17 – How Greyson Ended Up as the 21 Seed 24:04 – Game Planning for Haggerty & DeLorenzo 25:05 – Training for Six-Minute Matches 26:04 – Why Pettit's Run Was So Special 26:49 – Coaching Multiple Wrestlers in Atlantic City 28:10 – The Reality of Managing Weights at States 29:24 – The Physics Closet Weight-Cut Story 30:40 – Expectations for Delsea Next Season 31:02 – What Wrestling Teaches Beyond Winning 32:41 – Former Wrestlers Who Made Him Proud 33:30 – Wrestling's Impact on the Community 34:08 – Final Thoughts & Outro

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The #1 video podcast and content provider for New Jersey high school wrestling. Up close, in depth and uncensored.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Normandia
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2025 Edit Cellar LLC All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    New Jersey Mat Chat

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