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. 037: The Climb with Will Cruz

    2D AGO

    037: The Climb with Will Cruz

    He didn’t grow up wrestling. He didn’t start early. And he still made the state finals. Paulsboro standout Will Cruz joins New Jersey Mat Chat to break down his journey from starting the sport in 7th grade to becoming one of the top wrestlers in New Jersey. We talk about wrestling up for the team, dealing with losses at districts and regions, earning the #1 seed at states, and making a run to the state finals — all while learning how to handle pressure, setbacks, and expectations. This episode is about growth, mindset, and what it really takes to climb in NJ wrestling. If you’re a wrestler, parent, or coach — this is one you need to hear. 🤼‍♂️ Paulsboro Wrestling 🎯 State Finals Run 📍 Built in New Jersey 00:00 – Show Open & NJ Officials PSA 00:46 – Meet Will Cruz | Paulsboro Wrestling 01:00 – From Brooklyn to Paulsboro (No Wrestling Background) 01:40 – Starting Wrestling Late (7th Grade Story) 02:30 – First Coach Impact & Learning the Hard Way 03:20 – Life at Paulsboro HS (Small School Culture) 04:20 – Why He Chose Wrestling Over Soccer 05:00 – Freshman Year Struggles & Getting Tougher 06:10 – Building a Name Early in NJ Wrestling 07:00 – Fargo, Freestyle & Rapid Improvement 07:50 – “I Told Myself I Had to Win a State Title” 08:40 – Wrestling Up a Weight for the Team 09:30 – Fighting Through Injury & Being Sick at States 10:30 – District Loss → Reset Mindset 11:10 – Region Loss → “Next Week Is a New Tournament” 12:00 – Adjusting Training Before States 12:50 – Getting the #1 Seed (Unexpected Reaction) 13:40 – Why He Doesn’t Look at Brackets 14:20 – Mindset Shift: “You’re Will Cruz” 15:00 – State Semifinal Pin (Breakthrough Moment) 16:00 – Night Before Finals (No Weight Cut Stress) 16:50 – Sister Also Makes State Finals (Family Moment) 17:30 – State Finals Match Breakdown 18:20 – The Moment He Felt Overwhelmed 19:00 – Post-Match Emotion & Disappointment 20:00 – The Ride Home From Atlantic City 21:00 – Coaches’ Message: “You Got Next Year” 22:00 – Goals for Next Season (State Title Mindset) 22:40 – Wrestling Style Inspiration (Japan & Burroughs) 23:30 – College Goals & Virginia Tech Interest 24:10 – Final Thoughts & What’s Next

    26 min
  2. 036: Unthinkable with Greyson Pettit

    APR 1

    036: Unthinkable with Greyson Pettit

    This one is different. Greyson Pettit joins New Jersey Mat Chat to share a story no athlete ever expects to tell — the moment everything changed, and how he’s fought back from it. We talk about the mental side of wrestling that doesn’t get seen… dealing with setbacks, staying connected to the sport, and what it really takes to keep going when things don’t go your way. This isn’t just about wrestling — it’s about perspective, resilience, and the mindset behind a comeback. If you’re a wrestler, parent, or coach in New Jersey, this is one you need to hear. 🤼‍♂️ New Jersey Wrestling 🧠 Mindset • Adversity • Comeback 📍 Built in New Jersey 00:00 Show Open & NJ Officials PSA 00:46 Meet Greyson Pettit 01:00 The 21-Seed Run That Shocked Everyone 01:38 Junior Year Injury and ACL Tear 02:54 Sophomore Year Injury and Bad Weight Cut 03:24 Losing Love for Wrestling 04:08 Bad Habits, Snacking, and the Weight Cut Spiral 04:59 Summer Reset: “I’m Not Cutting Weight” 06:12 Fargo and Feeling Good Again 07:08 Discipline vs. Cutting Weight 07:55 Choosing the Right Weight for the Team 08:34 JV Freshman Year and Early Doubts 09:57 Season Goals: Just Place on the Podium 10:52 Escape the Rock and the Spaulding Match 12:45 Districts and Regions Momentum 13:42 Expecting a Top-10 Seed… Then Seeing #21 14:31 Doubts Return Before States 15:07 Coach Maxwell’s Message: “You’re Going to Win” 15:32 Beating Haggerty 16:04 Revenge Over DeLorenzo 17:04 Upset Over Returning State Champ Spalding 17:37 Managing Pain, Weight, and Recovery 18:56 Night Before Finals Mindset 20:13 Locked In for the Finals 20:54 State Champion 21:09 College Coaches Start Reaching Out 22:23 Rutgers, Iowa, and the Recruiting Process 24:07 Celebrating With a Johnny Rockets Milkshake 24:31 Family Emotions and Sacrifices 26:34 Coaching, Mentors, and Uncle Dion 27:53 Basement Boys, Garage Work, and Training Roots 28:54 From JV Freshman to State Champion 29:49 Advice for Young Wrestlers 30:59 Belief, Dreams, and Visualization 31:21 Fate, Destiny, and the Meaning of the Run 32:19 Dark Horse Talk and Proving People Wrong 32:55 “Nobody Believed But Me” 33:44 Back to School, Disney Trip, and What a Week 35:09 Final Thoughts

    36 min
  3. 035: Under Control with Amari Vann

    FEB 10

    035: Under Control with Amari Vann

    Delsea standout Amari Vann joins New Jersey Mat Chat for an honest, unfiltered conversation about wrestling, leadership, nutrition, and big goals. Amari talks openly about missing last year’s postseason, learning from weight cutting mistakes, and how he’s turned things around this season. He breaks down his role as a team captain, his college wrestling ambitions, freestyle dreams, and what it will take to reach Atlantic City and compete for a state title. From mindset to match prep, this episode is packed with insight for NJ wrestlers, parents, and coaches. 🤼‍♂️ Delsea Wrestling 🎯 138 Pounds 📍 Built in New Jersey 00:00 – Show Open & NJ Officials PSA 01:40 – Meet Amari Vann | Delsea Wrestling Star 02:00 – Season Check-In: How Things Are Going 02:30 – Is Delsea Where They Want to Be Yet? 03:10 – Being a Team Captain and Leading by Example 03:50 – Academics and Favorite Subject (Math Guy!) 04:15 – College Plans and Wanting to Leave NJ 05:00 – Big Goals: Wrestling in Warm Weather 05:40 – Why He Missed Last Year’s Postseason 06:30 – Weight Cutting Struggles and Lessons Learned 07:20 – Fixing Nutrition and Taking Accountability 08:15 – Freshman Success and Returning to Form 09:00 – Postseason Goals for 138 Pounds 09:40 – Freestyle vs Folkstyle: Which Is Better? 10:25 – International Wrestling Dreams 11:00 – Jordan Burroughs Inspiration 11:30 – One Wrestling Rule He Would Change 12:15 – Training Partners in the Delsea Room 13:05 – Advice to His 11-Year-Old Brother 13:40 – First Meal After the Season Ends 14:10 – Previewing the Big Delsea vs Delsea Dual 15:10 – Match Predictions and Team Confidence 16:00 – Guaranteeing Another State Title 16:30 – Final Thoughts & Send-Off Become a wrestling official - http://njwoa.net

    14 min
  4. 034: No Holding Back with Aidan Flynn

    FEB 3

    034: No Holding Back with Aidan Flynn

    Princeton commit Jackson Weller (Delran HS) sits down with New Jersey Mat Chat to talk leadership, recruiting, training mindset, and what it really takes to compete at the highest level of New Jersey wrestling. From choosing Princeton over other Ivy League programs, to staying loyal to a public high school, to how he prepares mentally and physically before matches — this episode is a must-watch for wrestlers, parents, and coaches. 🎧 Leadership. Discipline. NJ pride. 📍 Delran Wrestling | 🎓 Princeton University 🤼‍♂️ Built in New Jersey. 00:00 – NJ Wrestling Officials Needed (Quick PSA) 01:00 – Meet Jackson Weller | Delran Wrestling Leader 01:25 – Delran Wrestling 2025 Outlook & Key Returners 02:20 – What Being a Team Captain Really Means 02:50 – Training Partners & Practice Room Culture 03:05 – Princeton Commitment Story (Recruiting Breakdown) 04:10 – Final 3 Schools: Princeton, Penn, Cornell 04:25 – GPA, Academics & Engineering Goals 04:55 – Folkstyle vs Freestyle: Which Do You Prefer? 05:20 – Training Differences: HS Season vs Freestyle Season 05:55 – Weigh-Ins, Diet & Cutting Weight the Smart Way 06:35 – Pre-Match Routine & Mental Prep 07:10 – Music Before Matches (What’s on the Playlist?) 07:40 – Wrestling With Dad on the Coaching Staff 08:20 – “My Mom Knows More Wrestling Than Most People” 09:10 – Describing Coach Marty in One Word 10:10 – Rivals, Pressure & Chasing State Titles 11:20 – Advice for Young Wrestlers Watching 12:35 – Public School Pride 13:44 – Be part of the journey Become a wrestling official - http://njwoa.net

    14 min
  5. 033: Bearing Down with Jackson Weller

    JAN 14

    033: Bearing Down with Jackson Weller

    Princeton commit Jackson Weller (Delran HS) sits down with New Jersey Mat Chat to talk leadership, recruiting, training mindset, and what it really takes to compete at the highest level of New Jersey wrestling. From choosing Princeton over other Ivy League programs, to staying loyal to a public high school, to how he prepares mentally and physically before matches — this episode is a must-watch for wrestlers, parents, and coaches. 🎧 Leadership. Discipline. NJ pride. 📍 Delran Wrestling | 🎓 Princeton University 🤼‍♂️ Built in New Jersey. Become a wrestling official - http://njwoa.net 00:48 Meet Jackson Weller | Delran Wrestling Leader 01:13 Delran Wrestling 2025 Outlook & Key Returners 02:09 What Being a Team Captain Really Means 02:39 Training Partners & Practice Room Culture 02:54 Princeton Commitment Story (Recruiting Breakdown) 03:59 Final 3 Schools: Princeton, Penn, Cornell 04:14 GPA, Academics & Engineering Goals 04:44 Folkstyle vs Freestyle: Which Do You Prefer? 05:09 Training Differences: HS Season vs Freestyle Season 05:44 Weigh-Ins, Diet & Cutting Weight the Smart Way 06:24 Pre-Match Routine & Mental Prep 06:59 Music Before Matches (What’s on the Playlist?) 07:29 Wrestling With Dad on the Coaching Staff 08:09 “My Mom Knows More Wrestling Than Most People” 08:59 Describing Coach Marty in One Word 09:59 Rivals, Pressure & Chasing State Titles 11:09 Advice for Young Wrestlers Watching 12:24 Why He Stayed at Delran (Public School Pride) 13:29 Final Thoughts & Delran Wrestling Shoutout

    14 min
  6. 032: The Pit with Greg Troxell & more

    JAN 8

    032: The Pit with Greg Troxell & more

    The Phillipsburg “Pit” isn’t just a gym — it’s a proving ground. In this episode, we step inside one of NJ wrestling’s most iconic venues with Greg Troxell and the legendary voices who’ve called matches here for decades. From historic rivalries to “Pit Magic,” this is about legacy, pressure, and what it means to wrestle in front of a crowd that never lets up. 👇 Chapters below 00:00 Intro 00:50 Why NJ Wrestling Needs Officials 01:27 Welcome to the Historic Phillipsburg “Pit” 02:00 Greg Troxell: Growing Up Wrestling in the Pit 04:51 Why Phillipsburg Still Hosts Matches Here 05:24 The Reality of Hosting a Match in the Pit 06:16 Troxell’s Career: Wrestler, Coach, Leader 07:01 The Legendary Rivalries (Highlands, Paulsboro, Del Val) 08:14 “This Place Tests Your Soul" 09:19 Home-Mat Advantage Is REAL Here 10:46 Losing in the Pit (And Remembering It Forever) 12:42 Wrestling for the Names That Came Before You 14:54 Why NJ State Titles Are Brutal to Win Today 16:22 What It Takes to Be Elite Now 17:30 Who Greg Troxell Idolized Growing Up 19:26 Wrestling vs Football (And Penn State) 22:10 Mike Moore: The Voice of the Pit 23:27 Has Wrestling Gotten Better or Worse? 25:17 The Loudest Moments Ever in the Pit 27:03 What “Pit Magic” Really Means 29:46 Another Legendary Voice Joins In 32:30 Announcing 5 Sports for 30+ Years 34:10 The Wildest Night Inside These Walls 36:09 – Why This Match Belongs in the Pit 36:57 Be part of the journey Become a wrestling official - http://njwoa.net

    37 min
  7. 031: Outside-in with Kurt Pellegrino

    12/10/2025

    031: Outside-in with Kurt Pellegrino

    We sit down with the Jersey Shore wrestling legend, BJJ phenom, and UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino to chat about everything from wrestling to coaching, to parenting, to mental health. 00:00 Intro 00:18 Pellegrino MMA 01:20 Welcome Kurt Pellegrino 02:00 Becoming a hammer 05:00 Your opponent doesn't matter 08:57 Beat the midget 09:54 Championship Mentality 14:22 College, Dislexia & Dip 17:00 'Kut' Pellegrino 18:50 I hate fighting 21:55 Coaching 23:20 Reclassing & Education 29:30 Parenting 34:15 Coaching St. Rose 46:26 Little Nicky 50:47 Be part of the journey Try out Pellegrino MMA in Manasquan, NJ https://www.pellegrinomma.com/ Guest Instagram: @kurtpellegrino

    51 min
  8. 030: McCandid with Armani McCann

    11/23/2025

    030: McCandid with Armani McCann

    We sit down with Jackson's own Armani McCann to discuss the Liberty & Memorial merger, martial arts, and his surprising choice of music... 00:00 Intro 00:18 Pellegrino MMA 01:20 Welcome Armani McCann 01:38 The Merge 03:21 Season's coming 04:23 Young Karate kid 06:55 Steady rising 10:30 Academic comeback 12:25 College visits 13:16 My sis used to beat my.... 14:43 Elite Inner Power 15:45 Freestyling 17:54 Match day 19:53 Trust my coaches 21:00 Inspirations & Nutrition 23:55 Inner Power Martial Arts 24:30 Be part of the journey Try out Pellegrino MMA in Manasquan, NJ https://www.pellegrinomma.com/ Guest Instagram: @armani.mccann

    25 min
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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
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2025 Edit Cellar LLC All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    New Jersey Mat Chat

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