052: Mark Grey

052: Mark Grey

Few people in New Jersey wrestling have lived as many sides of the sport as Mark Grey. From becoming the first-ever 4-time Beast of the East Champion, to wrestling at Blair Academy, competing internationally, wrestling at Cornell, fighting professionally in MMA, and now leading Toms River East Wrestling, Mark Grey has seen it all. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, we dive into: 🔥 Why he chose Blair over Delbarton 🔥 Wrestling under legendary coach Jeff Buxton 🔥 Life at Cornell and competing on the world stage 🔥 His transition from wrestling to MMA 🔥 Building a winner at Toms River East 🔥 What separates state placers from state champions 🔥 The Shore Conference wrestling scene 🔥 PowerPoints, public vs private wrestling, and what needs to change in NJ wrestling Mark also shares coaching insights from his brother, Cornell Head Coach Mike Grey, and discusses how he's applying lessons learned from some of the greatest wrestling minds in the country. If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is packed with stories, perspective, and behind-the-scenes insight from one of the most accomplished wrestlers and coaches in the state. 🤼‍♂️ Toms River East Wrestling 🏆 Blair Academy • Cornell Wrestling 🌎 World Team Member 🥋 MMA Competitor 📍 New Jersey Wrestling ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Mark Grey 01:39 – Choosing Blair Academy Over Delbarton 03:02 – Becoming the First 4-Time Beast of the East Champion 03:50 – Why Blair Was the Right Fit 04:50 – Wrestling Under Jeff Buxton 05:25 – Learning From His Brother Mike Grey 06:21 – Why He Chose Cornell Wrestling 07:10 – Freestyle vs Folkstyle: Why Both Matter 08:15 – Making U20 World Teams & Traveling the World 09:17 – Growing Up in a Wrestling Family 10:00 – The Reality of Wrestling at an Ivy League School 10:52 – Cornell Wrestling & College Expectations 11:10 – Pressure, Expectations & Handling Big Moments 12:10 – Starting His Coaching Career in New Jersey 12:47 – Training Future NJ State Placewinners 13:18 – Why He Transitioned Into MMA 14:20 – Chasing the UFC Dream 15:05 – Why MMA Came to an End 15:24 – Coaching at Donovan Catholic 16:07 – How He Landed at Toms River East 16:40 – Taking Over a Shore Conference Program 17:02 – Winning a Sectional Title in Year One 17:40 – Learning the Shore Conference Wrestling Landscape 18:39 – Team Titles vs Atlantic City Podiums 19:20 – The Formula for Peaking at the Right Time 20:05 – Coaching Lessons From Mike Grey & Buxton 21:06 – Building Confidence Before States 21:50 – Being a Non-Teacher Head Coach 22:22 – Support From Toms River East Administration 23:01 – Creating a Tough Schedule for His Wrestlers 24:13 – Sending Wrestlers to Ironman 24:58 – Does Ironman Determine the Best Teams? 25:53 – PowerPoints, Seeding & NJ Wrestling Frustrations 27:36 – Why Public Schools Need a Seeding Committee 28:59 – What Needs to Change in NJ Wrestling 29:49 – Could He Ever Coach at Cornell? 30:30 – Helping Wrestlers Get Recruited 31:10 – Coaching at Triumph & Top Dog Wrestling 31:46 – Club Wrestling vs High School Wrestling 32:10 – Why NJ's Coaching Restrictions Hurt Development 33:18 – Spotlighting the Future of Toms River East 33:36 – Outro

051: Sal Marchese

Four straight group titles. A top-ranked Delsea team. And now, Division I wrestling at Drexel. Delsea standout Sal Marchese joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about one of the most successful eras in South Jersey wrestling and what comes next as he prepares for college wrestling. In this episode, Sal discusses: 🔥 Delsea's fifth straight group championship 🔥 Why his freshman team was the best Delsea team he's seen 🔥 The culture that built a South Jersey powerhouse 🔥 Training at Seagull Wrestling Club 🔥 His journey to becoming a New Jersey state medalist 🔥 Recruiting visits to Drexel, Penn, Columbia & Navy 🔥 Moving from 190 pounds to heavyweight in college 🔥 What it's really like balancing elite wrestling and academics Sal also opens up about confidence, enjoying the process, and what he wishes he knew as a younger wrestler. If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the state's most consistent programs and one of South Jersey's top wrestlers. 🤼‍♂️ Delsea Wrestling 🏆 New Jersey State Placewinner 🎓 Drexel Wrestling Commit 📍 South Jersey Wrestling ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:27 – Meet Delsea Senior Sal Marchese 01:39 – Delsea's Fifth Straight Group Title 02:15 – Wrestling 157 as a Freshman 03:10 – Why His Freshman Team Was the Best Delsea Team Ever 04:40 – Life in Franklinville & Delsea Wrestling Culture 05:45 – Growing Up as the Son of a Football Coach 06:30 – Why He Never Played Football 07:00 – Team Success vs Individual Goals 07:49 – How Delsea Prepares for Big Team Matches 08:24 – Delsea's Secret Sauce: Youth Wrestling & Culture 09:35 – Coach Kurt DeWoody Takes Over the Program 10:05 – Can Delsea Keep the Streak Alive? 10:58 – Training at Seagull Wrestling Club 11:02 – How Seagull Elevated His Wrestling 11:24 – His Wrestling Style: "I'm a Brawler" 11:27 – Biggest Regret From His High School Career 12:05 – Learning to Enjoy the Process 12:48 – Confidence Struggles & Missed Opportunities 13:40 – Transitioning From Middle School to High School Wrestling 14:43 – Academics: 6th in His Class 15:19 – AP Classes, Wrestling & School Balance 15:56 – Coach DeWoody vs Coach Maxwell 16:26 – Why Delsea's Coaching Staff Works So Well 16:52 – Choosing Drexel Wrestling 17:29 – Penn, Columbia, Navy & Recruiting Process 17:52 – Why Drexel Won Out 18:18 – Moving Up to Heavyweight in College 19:00 – The New Era of Athletic Heavyweights 19:45 – Leaving South Jersey for Philadelphia 20:07 – Business, Finance & Future Career Goals 20:54 – Drexel's Co-Op Program & Opportunities 21:08 – What "A Lot of Money" Means to a 19-Year-Old 22:20 – Ocean City, Wildwood & South Jersey Summers 22:33 – Funniest Guy on the Delsea Team 23:24 – Would He Walk the Ocean City Boardwalk in a Singlet? 23:55 – Final Thoughts & Outro

050: Gene Zannetti

What separates a New Jersey state champion from everyone else? According to Gene Zannetti, it isn't always technique, strength, or conditioning. It's mindset. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Gene Zannetti of Wrestling Mindset joins us at Shore Thing Wrestling Club for a deep conversation about confidence, discipline, pressure, mental toughness, and what it really takes to maximize your potential on the mat. We discuss: 🔥 Growing up wrestling in New Jersey 🔥 Wrestling at Rutgers and Penn 🔥 Building Wrestling Mindset into a national brand 🔥 Why athletes choke under pressure 🔥 The relationship between mindset, nutrition and weight cutting 🔥 Mental health in wrestling 🔥 Parents, coaches and athlete development 🔥 What separates state champions from everyone else Whether you're a wrestler, coach, parent, or fan of New Jersey wrestling, this episode is packed with lessons that apply far beyond the mat. 🤼‍♂️ New Jersey Wrestling 🧠 Wrestling Mindset 🏆 Mental Toughness • Confidence • Discipline ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Welcome to Shore Thing Wrestling Club 01:31 – Meet Gene Zannetti of Wrestling Mindset 01:39 – Growing Up Wrestling in New Jersey 02:08 – Learning Wrestling From His Dad 03:17 – Wanting to Follow His Father's Path 04:05 – Discovering Psychology in High School 04:47 – Wrestling at Rutgers & Penn 05:42 – The Birth of Wrestling Mindset 05:59 – The Books That Changed His Life 07:20 – Why Wrestling Mindset Focused on Wrestlers First 08:10 – Building a National Sports Psychology Business 09:15 – Sports Psychology Then vs Now 10:24 – What Mindset Training Really Is 11:10 – Mental Muscles: Confidence, Discipline & Focus 11:47 – Is Making Weight Wrestling's Toughest Opponent? 12:17 – How Mindset Impacts Nutrition & Weight Management 13:00 – Why Discipline Beats Motivation 14:00 – Wrestling, Anxiety & Mental Health 15:11 – Medication vs Mental Skills Training 16:15 – Why Young Athletes Need Tools, Not Just Prescriptions 17:25 – Who Is the Ideal Wrestling Mindset Client? 18:07 – When Parents Need Coaching Too 19:06 – Why Some Athletes Don't Improve 20:00 – Building a Team of 80 Mindset Coaches 21:05 – Matching Athletes With the Right Coach 22:18 – Why Wrestlers Open Up to Mindset Coaches 23:01 – How Wrestling Mindset Partnerships Work 24:45 – How Many NJ State Placers Use Mindset Training? 25:45 – Natural Talent vs Developing Potential 27:05 – Can Great Athletes Still Improve Mentally? 28:08 – The Most Influential People in Gene's Life 29:15 – Aaron Pico, Elite Athletes & Mental Training 30:01 – Coaching, Communication & Giving Feedback 31:18 – Final Thoughts & Outro

049: Teddy Sims

Two years ago, Teddy Sims wasn't placing at tournaments. Today, he's one of South Jersey's top young wrestlers. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Teddy talks about his journey from struggling as a beginner to becoming a South Jersey Wrestling League finalist and one of the most dedicated young wrestlers in the region. We cover: 🔥 Winning the South Jersey Wrestling League 🔥 Competing at Super 32 and Virginia Beach Nationals 🔥 Choosing between Shawnee and Camden Catholic 🔥 Why nutrition completely changed his wrestling 🔥 Training at Immortals, Shore Thing, Creekside & American 🔥 His goal of becoming an NCAA Champion What makes this episode special is how honest Teddy is about the process. He talks about losing, getting injured, struggling with confidence, and how consistency eventually paid off. If you're a wrestler, parent, or NJ wrestling fan, this is a great look at the next generation of South Jersey talent. 🤼‍♂️ South Jersey Wrestling 🏆 South Jersey Wrestling League Finalist 📍 Future High School Wrestler to Watch ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Teddy Sims 01:34 – Starting in Jiu-Jitsu Before Wrestling 02:04 – Getting Into Wrestling Through Football 02:44 – Early Struggles & Getting Injured 03:00 – Discovering a Love for Wrestling 03:23 – Training at Immortals, Shore Thing & Creekside 03:58 – Super 32 Experience & Lessons Learned 04:41 – Advice for Kids Wrestling Big Tournaments 05:00 – Winning the South Jersey Wrestling League 05:16 – Teddy’s Wrestling Style: Funk & Scrambles 05:39 – Looking Ahead to High School 05:54 – Shawnee vs Camden Catholic Decision 07:08 – Homeschooling & Year-Round Training 07:36 – Wrestlers He Looks Up To 07:58 – Why He Loves Watching Nick Suriano 08:08 – High School Goals & State Aspirations 08:49 – Weekly Training Schedule Breakdown 09:26 – Favorite Moves & Hand Fighting Focus 09:48 – Managing Nerves Before Big Matches 10:14 – Getting Pinned vs Getting Choked Out 10:34 – Biggest Influences: Dad, Coaches & Nutrition 11:11 – Big Goals: State Titles & NCAA Champion 11:48 – How High School Choice Impacts Development 12:08 – Wrestling Rules He Would Change 12:18 – Summer Wrestling, Weight Classes & Virginia Beach 13:03 – What Separates Teddy From Other Wrestlers 13:13 – The Nutrition Plan That Changed Everything 13:58 – Growing Stronger Through Better Eating 15:00 – Life Outside Wrestling in Medford Lakes 15:34 – School, Grades & Academic Goals 16:05 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For 16:17 – Advice for Young Wrestlers Struggling Early 16:59 – Summer Nationals & Confidence Breakthrough 17:33 – From Going 0-2 to Winning Big Matches 18:13 – Staying Disciplined With Nutrition 18:47 – South Jersey States Finals Run 19:58 – Virginia Beach Nationals Goals 20:08 – Why Every Wrestler Should Travel & Compete 20:35 – Final Thoughts & Outro

048: John Van Brill

One of South Jersey wrestling’s most respected club coaches joins New Jersey Mat Chat. John Van Brill sits down to talk about: • Growing up at Clearview • Wrestling at Rutgers • How J-Rob camp changed his life • Why South Jersey wrestling has fallen behind • The politics of offseason wrestling in NJ • Building Seagull Wrestling Club into a powerhouse • Why mindset, culture & community matter more than anything This episode dives deep into: 🔥 NJ wrestling culture 🔥 South Jersey vs North Jersey 🔥 Club wrestling growth 🔥 Coaching philosophy 🔥 Wrestling development at the highest level If you love New Jersey wrestling, this is one of the best behind-the-scenes conversations you’ll hear all year. 🤼‍♂️ Seagull Wrestling Club 🎓 Rutgers Wrestling 📍 South Jersey Wrestling Culture ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:27 – Inside Seagull Wrestling Club 01:45 – Meet John Van Brill 02:13 – Growing Up at Clearview Wrestling 03:00 – Wrestling Nerd to State Medalist 03:22 – Getting Away From Wrestling for a While 03:55 – J-Rob Camp Changed His Life 05:05 – Lessons From J-Rob That Still Matter Today 05:38 – Defining Wrestling Success 06:44 – Athlete vs Coach: Which Means More? 08:13 – Balancing Wrestling, Business & Life 09:00 – His Rutgers Wrestling Journey 10:26 – Is South Jersey Wrestling Falling Behind? 11:45 – Why North Jersey Has More Wrestling Resources 13:12 – South Jersey Wrestling Club Discussion 14:25 – South Jersey Used to Dominate NJ Wrestling 15:03 – Fargo, Team NJ & Offseason Politics 16:12 – Why South Jersey Struggles to Keep Up 17:08 – “We’re All One State” Mindset 17:42 – Building Seagull Wrestling Club 18:10 – The Coaching Staff Behind Seagull 18:48 – What Makes Seagull Different 19:20 – Club Fees, Training & Structure 20:12 – Why Seagull Isn’t for Everyone 21:00 – Why Girls Wrestle Free at Seagull 21:36 – Longest-Tenured Seagull Wrestler 22:16 – John Van Brill’s Best Coaching Position 22:47 – Teaching Pins, Tilts & Top Wrestling 23:20 – History of Seagull Wrestling Club 24:08 – The Meaning Behind “Seagull” 25:20 – Why He Doesn’t Coach High School Wrestling 26:12 – Club Coaching vs High School Coaching 27:12 – Has Wrestling Evolved Too Fast? 27:42 – How He Studies Wrestling Film 28:03 – The Coach He Still Learns From 28:52 – What a Seagull Practice Looks Like 29:38 – The Handball GOAT at Seagull 29:53 – Final Thoughts & Outro