050: Gene Zannetti

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

047: Jonas Lusker

One of New Jersey’s top freshman wrestlers just gave a glimpse into the future. Southern Regional standout Jonas Lusker joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about: • Wrestling in one of NJ’s toughest rooms • Winning districts & regions as a freshman • Placing 4th in New Jersey • The pressure of wrestling at Southern • Weight cutting, mindset & mental health • Southern vs Howell • Freestyle, Super 32 & national-level goals Jonas also opens up about anxiety, confidence, discipline, and the mental side of competing at the highest level in New Jersey wrestling. If you love NJ high school wrestling, this episode is loaded with insight into what it takes to compete in one of the best programs in the state. 🤼‍♂️ Southern Regional Wrestling 🏆 NJ State Placewinner 🔥 Future State Title Contender 00:00 – Intro / NJ Wrestling Officials PSA 00:49 – Jonas Recaps His Freshman Season 01:02 – Entering Southern’s Wrestling Room 01:14 – What Dan Roy Is Really Like 01:34 – Learning From Cade & Anthony 02:00 – Weight Cutting & Super 32 02:40 – Growing During the Season Made Weight Tough 03:00 – Fixing Mistakes & Becoming Better 03:17 – Mental Health & Wrestling Mindset 03:46 – Leaning on the Wrestling Community 04:20 – Southern Wins Another Team State Title 04:36 – The Grind of Team States Week 04:49 – Southern vs Howell Atmosphere 05:26 – Districts, Regions & Postseason Run 05:56 – Winning Regions as a Freshman 06:08 – Wrestling With Self-Belief 06:17 – Virginia Beach & Offseason Goals 06:32 – Small Goals Lead to Big Goals 06:46 – Freestyle vs Folkstyle Wrestling 07:16 – Why Freestyle Helps His Folkstyle 07:40 – The Shock of Southern Practices 08:01 – Spending a Year at Green Island Academy 08:34 – First Time Wrestling in Atlantic City 09:14 – The Hardest Part of States? The Scale 09:29 – Finishing 4th in New Jersey 09:48 – Bouncing Back After a Tough Loss 10:16 – Why Mindset Is EVERYTHING 10:46 – Dealing With Anxiety as a Wrestler 11:06 – Starting Wrestling at 4 Years Old 11:41 – Grinding Through Youth Wrestling 12:03 – When He Realized He Was Really Good 12:27 – Freshman Year Expectations 12:58 – Working With Dan Wernikoff & Nutrition 13:16 – Shoutout to Elite Wrestling 13:35 – Pressure of Wrestling at Southern 14:01 – Practices Became More Technical Over Time 14:14 – Biggest Freshman Year Challenges 14:32 – Advice on Weight Management & Discipline 15:00 – Surviving the Team State Grind 15:37 – Big Goals: Super 32, Powerade & Escape the Rock 15:55 – What He’s Working on Right Now 16:15 – Expectations for Next Season 16:24 – Why He Never Cares About Seeding 16:46 – Confidence Heading Into States 16:59 – Family Support & Final Shoutouts 17:18 – Outro Become a Wrestling Official at https://www.njwoa.net/ [https://www.njwoa.net/]

046: Michael Barikian

This is one of the deepest wrestling conversations we’ve had yet. Kingsway head coach Mike Barikian joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about: • Growing up in South Jersey wrestling • Finishing 4th in the state • Wrestling at Navy • Leadership lessons from the Marine Corps • Building Kingsway into a powerhouse • Why culture matters more than talent • The REAL problems with NJ wrestling today Coach Barikian also gives one of the most honest breakdowns yet on: 🔥 PowerPoints 🔥 Public vs Private debate 🔥 Team states 🔥 Parenting in wrestling 🔥 Why some kids succeed… and others burn out This episode is packed with wisdom for wrestlers, coaches, and parents who truly love New Jersey wrestling. 🤼‍♂️ Kingsway Wrestling 🇺🇸 Navy Wrestling / Marine Corps Leadership 📍 South Jersey Wrestling ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:25 – Meet Kingsway Coach Mike Barikian 01:39 – How He First Started Wrestling 02:01 – Growing Up at Sterling & Around Football 03:00 – Finishing 4th in the State 04:19 – Wrestling the Backside at States 04:59 – Football vs Wrestling in High School 05:20 – Choosing Wrestling Over Football 06:06 – Why Navy Was the Right Choice 06:55 – Entering the Naval Academy 07:34 – Coaching Staff Change & Early Struggles at Navy 08:36 – Inside a Division I Wrestling Room 09:13 – Military Discipline & Wrestling Mindset 10:09 – Marine Corps Leadership Lessons 11:45 – Returning to South Jersey & Real Estate 12:36 – Coaching at Navy Before Kingsway 13:46 – Taking Over Kingsway Wrestling 14:18 – Teaching Finance at Kingsway 15:15 – Difference Between D1 & High School Wrestling Rooms 16:18 – Building Kingsway’s Culture 17:05 – Winning a Sectional Title in Year One 18:18 – What Defines a Kingsway Practice 19:05 – Conditioning vs Competing Hard 19:32 – Non-Negotiables in the Wrestling Room 20:20 – Why Commitment Matters More Than Numbers 21:49 – Changing the Culture at Kingsway 22:43 – What He Learned in His First 10 Years Coaching 24:04 – Adjusting as a Head Coach 25:22 – What Makes Him Most Proud as a Coach 26:18 – “Our Kids Still Love Wrestling” 27:28 – Philosophy: Impose Your Will 28:18 – Conditioning Is Relative 29:04 – Why Wrestlers Need to Force Action 30:17 – How the Marines Influenced His Coaching 31:00 – What He Wants Wrestlers to Take From His Program 32:11 – Is New Jersey Wrestling Different? 33:15 – Thoughts on the 3-Point Takedown 34:25 – Biggest Changes He Wants in NJ Wrestling 35:04 – Why He Hates Separating Public & Private States 36:07 – His Wildcard Qualifier Idea 36:59 – Why NJ Should Have ONLY 2 Public School Groups 38:02 – Rivalries, Rutgers & Better Team States 39:27 – Southern vs Howell & PowerPoint Controversy 41:38 – His Honest Opinion on PowerPoints 43:08 – Why More State Champs Waters Down Wrestling 44:02 – The Problem With 5 Groups 45:49 – What’s Next for Kingsway Wrestling 48:44 – Advice for Young Wrestlers 50:04 – Why Passion Matters More Than Results 51:17 – Wrestlers He Respects Most 52:15 – Advice for Wrestling Parents 53:36 – Why Kids Need Freedom to Compete 54:12 – Final Thoughts & Outro