054: Kurt DeWoody

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 [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

053: Bobby Duffy

One year he was leaving Atlantic City disappointed. The next year he was standing on top of the podium. CBA standout and Iowa commit Bobby Duffy joins New Jersey Mat Chat to break down the journey that led him from heartbreak at the New Jersey State Championships to becoming a New Jersey State Champion. In this episode, Bobby discusses: 🔥 Missing the podium as a freshman 🔥 The mindset shift that changed his wrestling career 🔥 Placing at Fargo and gaining national confidence 🔥 Why CBA was the right fit for him 🔥 The recruiting process with Rutgers, Maryland, and Iowa 🔥 NIL, college wrestling, and life as an incoming Hawkeye 🔥 What separates high school wrestling from college wrestling 🔥 His goals at Fargo and beyond Bobby also opens up about the coaches, teammates, and mentors who helped shape his path, including the influence of the Kenny family, Vinny DelleFave, and the culture at CBA Wrestling. If you're a fan of New Jersey high school wrestling, this episode is a must-watch. It's a story about resilience, confidence, and what happens when talent finally meets commitment. 🤼‍♂️ CBA Wrestling 🏆 New Jersey State Champion 🌽 Iowa Wrestling Commit 📍 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 New Jersey State Champion Bobby Duffy 01:55 – Missing the Podium as a CBA Freshman 02:15 – The Weight Cut to 106 Pounds 03:00 – Falling Short at States & The Blood Round Loss 03:59 – Why He Didn't Reach His Potential Early 04:12 – The Mental Shift That Changed Everything 04:50 – The Fargo Trip That Changed His Career 05:45 – Placing at Fargo & Gaining Confidence 06:30 – Recruiting Interest Starts to Heat Up 06:58 – How Fargo Helped Him Win a State Title 07:22 – Why He Chose CBA Over Public School Wrestling 07:44 – The Kenny Family Influence 08:05 – What Makes CBA Different 08:46 – Brotherhood, Coaches & Wrestling Culture 09:02 – Academics at CBA & Balancing School 09:42 – GPA Expectations for College Wrestling 10:21 – Preparing for College Academics 10:49 – Inside the Iowa Recruiting Process 11:27 – Visits to Rutgers, Maryland & Iowa 11:50 – Arriving in Iowa With No Expectations 12:21 – Scholarship Offers & NIL Conversations 13:13 – Why Iowa Stood Out From Everyone Else 14:13 – Future Weight Class at Iowa 14:49 – Staying Connected With the Iowa Coaches 15:32 – Life as an Incoming Iowa Wrestler 16:05 – Training With the Hawkeye RTC 16:57 – Leaving for Iowa & Starting the Next Chapter 17:22 – Winning a New Jersey State Title 18:13 – High School Wrestling vs College Wrestling 19:03 – Life After Wrestling & Career Goals 20:19 – Could Law Enforcement Be in His Future? 21:05 – Coaching His Younger Brothers 21:49 – Wrestling Clubs That Shaped His Career 22:05 – Meeting the Kenny Family 22:38 – The Influence of Coach Vinny DelleFave 22:47 – Was a State Title Necessary for Success? 23:28 – Fargo Goals & Chasing a National Title 24:21 – Final Thoughts & Outro

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