New Jersey Mat Chat

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

045: Owen Boyle

“I hated wrestling for two years.” Lenape standout Owen Boyle joins New Jersey Mat Chat for one of the most honest conversations yet — opening up about burnout, confidence, weight cuts, and eventually learning how to enjoy wrestling again. In this episode, Owen talks about: • Feeling unfulfilled despite success • Why he wishes he trained in tougher rooms earlier • The mental side of wrestling • Creekside Wrestling & Immortals • Choosing Elizabethtown College • Family support and wrestling culture • Learning that having fun actually made him better This episode is a reminder that wrestling isn’t just about wins and losses — it’s about growth, mindset, and finding joy in the grind. 🤼‍♂️ Lenape Wrestling 🎓 Elizabethtown College Commit 🧠 Mindset • Burnout • Development ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:25 – Meet Owen Boyle (Lenape Wrestling) 01:49 – Was His Wrestling Career a Success? 03:01 – Realizing What It Takes to Be Great 03:09 – What He’d Tell His 7th Grade Self 03:36 – “I Hated Wrestling for Two Years” 04:15 – Freshman Year Expectations 04:32 – Most Influential Coaches Growing Up 05:18 – Always Smiling on the Mat 06:09 – Self Doubt vs Having Fun Wrestling 06:57 – Why He Wishes He Wrestled Better Rooms Earlier 07:34 – Why Convenience Isn’t Always the Answer 08:34 – Training at Immortals & Lamb Wrestling 09:09 – Balancing Different Wrestling Rooms 09:56 – Giving Up Lacrosse for Wrestling 10:15 – Family Support & Wrestling Parents 11:33 – Which Coach Is Most Like His Dad? 12:20 – Creekside Wrestling Garage Practices 13:02 – Traveling to Michigan for Wrestling 13:43 – Choosing Elizabethtown College 14:14 – Schools He Considered Before Elizabethtown 15:03 – Feeling “At Home” on His Visit 15:41 – Elizabethtown Wrestling Program Breakdown 16:12 – Rooming With Howell’s Will Stapleton 17:35 – Accounting Major & Future Plans 18:10 – GPA, Academics & Choosing a Career 19:02 – Respect, Reputation & Wrestling Brotherhood 19:41 – Thanking Coaches, Parents & Supporters 20:32 – Favorite Atlantic City Memory 20:53 – Outro

044: Mike Ahearn

Coach Mike Ahern joins New Jersey Mat Chat for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet. From wrestling under legendary coach Gary Papa at Paul VI… to coaching state champions… to stepping away from wrestling after personal tragedy… Coach Ahern opens up about everything that shaped him. This episode covers: • Old-school South Jersey wrestling culture • Coaching legends like Mark Manchio • Building Audubon into a sectional champion • Mental health, anxiety & loss • Wrestling’s evolution over the decades • The transfer portal mentality hitting high school sports • Why relationships matter more than wins This isn’t just a wrestling episode. It’s a conversation about life, purpose, toughness, and finding your way back. 🤼‍♂️ South Jersey Wrestling 🏆 Audubon Wrestling 🧠 Legacy • Leadership • Perspective ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:26 – Meet Coach Mike Ahern 01:46 – Growing Up in a Family of 12 Kids 02:26 – Starting Wrestling Late (7th Grade) 03:05 – Gary Papa & Old School Wrestling Culture 04:38 – Why He Ended Up at Paul VI 05:24 – Tiny Freshman Wrestling Varsity 06:25 – State Medals, Tough Losses & Expectations 07:20 – Region Finals Battle With Che Santo 08:11 – Wrestling Left-Handed & Match Strategy 09:20 – Learning From State Tournament Failure 10:05 – Paul VI Robes & Wrestling Traditions 11:09 – Choosing Elizabethtown Over Rider 12:23 – Wrestling in College & Brotherhood 13:15 – Wanting to Join the Marines After 9/11 14:09 – Coaching With Legendary Coach John Sanders 15:20 – Early Coaching Years & Penns Grove 16:18 – Taking Over Sterling Wrestling 17:20 – Coaching State Champ Mark Manchio 18:15 – Mark Manchio’s Competitive Edge 19:05 – Other State Champs & Loaded Teams 20:05 – Taking Over Audubon Wrestling 20:33 – Personal Tragedy, Anxiety & Mental Health 22:42 – Returning to Coaching After 5 Years Away 24:10 – Building the Audubon Wrestling Culture 25:24 – Learning the Modern Version of Wrestling 26:18 – Creating a Family Atmosphere 27:15 – Leadership, Staff & Team Buy-In 28:08 – Winning Audubon’s First Sectional Title 29:09 – Why Relationships Matter More Than Wins 30:24 – Building Wrestling Programs the Right Way 31:20 – Paulsboro, Toughness & Team Culture 32:53 – The Pressure of the State Tournament Run 34:05 – Tough Losses Before the Playoffs 35:05 – Turning the Team Around Mentally 36:05 – Community Support & Booster Club Impact 37:06 – Winning South Jersey Coach of the Year 38:00 – Still Coaching at 54 Years Old 39:00 – Wrestling’s Evolution & Modern Scrambling 40:00 – Coaching Girls Wrestling & Growing the Sport 41:20 – Why JV Wrestling Is Dying 42:05 – Why He Hates the Current PowerPoint System 44:03 – Public vs Private School Wrestling Debate 46:05 – Recruiting, Transfers & Loyalty in Sports 47:25 – Parents, Clubs & The Future of Wrestling 49:05 – Financial Challenges in High School Sports 50:05 – Becoming a Wrestling Official 51:20 – Understanding Referees From the Other Side 52:14 – Learning Positioning & Making Calls 53:22 – Youth Wrestling Parents & Crazy Pressure 54:15 – Final Thoughts & Wrestling Perspective 55:01 – Outro00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment

043: Bigger & Better with Thomas Blewett

From 95 pounds as a freshman… to standing on top of New Jersey. Middletown North state champion Tommy Blewett joins New Jersey Mat Chat to break down his journey to becoming one of the best wrestlers in the state at 106 pounds. In this episode, Tommy talks about: • Growing up undersized • Finally putting on weight • Cutting weight for the first time • Wrestling alongside his brother • Going 50-1 and winning a state title • Beating nationally ranked opponents • Recruiting interest from Harvard, Brown & UVA • Shore Conference rivalries and trash talk This episode is about patience, growth, confidence, and trusting the process. 🤼‍♂️ Middletown North Wrestling 🏆 NJ State Champion 📍 Shore Conference Wrestling 00:00 – NJ Wrestling Officials PSA 00:46 – Meet Tommy Blewett (106 State Champion) 00:58 – Growing Up Undersized in Wrestling 01:35 – “I Thought I Was Never Going to Grow” 02:20 – Eating Everything to Gain Weight 02:55 – Cutting Weight for the First Time 03:23 – Wrestling the Same Weight as His Brother 04:02 – Team Goals vs Individual Goals 04:40 – Winning 50 Matches in a Season 05:58 – Realizing a State Title Was Possible 07:00 – Tough Matches at 106 & Ranked Opponents 07:44 – The Only Loss of the Season 08:54 – State Tournament Mindset & Preparation 10:11 – Semifinal Match vs Bogosius 11:04 – State Finals vs Will Cruz 11:59 – Realizing He Won a State Title 12:40 – Celebrating With McDonald’s in Atlantic City 13:57 – Family Support & His Dad’s Sacrifices 15:00 – College Recruiting Begins 15:44 – Harvard, Brown & Virginia Recruiting Interest 16:44 – School, SATs & Future Plans 17:10 – Virginia Beach & Triumph Wrestling Trips 17:40 – Working at Proving Ground Restaurant 18:14 – What Tommy Wants to Do in Life 18:48 – Coaching Wrestling Someday? 19:03 – Shore Conference Rivalries & Trash Talk 20:00 – Middletown North vs South Rivalry 20:53 – Team Outlook for Next Season 21:32 – Final Thoughts & Outro

042: Wisdom Wins with Kevin Landolt

rom NJ state champion… to Division I football… to the NFL… and back to coaching the next generation. Kevin Landolt joins New Jersey Mat Chat to tell the full story of his journey through wrestling, football, and life after sports. In this episode we cover: • Old-school NJ wrestling before clubs existed • Winning a state title at Holy Cross • Playing football at West Virginia • Getting drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars • Wrestling’s role in building NFL toughness • Coaching today’s wrestlers and raising the next generation Kevin also shares stories about the NFL Combine, the pressure of making a roster, his famous sack against Donovan McNabb, and why mindset still separates good athletes from great ones. This is a must-watch for wrestlers, football players, parents, and coaches. 🤼‍♂️ NJ Wrestling 🏈 West Virginia Football & Jacksonville Jaguars 🧠 Mindset • Toughness • Leadership Check out Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com [https://champion-athletes.com] 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor Segment 01:25 – Meet Kevin Landolt 01:38 – Growing Up in Burlington Township 02:03 – Wrestling Family & Early Influence From His Dad 02:35 – Finding the Willingboro Wrestling Program 03:05 – Coaches & Mentors Who Shaped Him 04:07 – Wrestling Before Clubs Existed 04:53 – How Elite Wrestlers Trained Back Then 05:04 – Choosing Holy Cross High School 05:47 – Freshman Year Struggles & Wrestling Up a Weight 06:47 – Building a Winning Program at Holy Cross 07:47 – State Tournament Experience & Mentality Shift 08:28 – The Mindset Difference Between Winning & Losing 09:10 – Wrestling Before YouTube & TrackWrestling 10:09 – Holy Cross Football Success Begins 10:50 – Winning State Titles in Football 11:08 – Choosing Football Over Wrestling in College 12:21 – Why West Virginia Was the Right Choice 13:14 – Life Inside a Division I Football Program 14:41 – Wrestling’s Advantage in Football 15:17 – Why Wrestling Was Harder Than Football 16:05 – Big Sack vs Donovan McNabb & Favorite Memories 17:18 – Realizing the NFL Was Possible 18:17 – NFL Combine & Draft Process 19:46 – Getting Drafted by the Jaguars 21:05 – NFL Training Camp & Mental Pressure 21:29 – First NFL Paycheck Story 23:05 – Making the Jaguars Roster 23:50 – Beating the 49ers & NFL Rookie Season 24:37 – How Wrestling Built NFL Toughness 25:52 – Life After Football & The XFL 27:26 – Returning to Wrestling as a Coach 28:05 – Coaching at Riverside & Developing Wrestlers 29:04 – Coaching His Daughter in Wrestling 30:24 – Biggest Differences in Wrestling Today 31:31 – Advice for Wrestlers Chasing Greatness 32:33 – Final Thoughts & Outro