Winter Sports Preview: Boys Wrestling

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Gavin Young attempts toroll his opponent onto his back for a pin.

BY MCKAILA MACARTHUR  

Last season, the boys wrestling team finished with a  15-8 record. Overall, the boys wrestling team finished second in the GMC Red Division and reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group V Finals, and some individuals made it to the NJSIAA Tournament in Atlantic City.  

This year, the Knights hope to take home more victories and win Sectionals. “Personally, I want to make it back to States and find a way onto the podium down in Atlantic City,” said senior Zachary Florio, who qualified for the NJSIAA Atlantic City Tournament last year. “I’d say as a team we want to get back to that Sectional Final and avenge that loss from last year.”  

The team has a drive to work on and improve from last season.  “Everyone helps push each other to make everyone get better everyday,” said sophomore Lorenzo Granato. 

This season, the majority of the previous line-up returns. “We have a lot of returning guys, most of the same lineup is back,” said Florio. “[We are] looking to build off that experience, and, hopefully, that work over the past offseason pays off for us.”  

Zachary Florio walks off the mat at last year’s NJSIAA Tournament in Atlantic City.

Along with most of the previous roster returning, freshmen and new faces have joined the team. “This year, we have a couple of incoming freshmen that are high level wrestlers and definitely make the team stronger in the lower weights,” said junior Gavin Young. “We had a good amount of seniors graduate last year, and now we have a lot of well-developed underclassmen filling in those spots.”  

The team has also set a goal to make it Rutgers for a Group 5 State title. “My goals are to wrestle varsity and win tournaments and for the team is to be Sectional champes and wrestle at Rutgers,” said senior Andrew Katz.  After a 25 year long hiatus, the team itches to go back. “It’s been almost 25 years and we’re hungrier than ever after the heartbreak last year,” said Young.  

Gavin Young looks for guidance between whistles during the last year’s NJSIAA tournament.

The boys will open the season at home against Monroe at 6pm Friday night before competing in the annual Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament at home on Saturday. 

Posted on December 17, 2025 

Photos by Alexa Magrino