088: Dan O'Cone

Rancocas Valley wrestling has a new head coach, and he's bringing a different perspective to South Jersey.On this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat: Coach's Corner, we sit down with Zach Cebula, a four-time Wisconsin state wrestling champion and Rider University alumnus, to discuss his plans for Rancocas Valley Regional High School.After coaching at Moorestown and Cherokee, Cebula takes over a program with approximately 90 wrestlers, an established youth pipeline, and high expectations.We get into some big questions about New Jersey wrestling:- Why has Burlington County fallen behind other parts of the state in producing state medalists?- Should coaches prioritize 100 career wins or placing at the NJSIAA state championships in Atlantic City?- How do you build a wrestling program that competes with the best teams in New Jersey?- What role should conditioning, nutrition, and weight management play in high school wrestling?- How do you get an entire team to buy into a new coaching philosophy?Cebula also shares lessons from Rider University's wrestling program, his approach to developing young wrestlers, and the identity he wants to establish at Rancocas Valley.New Jersey Mat Chat covers the wrestlers, coaches, and programs shaping high school wrestling throughout the Garden State.Subscribe for more wrestler interviews, Coach's Corner episodes, and New Jersey wrestling coverage.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:07 Meet Rancocas Valley Head Coach Zach Cebula01:47 Four Wisconsin State Titles and Rider University03:07 Growing Up in Wisconsin Wrestling04:45 Coaching at Moorestown and Cherokee05:42 Taking Over Rancocas Valley Wrestling07:02 The State of New Jersey Wrestling07:45 Building a Tougher Schedule for Atlantic City09:43 Building the RV Youth Wrestling Pipeline11:43 Burlington County Wrestling Under the Microscope13:23 Coaching Philosophy: State Success vs. Dual Wins14:34 Why Has South Jersey Wrestling Fallen Behind?17:11 State Placements vs. 100 Career Wins20:05 Nutrition, Weight Cutting and Wrestle-Offs22:17 Lessons From Rider University's Coaching Tree25:15 Building RV's Identity: Conditioning and Toughness28:07 Managing a 90-Wrestler Roster30:48 First-Year Goals and Team Buy-In35:26 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

🏆 Tyler Shane wants to make Robbinsville wrestling history.After moving from 157 to 175 pounds, Tyler put together a breakout season, placing third at regions and earning a trip to Atlantic City.Now he's chasing an even bigger goal: becoming Robbinsville High School's first NJ state wrestling champion.🤼 His journey from a freshman-year injury to Atlantic City💪 Moving up in weight and developing his wrestling style🔥 The mental battle of competing at states🏆 His goals for Robbinsville's upcoming season🎓 College visits to Princeton and TCNJ🎯 Training at Elite Wrestling and preparing for the next levelCan Tyler bring Robbinsville its first individual state championship?👇 Let us know what you think!Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for more interviews with New Jersey's wrestlers and coaches.#NJWrestling #NewJerseyMatChat #TylerShane #RobbinsvilleWrestling #HighSchoolWrestlingWatch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet Tyler Shane of Robbinsville02:10 Moving From 157 to 175 Pounds03:46 The Mental Side of Wrestling04:17 How Tyler Started Wrestling06:27 Freshman Year Injury and Comeback07:53 Sophomore Season and Building Confidence08:49 Moving Up to 175 Pounds10:24 Coach Dan Hughes and Robbinsville Wrestling11:05 Robbinsville's Team Goals12:07 The Road to Atlantic City14:11 Preparing for College Wrestling14:35 Princeton and TCNJ Recruitment15:07 Chasing Robbinsville's First State Title16:17 Advice for Young Wrestlers16:53 Training at Elite Wrestling19:03 Life Outside Wrestling and College Goals22:09 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

🏆 NJ State Champion Killian Colluccio is back on New Jersey Mat Chat!The Lacey Township standout returns to talk about winning his first state championship, committing to Virginia Tech, and preparing for one final high school season.🤼 Why he chose Virginia Tech over Rutgers and Cornell🔥 Training with Bo Bassett and the Hokies💪 The coaches who helped him become a state champion🏆 Chasing a second NJ state title🎯 His ultimate goal: becoming an NCAA national champion😂 Why he doesn't care about rankings or criticsCan Killian make it two state titles before heading to Virginia Tech?👇 Drop your predictions in the comments!🔔 Subscribe for more NJ wrestling interviews, stories, and analysis.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:09 Killian Colluccio Returns to Mat Chat01:20 From State Runner-Up to State Champion02:14 Fargo, Elite Eight and College Recruitment03:13 Training for His First State Title04:38 Why Killian Chose Virginia Tech05:26 Visiting Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Cornell07:28 Best Fit vs. Best Offer08:13 Preparing for College at 125 Pounds09:16 Building Strength for Virginia Tech11:44 Training With Bo Bassett and the Hokies13:12 Telling Other College Coaches No14:07 Offseason Training at Triumph14:53 His Relationship With Coach Goodale16:33 Coach Dan Her's Impact on His State Title18:16 The Story Behind Coach Herb19:41 Family Expectations After Winning States20:37 College and Career Plans22:43 Why Killian Doesn't Watch Wrestling23:37 Freestyle vs. Folkstyle24:12 Chasing a Second State Championship25:41 Is His Family Moving to Virginia?26:32 Killian's Reputation and Critics27:06 Dealing With Hecklers in the Stands27:57 Why He Ignores National Rankings29:01 His Picks for NJ's Greatest Wrestlers30:50 Life Outside Wrestling31:33 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

💜 Legends Never Die: The Chee Santone Story.National Prep champion, NJ state placewinner, and an unforgettable personality in South Jersey wrestling. Chee Santone left a legacy that went far beyond the mat.In this special New Jersey Mat Chat tribute, Chee's family, friends, teammates, and former rivals share the stories that made him one of a kind.🤼 His wrestling journey from Peddie to Lenape🏆 Rivalries, friendships, and unforgettable memories⌚ The remarkable story of a watch and a state championship bracket❤️ His courageous battle with cancer💜 The family and wrestling community carrying his legacy forwardLegends Never Die.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA'Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Introduction01:39 Remembering Chee Santone01:55 A Husband, Father and Fighter06:31 Childhood Friends and Wrestling Memories08:34 Orlando Caceres and the Watch Story10:00 Peddie, Lenape and Wrestling Success12:00 Rivalry With Eric Childs15:09 A Letter That Started a Friendship18:18 The Stories Everyone Remembers21:18 Purple Shoes and Chee's Signature Style23:45 Where Did the Name Chee Come From?26:00 A Lifelong Love of Wrestling27:34 The Santone Family Opens Their Home30:23 His Greatest Loves31:03 The Championship Bracket Comes Home32:00 A Promise to His Son35:04 One Last Wrestling Match36:36 What Would You Say to Chee?39:31 A Legacy That Lives On42:06 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

🤼 Brady Little is just getting started.After winning a district championship, reaching the regional finals, and qualifying for Atlantic City as a freshman, the Howell sophomore is setting his sights even higher.🏆 Brady joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about Howell wrestling, Coach Gags, growing up at Shore Thing, and what it takes to compete against New Jersey's best.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:🔥 Growing up at Shore Thing Wrestling Club🏟️ Wrestling under the lights at Howell🐯 Coach Gags and the famous Eye of the Tiger entrance🤼 Howell's tough loss to Southern🥇 Winning districts and reaching Atlantic City🧠 Handling nerves at the state tournament💪 Preparing for his sophomore season🏆 Howell's move to Group 4😂 Team stories, girlfriends, and Taylor Swift🎯 Brady's goals: 30 wins, a regional title, and a deeper run at states💬 Can Howell make a run at the Group 4 championship this season?🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with the wrestlers, coaches, and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet Brady Little01:20 Growing Up at Shore Thing04:49 Joining Howell Wrestling05:29 Beast of the East as a Freshman07:05 Adjusting to High School Wrestling09:15 Howell's Home-Mat Atmosphere09:56 Coach Gags and Eye of the Tiger11:29 The Southern Loss13:34 Brady's First State Tournament15:07 Dealing With Nerves in Atlantic City15:48 Nutrition and Making Weight18:49 Knee Surgery and Offseason Training19:32 Why He Loves Freestyle20:07 Howell's Team Workouts20:58 The Captain's Practice Story22:57 Howell Moves to Group 424:09 A Tough Divisional Schedule25:10 Facing NJ's Best Teams26:22 Coach Gags Stories27:28 Wrestling Rules Brady Would Change29:19 Taylor Swift Before a Match?30:07 Sophomore Season Goals32:29 Aiming for a State Title32:59 Escape the Rock or Shore Conference?33:37 Who Has the Best Car?34:08 Outro

🏆 From wrestling beginner to NJ State Champion in just three seasons.Eric Childs didn't discover wrestling until high school. By 1988, he had become Rancocas Valley's first state wrestling champion.🤼 In this New Jersey Mat Chat Legends episode, Eric shares his unlikely journey from a sophomore who barely knew the rules to defeating some of New Jersey's toughest competitors.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:🥇 Winning the 1988 NJ State Championship🔥 His rivalry with Chi Santone💪 The work ethic that transformed his wrestling career🏟️ The unforgettable state finals at Princeton❤️ Why his mother saw him wrestle for the first time in the state finals🎓 Wrestling at Rider University and qualifying twice for the NCAA Championships🫁 Surviving pulmonary fibrosis and receiving a double-lung transplant🙏 The importance of organ donation and appreciating lifeAn incredible wrestling story — and an even greater story about perseverance and second chances.💬 Could a wrestler today start in high school and win an NJ state championship just three seasons later?🔔 Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches, and legends who built NJ wrestling.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet 1988 State Champion Eric Childs01:38 Discovering Wrestling as a Sophomore05:25 His First District Tournament06:22 Realizing He Could Become a Champion07:56 Beating Chi Santone08:08 Eric's Wrestling Philosophy09:46 Learning at Wrestling Camp10:26 His First Region Championship13:04 Training Harder Than Ever15:12 Natural Athleticism and Coordination16:26 Rivalries With Chi Santone and Johnny Duran17:32 Two Early Senior-Year Losses18:08 The Undefeated Run Begins19:10 Finally Beating Chi at Districts19:33 Mapping Out His Championship Goals21:47 The 1988 State Tournament22:01 Reaching the Semifinals23:42 Beating DeJoseph to Reach the Finals24:03 Winning the Semifinal25:26 His Parents Finally Watch Him Wrestle26:59 His Mother's First Match Was the State Final28:09 Winning the 1988 State Championship29:30 Choosing Rider University30:50 The Shock of Division I Wrestling32:48 Qualifying for the NCAA Championships33:40 Learning About Freestyle Wrestling35:06 Becoming Rancocas Valley's First State Champion36:06 Moving to California36:43 Diagnosed With Pulmonary Fibrosis37:31 Receiving a Life-Saving Double-Lung Transplant38:04 The Day His New Lungs Arrived40:06 A New Appreciation for Life40:51 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

🏆 ONE GOAL. ONE FINAL SEASON. AN NJ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.Gavin Young has one goal for his senior wrestling season: Become a New Jersey State Champion.🤼 The Old Bridge wrestler was practically born into the sport. His father coached at South River, his family has a history of wrestling success, and Gavin started competing through the Old Bridge Mat Rats as a young kid.But his high school career hasn't gone exactly as planned.🚑 Freshman Year: A serious concussion just days before regions ended his postseason.🔥 Sophomore Year: Gavin returned, placed at regions, and accomplished his childhood dream of wrestling at the NJ State Championships in Atlantic City.🥇 Junior Year: After winning his first district championship, Gavin suffered a devastating loss in the regional quarterfinals. The disappointment carried into the wrestlebacks, and he admits he wasn't mentally prepared to keep competing.🎯 Senior Year: He's determined to make sure that doesn't happen again.In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Gavin opens up about the setbacks, lessons, and motivation driving his final high school season.---💬 “There's only one thing on my mind. It's just being a state champ.”Gavin knows what it's like to have a season end before he's ready.He knows what it's like to lose when everything is on the line.And he knows that the only person who can change the outcome is himself.Now he's entering his final season at Old Bridge with something to prove.One more season. One more opportunity. One very clear goal. 🏆---🎙️ Guest: Gavin Young🏫 School: Old Bridge High School🤼 Series: New Jersey Mat Chat🎬 Episode: 89🔔 SUBSCRIBE to New Jersey Mat Chat for interviews with the wrestlers, coaches, and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling.💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's harder in wrestling — preparing to win or bouncing back after a devastating loss?Watch 'The Godfather of MMA'Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet Gavin Young of Old Bridge04:43 The Concussion That Ended His Freshman Season05:15 Bouncing Back and Reaching Atlantic City06:49 Managing Weight and Ignoring Opponents08:51 Learning From a Devastating Regional Loss11:06 One Goal: Become a State Champion12:33 Why Gavin Added Football14:27 Taking Responsibility on the Wrestling Mat15:20 Training at Ryze and Old Bridge16:26 Coach Post and the Old Bridge Wrestling Culture17:53 College, Careers and Coaching Ambitions19:04 How Nutrition Changed His Wrestling20:05 College Decisions and Future Plans20:40 Greatest NJ High School Wrestler Ever?22:09 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

🤼 What does it take to build a championship wrestling program — and help change the sport itself?Legendary Brick Memorial and Point Pleasant Beach coach Dan O'Cone joins New Jersey Mat Chat's Coach's Corner to discuss his coaching career, the powerhouse Shore Conference, and his role in developing NJ wrestling's prestige-point seeding system.🏆 From winning back-to-back Group 4 championships at Brick Memorial to helping make tournament seeding fairer, O'Cone has seen New Jersey wrestling from nearly every angle.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:🏆 Building championship teams at Brick Memorial🤼 Learning from legendary Trenton State coach Dave Icenhower🔥 The rivalries that made the Shore Conference a powerhouse📊 How prestige points changed NJ wrestling seeding🐐 The Damion Hahn problem that exposed flaws in the old system⚖️ District realignment: fairness vs. tradition🏟️ The forgotten controversy of Super Regions🤝 Why coaches must respect wrestling officials👧 Coaching his daughter Cecilia and growing girls wrestling💪 Why the future of NJ wrestling is brighter than ever💬 Do you think NJ wrestling's current district and seeding systems are fair, or should we bring back the old rivalries?🔔 Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches, and legends who built New Jersey wrestling.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet Coach Dan O'Cone18:32 Shore Conference Rivalries & Coaching Philosophy33:41 Debating Prestige Points and Tournament Seeding34:58 District Realignment: Fairness vs. Tradition37:17 What's Best for Wrestlers vs. Fans?38:05 Could NJ Bring Back Traditional Districts?41:18 The Wrestlers Who Missed Atlantic City41:47 The Super Regions Controversy45:12 A Lesson in Respecting Officials47:42 Why Coaches Shouldn't Blame Referees49:23 The Future of Wrestling and the Growth of Girls Wrestling51:32 Coaching His Daughter and Staying in the Sport53:23 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

🏆 WHO ARE NEW JERSEY'S 50 GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLERS OF ALL TIME?After releasing our Top 50 rankings, Pete and Doug sit down to explain how the list was created, why certain wrestlers made the cut, and what it takes to compare greatness across generations.🤼 From the legends of the 1970s and 1980s to modern-day champions, ranking NJ wrestling history is anything but simple.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:📊 How our panel developed the Top 50 rankings🏆 State titles vs. strength of competition⏳ Comparing wrestlers across different eras🥇 Why Damion Hahn earned the #1 spot🔥 The toughest decisions and biggest omissions🤼 Why one head-to-head result doesn't tell the whole story📚 Preserving NJ wrestling history for future generations👀 Current wrestlers who could eventually crack the list💬 Do you agree with our rankings? Who belongs in the Top 50, and who would you put at #1?This list is about more than rankings. It's about recognizing the wrestlers who built New Jersey's incredible wrestling tradition.🔔 Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for interviews, wrestling history, and conversations with NJ's greatest athletes and coaches.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Why We Created NJ's Top 5002:43 How the Rankings Were Calculated04:09 Comparing Wrestling Legends Across Generations06:58 National Tournaments and Different Eras07:55 Keeping Wrestling History Alive08:51 Why One Match Doesn't Determine Greatness09:23 Learning From the Wrestling Community12:49 How Wrestling Rules Have Changed13:16 Current Wrestlers Who Could Make the List14:16 The Oldest Wrestler on the List15:33 Why Damion Hahn Is #117:19 The Original NJ Wrestling Superstars18:00 Honorable Mentions and Near Misses19:40 Jimmy Conroy, Mike Gray and Strength of Competition21:58 Three-Time vs. Four-Time State Champions22:56 The Hardest Part of Making the Rankings23:43 Why We Wish We'd Ranked 10026:50 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro

What defines a great wrestling coach?Championships? Career wins? State titles?For legendary Raritan wrestling coach Rob Nucci, the answer goes much deeper.Nucci became a high school head coach at just 22 years old, taking over Pinelands before eventually building Raritan into one of the Shore Conference's most respected small-school wrestling programs.Over his coaching career at Raritan, he helped deliver five sectional championships, created one of New Jersey's most intimidating home wrestling environments — The Launch Pad — and built a culture that turned local wrestlers into hometown heroes.But in this Coach's Corner episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Nucci opens up about something far more important than his wrestling record.He discusses losing seven former wrestlers to overdoses, the dozens more he says are in recovery, and how those experiences changed his understanding of coaching, mental health, and the responsibility coaches carry long after athletes graduate.One of the most memorable moments comes when Nucci is asked whether he'd still be considered a great coach without his hundreds of career victories.His answer changes the entire conversation.He talks about seven former wrestlers he lost — and the many others whose lives continue beyond the wrestling room.Because a coach's impact isn't always measured on a scoreboard.Sometimes it's measured in the lives they help change.Guest: Rob Nucci Programs: Pinelands Regional / Raritan High School Series: Coach's Corner — New Jersey Mat ChatSubscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat as we document the wrestlers, coaches, and legends who shaped New Jersey wrestling.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet Coach Rob Nucci03:29 Growing Up in Toms River Wrestling05:13 From Trenton State to Coaching at 2206:19 How He Got the Pinelands Job07:50 The Legendary Coaches Who Shaped Him09:24 Coaching Was Always His Calling11:02 Leaving Pinelands for Raritan12:35 Rich Dunnels: A Coach Who Never Quit14:05 Why Youth Wrestling Programs Matter16:00 The Commitment to Keeping Kids at Raritan17:52 The Personal Cost of Coaching18:00 The Former Wrestler Who Said You Saved My Life20:34 Why Parents Must Focus on Effort, Not Wins21:06 Seven Losses That Still Haunt Him23:57 How Mental Health Changed His Coaching26:03 The Launch Pad: Raritan's Legendary Gym28:00 The DelVal Rivalry and Five Sectional Titles30:25 The Home-Mat Advantage32:20 Why NJ Needs More Dual Meets36:23 Creating Hometown Wrestling Heroes37:21 Team Championships vs. Individual Success41:27 How Nucci Developed State-Level Wrestlers42:40 Is NJ Too Quick to Call Top Stalling?46:00 Should Coaches Learn to Officiate?55:00 The Crisis Facing Public School Wrestling58:26 Why Schools Are Losing Coaches01:01:00 The Greatest NJ Wrestling Legends01:03:13 The Coaches Who Built the Shore Conference01:05:32 The Challenges Facing Small Schools01:06:40 Nucci's Greatest NJ Wrestler Ever01:08:09 Final Thoughts and the Value of Small Programs01:09:15 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro