Pictured Elite Wrestler Jackson Liberty’s Nick Zak. A Junior Nick will be back for another run at a NJSIAA State Title. Winning both District & Region titles and being Liberty’s first State Place Winner, Nick is motivated for his final year.

Now is the time to impact your wrestling future, while the anger or dissappointment is still brewing in you over why you didnt accomplish your planned goals. Its not too late. For those of you that did accomplish goals, the question now is can you do it again? I am hoping for a strong spring session with faces new and old making their way into The Barn. As we all know there is not a more extreme wrestling environment, if you can train here your matches will be the easy part of your season

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 Joining his brother Canaan Bethea in Philly at University of Penn, Raamiah will be a great addition to the team both in the classroom and on the mat. Below is the essay that Raamiah wrote for the All-Star Match Scholarship. Enjoy this young mans thoughs and what the game has given him.

Wrestling: What the Sport Means to Me

Competing in the sport of wrestling has virtually defined my life.  At the age of seven, when I began wrestling, I enjoyed the excitement and competition of the sport and the quality time that it afforded for me to interact with my six brothers – who all wrestled also.  However, then I did not understand the many, possible benefits of wrestling and certainly not its positive, life-altering potential.  For me wrestling has become more than simply another sport of fun and wins and losses, as it was when I began competing. Rather, it has become a lifestyle filled with endless opportunities, crucial life lessons and life-changing experiences.

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 Elite Wrestler Pictured Lacey’s Lex Knapp 2012 NJSIAA Runner-Up. Lex had an amazing career that peaked twice in our years together. First in 8th grade when Lex won the Triple crown which included the South Jersey States, USAW-NJ States & War at The Shore. Then again this Senior Year he reached his second peak walking thru Districts, Regions and reaching the State Finals. Impressively he won several state matches on will and desire with short seconds left in the matches and scoring dramatically with no time remaining. Jalen Ramos, another strong Student/Athlete has chosen to attend Rutgers this Fall. Jalen had an impressive career for CR, caping it off his Senior Year finishing as a District Champ, Region runner-Up and NJISAA State Place Winner. An amazing career for two Elite incredible Student-Athlete who will be joining the other Elite Wrestlers at Rutgers. Good Luck Lex & Jalen, its been a pleasure.

 Atlantic City, NJ. Boardwalk Hall. Home of the 2012 NJSIAA High School State Wrestling Championships. Event spans from Friday to Sunday with endless competitive matches.

This picture represents 7 of our 9 NJSIAA State Place Winners (Missing Keller who was still recovering from his match and Appice who was nowhere to be found  Place-Winners included 4 Finalists in Bethea, Winston, Knapp & Keller (2- Champs, 2- Runner-Ups) plus 5 others in Hamann, Zak, Bethea, Ramos, Appice who wrestled back for top 8 finishes. Not forgetting Staub & Profaci who both gave it a good run into the tournament but with tough seed placements and close loses came out just short. Congratulations to all of you, Just getting to States is an BIG Accomplishment in itself, to finish where you did just says alot more. Enjoy the Glory, you earned it.

Tidbits: Trenton Central’s Ray Bethea became TC first State Champion ever in their history which started in the 1930′s. Jackson Memorial’s Dallas Winston was able to better his second from last year and grab his first State Championship but 4th for the Winston Family. Nick Zak became Jackson Liberty’s First ever Wrestling State Place-Winner. Maas Bethea became the first soph in Mercer County history to place top 8 in the States.

In all, every one of you showed in detail what makes “Elite Wrestlers” different from others. I was very proud to wear my Elite shirts this past weekend and even more proud to have you guys in my gear in those showcase moments. Thank you for rep’g your roots. Elite For Life! Thats no slogan, thats a fact!

 彼は奪われた! (He’s been Robbed in Japanese). You all know I am straight shooter and not one for excuses but I must admit this is one of those moments where its the only way I can accept the decision. There is no way that anyone watching that fight saw it as an unanimous decision. Split Decision, Draw both would have been easier to swallow but to say Frankie only one One Rounds is rediculous. I lost a piece of my UFC faith in that decision. As our Champ said “Fair is Fair”. There is much controversy over this decision based on Fight Stats that show Frankie landing more punches and takedowns throughout the fight. Damage obviously was in Ben favor, accomplished in about a total of 20 seconds, is that enough to claim victory after a 25 minute war? I think not. I can only hope Dana and Lorenzo have enough respect and the courage to grant Frankie a rematch.

With that said there are many positives that were taken from the loss which is the case in any loss. It was more than apparent that Frankie was more than ready for this challenge. He also proved once again he is one of the toughest dudes I have ever intereacted with in my life. His ability to perform under strenuous conditions, dazed and under-sized is just F’n amazing! He is everything any trainer could hope for in a competitor and then some.

So with that said we move into our wrestling State Tournament with much promise and I hope much to prove from each of you. As I always say Districts and Regions are the preliminary rounds to the main event, The NJSIAA State Tournament. Based on our numbers I am confident we are prepared and ready for battle.

Remember the Season is new from Friday on. Everyone is 0-0, your 20+ wins only matter for seed, not for end result, wrestle accordingly. 7 minutes hard, believe in your technique and preparation. We are capable of Greatness but our Opportunities in life for Greatness are limited, this is one of those moments, make the most of yours. No regrets! 7 Minutes Smart & Hard! Good Luck, I’ll be there, Let me know you are, WIN!!!