New Jersey Mat Chat
The #1 video podcast and content provider for New Jersey high school wrestling. Up close, in depth and uncensored.
Episodes
Second in New Jersey isn't good enough for Joey Monticello.
The Hanover Park senior came within one match of an NJ State Championship last season.
Now he's coming back with bigger expectations.
Joey joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about growing up in one of North Jersey's traditional wrestling communities, his journey through high school wrestling, his state-final loss—and why his entire senior season is being built around fin...
Legends never die. Their stories live on through the people they inspired.
New Jersey Mat Chat is proud to present the first installment of Legends Never Die, honoring the life and legacy of Johnny Martin, the 1992 New Jersey State Champion from Absegami High School.
Johnny Martin's life was cut far too short, but more than three decades after he won his New Jersey state championship, the wrestlers who competed against him, trained b...
Jayce Cappello didn't grow up as an elite year-round wrestler. He was a baseball player who got serious about wrestling entering high school. Now he's chasing an NJ State Championship.
Toms River East standout Jayce Cappello joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about his rapid rise in New Jersey high school wrestling, balancing two sports, and why he's choosing wrestling as the path he wants to pursue at the next level.
Jayce entered hi...
Are we making New Jersey high school wrestling better—or making the path too easy?
Lower Cape May head wrestling and football coach Billy Damiana joins New Jersey Mat Chat: Coach’s Corner for a wide-ranging conversation about coaching, toughness, athlete development and some of the biggest issues facing NJ wrestling.
Billy grew up in Cape May, competed in wrestling and football at the college level, and eventually returne...
New Jersey wrestling has a new name to watch this season: MJ Gorrell.
Except MJ isn't exactly new.
The Somerset, NJ native spent his first two high school seasons competing across the border at Conwell-Egan in Pennsylvania, reaching the state blood round as a freshman and placing Top 8 in PA as a sophomore.
Now he's coming home.
MJ is transferring to St. John Vianney, stepping into the Shore Conference and setting one very clear goal f...
What does New Jersey high school wrestling need to change? Coach Jay Nace has some ideas.
Former Division I All-American, longtime Rider assistant and respected New Jersey wrestling coach Jay Nase joins New Jersey Mat Chat: Coach’s Corner for a wide-ranging conversation about coaching, athlete development and the future of wrestling in New Jersey.
Jay grew up wrestling at Point Pleasant Boro before becoming a Division I All-Ame...
Fourth in New Jersey as a freshman. Now Julius Feliciano wants the top of the podium.
Toms River East standout Julius Feliciano joins New Jersey Mat Chat after an incredible freshman season that ended with a 4th-place finish at the New Jersey State Championships in Atlantic City.
And he's nowhere near satisfied.
Julius takes us through his journey from discovering wrestling because of **WWE at seven years old to becoming one of New Je...
Adam Derengowski went 0–8 as a freshman and was pinned in every match. Four years later, he was a New Jersey State Champion.
And that was only the beginning.
In this episode of the New Jersey Mat Chat Legends Series, former Paul VI standout and Rider NCAA All-American Adam Derengowski tells the incredible story of how hard work, dedication and persistence transformed his wrestling career.
Adam didn't start wrestling until his fr...
John Fenuto has already been one match away from the podium in Atlantic City. Now his mindset for next season is simple:
PLACE OR BUST.
West Deptford standout and Northeast Regional Champion John Fenuto joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about his rise through the New Jersey wrestling scene, his run to the blood round at States, and what comes next.
After starting wrestling at six years old, John eventually went all-in on the sport, t...
Few wrestlers in New Jersey history competed with more confidence than Mark Manchio.
A 4-time New Jersey State Finalist, 3-time State Champion, Beast of the East champion, and Division I wrestler at Northern Iowa, Mark built a reputation as one of the most exciting—and polarizing—wrestlers of his era.
In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat Legends Edition, Mark opens up about his legendary career, his unforgettable rivalr...
One decision changed the course of Eli Glover's wrestling career.
After struggling in middle school, Lower Cape May standout Eli Glover made the difficult decision to reclass. That extra year of development gave him the confidence and experience to become one of South Jersey's rising wrestlers.
In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Eli discusses:
🏆 Why reclassing completely changed his wrestling career
🤼 Choosing Lower Cape May ove...
Winning matches is important. Building great people is even more important.
In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Palmyra head wrestling coach Geoff Wade shares his philosophy on coaching, athlete development, and why creating the right culture matters far more than chasing trophies.
As the owner of Outlaw Performance & Recovery, Geoff has worked with everyone from youth athletes to professional competitors, helping them improv...
Jayden Jardine didn't grow up wrestling.
He didn't start until 7th grade, but through hard work, determination, and the support of his family, he's developed into one of South
Jersey's rising talents.
In this special episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Jayden is joined by his mother, Soma Jardine, for a conversation that goes far beyond wins and losses.
Together they discuss:
🤼 Starting wrestling later than most competitors
🏆 Jayden's gro...
Is Division II college wrestling one of the best-kept secrets in the sport?
Former Drexel wrestler and Glenville State assistant coach Gabe Onorato joins his younger brother Roman Onorato, a Glenville State wrestler, to explain why more New Jersey wrestlers should consider the Division II route.
If you're a high school wrestler or parent navigating the recruiting process, this episode is packed with valuable insight.
We discuss:
🔥 Wha...
He's been one match away from the podium two years in a row. Now, Tristan Rosemeyer is determined to break through.
Lower Cape May standout Tristan Rosemeyer joins New Jersey Mat Chat to talk about his wrestling journey, the mindset it takes to compete in New Jersey, and why he believes his biggest jump is still ahead.
In this episode, Tristan discusses:
🔥 Why he transferred to Lower Cape May
🔥 Growing up at Orchard Wrestling Club
🔥 ...
Long before national rankings and social media, there was Pat Lynch.
Known for his relentless style and unwavering confidence, Pat Lynch became one of the most dominant wrestlers New Jersey has ever produced.
A 2-time New Jersey State Champion, NCAA All-American at Arizona State, and one of the most respected names in NJ wrestling history, Pat joins New Jersey Mat Chat to tell the stories behind one of the sport's legendary careers.
I...
From Fargo champion to New Jersey state champion to Division I wrestling at Pitt, Evan Tallmadge's journey has been anything but ordinary.
In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, former Brick Memorial standout Evan Tallmadge shares his path through New Jersey wrestling, his time at the Naval Academy, his decision to transfer to Pitt, and how his faith has transformed both his wrestling career and his life.
In this conversation, Evan ...
Before there was social media, there was Joe Melchiore.
Long before today's national rankings and viral highlights, Joe Melchiore became one of the most feared wrestlers New Jersey had ever produced.
A 3-time New Jersey State Champion, South Jersey's first 100-match winner, 4-time NCAA All-American, and NCAA finalist under Dan Gable at Iowa, Joe's career helped define an era of New Jersey wrestling.
In this episode of New Jersey Mat C...
Most wrestlers would've shut it down. Noah Hernandez kept competing.
Seton Hall Prep standout Noah Hernandez joins New Jersey Mat Chat to share the story of wrestling through a torn elbow during the postseason, winning a district title, finishing as a regional runner-up, and earning a trip to the New Jersey State Championships.
In this episode, Noah talks about:
🔥 Why he chose Seton Hall Prep over other powerhouse programs
🔥 How a re...
What really happens between coaches and officials during a wrestling match?
For the first-ever New Jersey Mat Chat Coaches Roundtable, veteran wrestling official Gary Wade sits down with two of South Jersey's most respected coaches — Mike Ahern (Audubon) and Mike Lamb (Haddonfield) — for an honest conversation about the relationship between coaches and referees.
Nothing is off limits.
They discuss:
🔥 Why coaches get so emo...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.