By Wayne Witkowski
Doug Withstandley, who coached Jackson Memorial High School’s wrestling team to some more memorable seasons during his four years as head coach before stepping down four seasons ago, is back at the helm with an inexperienced team building toward another big finish to the season.
It begins this weekend with the Southern Regional High School Tournament.
“It feels good to be back,” said Withstandley, who traded places with Aaron Gottesman — the head coach over those four years after Withstandley stepped down who is an assistant coach this season. “It wasn’t so much pressure, but I felt I needed a break after taking over a team from Scott Goodale that had won 64 straight matches and back-to-back Group IV titles, and here I was out of college for a little while. It really was that I was taking things personally. And then we won back-to-back Group IVs (in 2010 and 2011) and it was hard that last year. I learned from watching [as an assistant] how to handle it better. I’m married three years in June, and I have more experience as a teacher and a coach.
“I’ve found my balance.”
Withstandley feels he is getting back easily into the routines that come with being a head coach again.
“It’s definitely exciting and an easy transition, as I’ve been with these kids the last four years as an assistant and in the [wrestling] room with them every day,” he said. “I never have had a sense for my own satisfaction but [preferring] to see kids meet their goals and expectations is my satisfaction. You can’t be selfish because if you are, you’re not a good coach. You want them to compete at their best.”
Withstandley knows about that from the individual state title he won as a wrestler at Jackson Memorial in 2001 and the three state champions he had in his first year as varsity head coach: Scott Winston at 160 pounds, Tyler Biscaha at 152 and Sean Byrnes at 145 in the 2009 season.
It was the first time that has been done in the storied history of the program that began in 1966, although there were three other times that two wrestlers won gold medals: Ken Carney (160 pounds) and Scott Winston (152) in 2007; Rob Johnson (160) and Jumel Kinchen (125) in 1990; and Ed Rivera (135) and Hector Rivera (122) in 1974.
Along with Gottesman, the coaching staff includes Tony Compitello, Chris Rash, B.J. Young, Joe Lemke and Tyler Wilton with volunteer assistant Nick Vineguerra, who wrestled at Jackson Memorial in 2000.
Leading the returning wrestlers is senior Matt McGowan, a state qualifier who went 1-2 in Atlantic City after winning Region VI and finishing as runner-up in District 21 in a 29-6 season at 126 pounds. He’s moving up to 138 pounds.
“He’ll be fine there. He had a big growth spurt, so he’ll handle the weight,” Withstandley said. “He’ll have success regardless of what weight he’s at.”
Also expected to anchor the team is senior Tim Hamann, who was 20-3 at 145.
“He looks good. He’s on the right path, a good leader by example now,” Withstandley said of Hamann, whose older brother, Brian, was a three-time state place-winner, finishing fourth in 2010 and 2012 and fifth in 2013. “I expect him to have a good year with McGowan.”
District champion and Region VI consolation winner Mike Spino is the leading graduate from last year’s team that went 15-6, won its second straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title and lost to Phillipsburg High School, 46-19, in the state semifinals. Spino was 25-6.
District champion Tanner Kelly (18-4 at 182 pounds) and district runner-up Adante Davis (23-9 at 195) also graduated.
“We graduated some good wrestlers, which hurt us a little, but I’m excited about the group that returns. They’re training hard,” Withstandley said.
The Jaguars look to regain the District 25 title they won two seasons ago and to win the Shore Conference title. Jackson Memorial was runner-up in Shore Conference A South last year at 6-1 behind unbeaten Southern Regional, which went on to win the NJSIAA Group V title behind returning state championship qualifier Owen Kretschmer (113). Jackson Memorial last won the division championship in 2012 — its second straight title, which raised its overall total to 17.
Jackson Memorial’s last Shore Conference title was in 2007 — its fourth straight and sixth overall. It reached the semifinals last year, losing to Christian Brothers Academy, 32-31.
Jackson Memorial is rebuilding its lineup with wrestlers who saw spot action or went through learning curves last season, but Withstandley remains firmly optimistic about his team’s chances for success.
“We have the potential to compete with any team in A South and the Shore Conference,” Withstandley said.
That’s a lofty challenge to his wrestlers against a team like Southern Regional, which has many wrestlers back for arguably the toughest schedule in the Shore.
Consistency is the key to the Jaguars’ success, he said. He sees best potential in the middle weights and the most improvement needed in the upper weights.
“There’s a great effort that is much higher this year from last year,” Withstandley said. “They’re not scared to get tired and practice hard to see what they have. You need that for gut time in big matches and to get better results.”
After the Southern Regional tournament, Jackson Memorial starts its dual-meet season Dec. 21 at home against Toms River High School East and travels Dec. 23 to Brick Memorial High School.
It had opened the season in the Beast of the East Tournament at the University of Delaware the third weekend of December for many years until recently when it competed instead at the Southern Regional High School tournament.
“I like [Southern Regional] because you’re guaranteed three matches there and only got two in Beast of the East,” Withstandley said. “Hopefully in a year or two, we’ll get things going so we can compete there with some of the top wrestlers [in the region]. For now, it’s best for the team to stay close to home with local tournaments and Southern has good teams from around the state in Delsea, Queen of Peace, Egg Harbor, St. John Vianney, Clearview and Hasbrouck Heights.”
Withstandley said he likes the way his team came prepared into preseason for scrimmages against Long Branch High School, Wall High School, Point Pleasant Borough High School and Jackson Liberty High School.
Along with McGowan and Hamann, Withstandley expects good performance in the middle weights from junior Ryan Bohringer, who he said should be .500 or better at 145 pounds after going 4-12 at 132 pounds last season, and Leo Shimunovich at 160 after seeing scant action as a freshman at 145 last year.
Senior Dan Bergeron was 7-11 last season at 160 and moves up to 170.
“In the offseason, he put in a lot of time and got better with wrestling technique,” Withstandley said.
Withstandley expects a lot in the 120- to 132-pound weight classes from senior Jeremiah Nash, who was 3-8 at 106 pounds last season; junior Tyler Mitrosky, who was 4-7 at 120; and Carten DiGiantomasso, who was 11-13, and Brandon Burkett, who was 2-7, competing as freshmen at 113 pounds. Withstandley said all four may be interchangeable at those three weight classes.
“At every weight, we have a fairly consistent group of wrestlers who can go .500 or better,” Withstandley said. “After McGowan and Hamann, there are no studs, but we have a consistent team. That’s the key for this season.”
Vincent Scollo, who wrestled as a freshman on the junior varsity team last season, is the front-runner at 106 pounds. Another sophomore, Chris McDonald, is ready to go at 113 pounds after wrestling a handful of matches at 106 previously.
In the upper weights, it starts at 182 pounds with junior Justin Martin-Culet, who was 5-8 last season. Larry Richardson, a veteran lineman on the football team and who was 4-6 last season, is back at 195 pounds and has developed into a solid hand fighter to get his opponent into position for his moves.
Dave Lemay, a junior who was 3-3 at 182 pounds last year, takes the big, challenging jump to 220 pounds to replace graduated Chris Mondelo, who put together a 17-10 season.
“He knows how to wrestle in taking advantage in the upper weights,” Withstandley said.
Nasir Humbert is breaking in at heavyweight and has looked especially strong on the mat.
Also for this season, Jackson Memorial has a website at jmhswrestling.com.
