By Jimmy Allinder
When Billy Jacoutot took over as coach of the Monroe Township High School wrestling program seven years ago, the Falcons were at best an average team.
Things pretty much remained that way his first two seasons with the Falcons finishing a combined 17-28. But what the scorebook didn’t show was the work going on behind the scenes. Jacoutot toiled tirelessly to build the foundation for a program that would endure.
The next five seasons proved his labor paid off. The Falcons finished a cumulative 84-29 and won two district championships, proving they had arrived as one of the best teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC).
The coach believes his team is now ready for another growth spurt, and that’s winning on the state level. Capturing a sectional team title — something the Falcons have never done before — would be the initial step in that process.
A first-place finish in the 13-team Walter Woods Tournament at Middletown High School South Dec. 28 is a positive sign the Falcons are headed in the right direction. Monroe, the only GMC entrant in a field of quality teams from every section of the state, scored 204 points to outdistance Manalapan High School, which earned 186 points. First-place medals went to Nick Lombard (145 pounds), Kaylon Bradley (195) and Lou Ceras (heavyweight). Nick DePalma (113) and Donny Albach (138) finished second, and Joey Fiordaliso (106) placed third.
DePalma, Mike Bilardo (120), Albach, Lombard, Bradley and Ceras qualified for the NJSIAA Regionals last season, and Lombard made it to state finals weekend in Atlantic City.
The Falcons (16-5 last season, 5-2 Red Division) were 1-1 in dual meets headed into a match with Old Bridge High School Jan. 4. South Plainfield High School, which is annually one of the state’s best, defeated the Falcons, 38-27, Dec. 23.
The rest of the lineup includes Cooper Boyum (126), Andy Lombard (132), Steve Piszar (132), Ian McCabe (152), Kyle Comerford (152), Nick Weikel (160), Johnny Profaci (160), Justin Hopman (170), Ryan LaGuardia (182) and Greg Nekrasovas (220).
“We have a blend of experience and youth,” Jacoutot said. “We could start as many as four freshmen, not because we need to fill weight classes, but they have earned the right to wrestle varsity.”
Jacoutot has observed a promising sign coming from the more accomplished wrestlers, and that is their willingness to put individual goals on the backburner so they can focus on helping their teammates peak in February and March.
“Those capable of going far in the postseason know who they are, but they never talk about it,” he said. “That tells me everybody’s top priority is winning as a team.”
