2025 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

AJ Falcone

Christian Brothers Academy/Sacred Heart

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I have been a part of the Elite Wrestling family since I was about six years old. At an age when most kids are still learning how to tie their shoes or ride a bike without training wheels, I was stepping onto wrestling mats, absorbing the foundational lessons that would ultimately shape not only the athlete I would become, but also the person. Through thick and thin, Elite Wrestling has been a constant in my life—a source of discipline, resilience, and unwavering support. Today, as a New Jersey state finalist, a title that is considered one of the hardest to earn in high school wrestling, I can say without hesitation that none of it would have been possible without Elite and the coaches who stood by me every step of the way.

 

Elite Wrestling is more than just a club—it's a culture, a community, and for me, a second home. From the very beginning, the atmosphere at Elite was one of intensity, focus, and excellence. It was clear that success wasn’t handed out; it was earned through relentless hard work. The Tuesday and Thursday night practices, private lessons with the coaches, or hanging out by the pool down the shore all have helped me throughout this journey in ways people and myself sometimes don’t realize. The coaches never gave up on me, even when I doubted myself. Their belief in me over the years eventually became my own.

 

The physical transformation I experienced through Elite was only part of the story. Yes, I got stronger, faster, and more technically sound. But more importantly, I became mentally tougher. Wrestling is a brutally honest sport. You can’t hide behind a team. It’s just you and your opponent, and often, your biggest opponent is yourself. The coaches at Elite taught me how to confront that mental battle. They instilled a mindset that emphasized grit, patience, and confidence—traits that carried over into every part of my life, from the classroom to my relationships with others.

 

There were plenty of moments along the way when quitting felt like the easier option. losses, and self-doubt were all part of the journey. But the coaches at Elite were always there to keep me grounded.

 

One of the most pivotal moments in my wrestling career came during my run to the New Jersey state finals. The path to that stage was anything but easy. Every match was a test of not just skill, but of willpower and heart. New Jersey is known for having some of the toughest wrestling competition in the country, and reaching the state finals meant going toe-to-toe with the best of the best. I remember walking into that arena, it wasn’t my first time but it was nervousness I never felt before. I was the second seed, I proved a lot this year to wrestling fans but I also proved a lot to myself and my coaches. Despite the nerves, my mindset was believe. Forget everything from the past up to this point. I’m zero and zero, I’m the second seed, and I’m here for a reason. I needed to go out there and prove myself right.

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This mindset was something that I adapted from Steve, Delle, Hayden, and all of the other coaches at Elite. They have stressed to me for years about my potential in wrestling and how I need to believe it. In this moment, the 2025 NJ State Wrestling tournament, I believed it.

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“Believe in your preparation.” Is what makes Elite Wrestling so special. It isn’t just the quality of training—it’s the relationships, the tough moments where Steve is yelling in my face, cursing me out, and pushing me to keep going. Over the years, I’ve built bonds with these coaches and that will last a lifetime. We’ve bled, sweat, and cried together. They have shared in my triumphs and comforted and pushed me in my defeat. That brotherhood is something I cherish deeply. It's a rare thing to find a group of people who push you to your limit, yet support you unconditionally. I know that no matter where life takes me, the lessons and connections I’ve built at Elite will always be a part of me.

 

Beyond the mat, Elite has shaped the way I approach life. The discipline I developed through the 90 degree practices, weight cuts, and grueling workouts taught me time management and self-control. The setbacks taught me humility and patience. The victories taught me gratitude. I know that elite wrestling and the coaches have taught me how powerful my mind is, but they also have taught me how to use it to my advantage.

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The impact the coaches have had on me extends far beyond wrestling. They have been role models and have been like family to me. These are lessons that don’t just create great wrestlers but they also create good people. I am proud to say that their guidance has helped me grow into a young man who understands the value of hard work and perseverance.

 

In closing, my journey with Elite Wrestling has been transformative in every sense of the world. From a six-year-old just learning the ropes to a state finalist competing at the highest level, every step of my growth has been influenced by this incredible program and its devoted coaches. Steve mentioned to me one time that these accomplishments have been something I have been working towards for the 12-15 years in this sport. Without Steves support and guidance, along with the time he and other coaches have put in to me I would not be where I am today. Elite has given me more than just wrestling skills, it has given me confidence, purpose, and a foundation for the future. I am forever grateful for the role Elite has played in my life, and I know that everything I have accomplished and will accomplish can be traced back to those hours in the room, the sweat, the struggle, and the unwavering support of my Elite family.

 

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2025 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Devin Perez

Howell High School/Iowa Central

It’s hard to start on all the way’s Elite wrestling, Steve and all the other coaches helped me throughout my high school career.I got to Steve and his coaching staff later in high school then I would have liked.Before I Was at elite i was a shorthing kid,It was close to home and that’s where everyone pretty much told me to go when I started wrestling.To be honest i liked it there the coaches where good to me but it just wasn't the right spot for me.Practice was just not what i need and the kids were just horrible to me i really did hate it as time went on.After long time of that going my dad was dropping me off one day and just turned to me and said “why are you still doing this”.That damn near broke my heart.He had a good point,I had a losing record all through highschool and I really did was wrestle.It really was a toxic environment for me.Almost everyday I would have practice I would try my best to hold back tear on the car ride home.Once I was home i would just go to my room and ball my eyes out my parent never found out I knew it would break my parent’s heart’s.To be honest it wasn't just one thing it was the kid’s,my parent’s,my school coaches and my self.I would go so hard and stay after every fucking pratice,the runs in the morring stance in motion in my room every night for months and after all that,all that work,that sweat I would loose on match day it was truly demorilizing.It didnt help that I already had low self confidence.I was born with autism and dilexia from that a always struggled to believe in myself i struggled in school and making friends.I always kinda felt like a outcast like I didnt quiet belong anywhere.Then i found wrestling the sport itself help me in unimaginable ways.Once my membership ran out the summer of my junior year i had a real decision i had to make.Go back so somewhere i hated or go somewhere new and didn't know.Luckily for me i had some help.One of my coaches Pete Riley told me to go to elite and just try it.Well i did and never looked back.Coming to elite i didn't really know what to expect when i got there.I didn’t know how coaches where,how the kids were so much was unknown to me at the time of coming to the club.The first thing that was different was the heat.Before i even walked in that room i could feel the heat billowing out of the room.I never before in my life wrestled live for 45 minute straight before in my life and i loved it.The practices were always hot and always challenging,Its pain in the moment but I never regretted doing it.Everyday it was just a challenge to stay in that room.It's even harder to pick the toughest partners possible and ball out against them.What a really got out of that room was not speed, strength, technic or wrestling IQ it was the belief that a could be great that I could go to college and that i could compete with the best kids in the state and Steve gave me that.Being around Steve his mentality started to wear off on me.His grittiness, his fortitude of himself. Delly too, both of them pushed me so incredibly hard and believed in me even though i didn’t.The thing they told me day in and day out really started to change the way i saw myself.Before meeting Steve my self image was horrible I struggle to read and write I struggled with math and making friends from that I was a pretty insecure about myself and who I was.Being around Steve and his coaching really started to change my mentality it didn’t happen in a day or week or even a month over the time that have known the coaching staff they slowly changed me and sculpted me into a man who believes that he belongs at the top of the podium that he should have good in his life and everything that comes his way he earned.To be frank I never even though that I would be going to college.Never the less to a school across the country, 1,800 miles away.With out Steve his coaching staff and elite wrestling i don’t know if i would still even be wrestling.Before I had them no one was really telling me that a could do that or that it was even an option for me.As one of my coaches said “It doesn't matter what you did in high school you're all starting a new slate”.I believe what he said the state title some kids have coming to college doesn't matter anymore now it all about the national title at the end of the year.Now after high school being over i'm ready to start a new slate.Im ready to let go of highschool and move on to newer and better thing that i never could have dreamt of my freshman year of high school. Steve has filed me with the belief that I am good enough and that i'm going to do well in college as he said my best days are still ahead of me.He’s right there still so much more to life.I do not know where i'm going to end up.Weather it be a coach, dad, millionaire or a NCAA national champ.None of it would have been possible without Steave guiding me through my last year of high school weather he knows it or not.In conclusion the path i'm on now never would have been possible without elite in my life and im thankful for them.They gave me a future and self confidence that i'm looking forward to enjoying and exploring.    

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2025 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Maeve Witte

Freehold Twp/Lock Haven

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If an ordinary person were to walk into The Barn, they’d probably turn right back around. The heat is stifling, the air thick with the unmistakable scent of sweat, blood, and ambition. It’s loud, chaotic, and unforgiving. The Barn doesn’t welcome the faint-hearted but filters them out. It separates those who merely want success from those willing to sacrifice everything to earn it.

 

I’ll never forget my first day at Elite Wrestling NJ. I had just finished my first season of wrestling at Sayreville when Mandy Gavares from Old Bridge invited me to come train. On the ride there, she didn’t sugarcoat anything. She told me: the room was intense. People threw up. Your first day would be pure survival. She warned me about Coach Steve Rivera and how he

didn’t tolerate excuses or half-effort, and that if you weren’t serious, he’d call you out without

hesitation.

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I had never experienced anything close to what I walked into that night.

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After the session, Coach Rivera approached me. He asked my name, what school I wrestled for, and looked me straight in the eyes as he told me I was tough for stepping into that room with such little experience. That small moment lit a fire in me. His words mattered, because I knew they were earned, not handed out easily. After that first class, I was hooked. Elite Wrestling was like a drug: brutal, painful, and completely addictive. The physical demands were relentless, but so were the rewards. There’s a kind of pain you feel in that room that you can’t describe; one that pushes you beyond what you

thought you could endure, and then demands more.

 

But what Elite gave me went far beyond wrestling technique. Throughout high school, I was fighting battles off the mat that no one saw. I had only three years of wrestling experience, but during that time, I lost three family members, moved schools, endured multiple long-term injuries, two concussions, and navigated toxic relationships. It was a storm that could’ve broken

me.

 

Elite didn’t care about your excuses, and it didn’t pity your pain. Once you stepped onto that mat, your story didn’t earn you sympathy but earned you sweat. Everyone in that room was there to work. To survive. To grow. The only way to be accepted was to show up and give everything you had.

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And strangely, that was liberating. I didn’t want to be treated differently. I wanted to be pushed like everyone else. At Elite, I found a strange kind of freedom. The freedom in being tested, in getting my ass kicked, and in kicking back harder. It became the place where I could unload the chaos of my life and channel it into something raw and powerful.

 

The coaches became like family when I felt like I had none. The girls I trained with didn’t coddle me but they made me bleed and then helped wipe it off the second I stepped off the mat. The guys didn’t care that I was a girl as they came at me with full intensity, challenging me, respecting me, expecting me to rise.

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2025 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Emily Breen

Central Regional/NJCU

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Although I’ve only been going to Elite for roughly three months, I can confidently say that it has changed my life in ways that no other gym ever has. Reflecting on my journey, it’s hard to believe that I once vowed never to step foot back in that gym after my first practice. Yet, here I am, sharing how it has become a pivotal part of my life.

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I've been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since I was five years old, and I am currently a purple belt. While I consider myself relatively skilled, I have come to realize how much potential I was giving up. More often than not, I found myself slacking off during drills and opting for easier rolls. I would choose opponents I knew I could comfortably defeat instead of pushing myself against those who truly challenged me. This tendency held me back from progressing in both my technical skills and overall understanding of the sport.

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My Jiu-Jitsu coach recognized my potential long before I did. For nearly a year, he urged me to wrestle for my high school, insisting that the experience would be invaluable. He saw qualities in me that I was blind to, and despite my reluctance, I finally decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, I had to start the wrestling season late due to an injury, which added to my self-doubt. However, thanks to my 13 years of grappling experience, I quickly caught up with my peers. Incredibly, after just four weeks of wrestling, I became a region champion. Yet, despite this achievement, I still struggled with self-doubt. My performance at the state level fell short of my expectations, as I placed 8th when I knew I could’ve done more, leaving me frustrated and questioning my abilities.

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It was during this tumultuous time that I began training at Elite. The gym not only provided a space for physical training but also fostered a community that welcomed and supported me. In just a few months, I experienced profound personal growth and made connections with people who shared my new found passion for wrestling. These relationships have been incredibly motivating, pushing me to strive for greatness.

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One of the most important lessons I learned at Elite is that the effort you put in is directly proportional to the results you achieve. I realized that my stagnation in Jiu-Jitsu stemmed from my own complacency and unwillingness to fully commit to my training. Last summer, I dedicated four hours a day to practice, yet I saw little improvement by the time September rolled around. It was disheartening to pour so much time into something without witnessing tangible results.

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At Elite, however, I was put into an environment that demanded focus and commitment. I could no longer afford to be lazy or fool around during practice. The atmosphere at Elite is intense and everyone is there to work hard and improve. I found myself pushed to my limits, which in turn ignited a fire within me to train with purpose and intensity. In just three months, my wrestling skills improved dramatically, far beyond anything I achieved during my school practices. The skills I have gained from wrestling have changed my mindset towards training and have also transformed my jiujitsu as well. At first it was a hard and confusing adjustment to not be a lazy fuck who lays on my back and spams heel hooks, but now I am attentive in class and I see/feel myself progressing because I’m finally putting effort into what I’m doing.

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Beyond the physical and attitude improvements, my time at Elite has also been transformative for my mental and emotional well-being. It has built my confidence both on and off the mat. As someone who has struggled with social skills and taking criticism, I found myself in a supportive environment where I could grow. Initially, I felt vulnerable and uncertain, but as I continued training, I began to realize that the world isn’t out to get me. The people at Elite are genuinely invested in my success and they are not praying on my downfall. The coaches at Elite are phenomenal. They have a keen eye for spotting my weaknesses and areas where I need improvement, and they provide constructive feedback that has been instrumental in my growth. While I occasionally feel frustrated, especially when the room gets too hot and I run to the bathroom to drink from the sink, I now understand that these challenges are part of the larger process of becoming a better athlete and person. The discomfort I sometimes experience is simply a stepping stone on my journey. As Vinnie once said, and something I keep in the back of my mind when I’m ready to give up, is to “Find peace in the suffering.”. Being at Elite has also made me realize how much of a pussy I really am. Every time I get tired and come out of my stance, or run to the door to try to breathe, I realize that I’m not cheating the coaches because they're not looking, I’m just cheating my own progress.

 

One of the significant shifts in my mindset has been my approach to feedback. In the past, I often took criticism personally and viewed it as a reflection of my inadequacies. At Elite, I’ve learned to embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth. The coaches and my training partners want to see me succeed, and their insights help me refine my techniques and strategies. This shift in perspective has not only improved my performance but has also made me more resilient and open to learning. Even though I may still roll my eyes from time to time, (it’s just a reflex), I’m incredibly grateful for all the feedback I get.

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As I continue my journey with wrestling, I am excited about the future. A few months ago if you asked me about where I’m going with wrestling I would tell you no where because I hate wrestling. I now know that the progress I have made so far is just the beginning. The lessons I’ve learned about hard work, resilience, and self-accountability will serve me well in all aspects of my life. Each practice session is an opportunity to challenge myself, push my limits, and grow both as an athlete and as an individual.

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Looking ahead, I am determined to seize every opportunity to improve. I want to continue using my Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling skills to reach my full potential. I am committed to training consistently and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. As I look back on my short journey, I am grateful for the path that led me to Elite. What started as a hesitant decision to try a new gym has blossomed into a life-changing experience, one that has instilled in me a passion for continuous growth and self-improvement.

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In conclusion, my time at Elite has been nothing short of transformative. It has not only enhanced my athletic abilities but has also reshaped my mindset and built my confidence. I am thankful for the coaches and fellow athletes who have supported me on this journey, and I am excited to see where this path leads next. With each training session, I am reminded that the work I put in today will yield the results I seek tomorrow. I am ready to embrace the challenges ahead, knowing that I am part of a community that believes in me and my potential.

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2024 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Austin Mitrosky
Old Bridge/ East Stroudsburg University

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My passion for wrestling began when I was in 2nd grade. It was short lived by the changing of towns I was put through, which ultimately pushed me to lose the love I once had for the sport. Fast forward to Sophomore year of high school; COVID had messed everything up for the wrestling season. Because of that, I decided to wait a year and start as a sophomore at my new school. This is where the love for the sport came back to me. It was hard to re-learn and find my roots from many years prior. However, no matter how out of shape, how tired, how beat up and frustrated I was; I kept showing up. Day in and day out; everyday I made it a goal to continuously get better. Whether it was not losing by pin, but losing by points. Goals that I set for myself give me the motivation to keep going.

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I quickly learned how difficult wrestling is when it was time to wrestle in my first match. I was almost disqualified for the extensive ‘locking hands’ calls I had received. In the last period I had dug deep and caught him in a mistake, resulting in me pinning him. I felt humiliated. Although it was my first match since elementary school, I was upset that I had made too many

mistakes to get disqualified. In my mind, I knew if I were to win the match, it was because of my hard work throughout the entirety of the match. It was the best learning experience I could’ve ever endured. Sophmore year was rough when I look back on it. Ending the season with a record of 8-16; I knew in my head I could’ve given up right then and there, but that was not an option for me. All I wanted to do was get better and I had the determination to do it.

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My wrestling partner, Andrew, was someone that I began looking up to. He was a year older than me, but his technique challenged me everyday. He told me that he goes to Shore Thing, so after the season I decided to give it a try. I did two sessions and realized that it wasn’t for me; but I didn’t give up there. Then, a senior who I considered a mentor told me about, Elite. I decided to try another wrestling club to get better and I never switched to another club again. I found a place where I felt like I belonged. It was intimidating at first seeing all different types of people, where they came from, and where they’re going in their future. It was so inspiring to watch people who had been there for 10+ years coming back to teach, or to practice to perform at the highest levels of wrestling a person could get to. I knew I wanted to strive to be like them. Elite is by far the hardest thing I’ve put my body through. I went two times a week for the past 2 and a half years. When I step into the room, no matter how many times I’ve been in the scorching hot room I begin sweating just by tying up my laces. Then, running, flipping, and stance in motion is when the puddles of sweat start forming on the mat. To an outside person this

may sound easy, but in a room that is 90 degrees is the most challenged my body has been. The live “wrestling go’s” are by far my favorite. It allows me to put my technique to the test. Everything I’ve learned and how to realistically use each move, and execute them efficiently and effectively. It also builds up my wrestling stamina, which in turn makes me mentally stronger. I’ve learned early on that the first thing that gives up during a match is your mind, and I made a promise to myself that I will never give up mentally.

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The coaches at Elite have helped me with that better mindset as well. Coach Steve gives phenomenal pep talks during practices, his inspirational words that quickly resonate with me make me far more confident then I was stepping into that practice. Coach Jalen has done more for me than I could ever express to a person. My favorite memory between us is him coaching me through The Shore Conference Tournament. Though my high school coaches were there, he pulled me aside to give me advice about my opponent I was about to wrestle. He had seen this guy wrestle before and took how I wrestled into consideration. His advice allowed me to be prepared for what could come on the mat and I won, and placed 5th in the Shore Conference. He pushes me far past my limits and pushes my pace. However, what stands out about him is not only his work ethic, but how similar we are. Being on the shorter end of wrestling can be tough, but I’ve learned that my strength is what is most important. Coach Jalen reminds me of that. Wrestling with both Coach Steve and Coach Jalen gives me an opportunity to wrestle people who are built like me which can be hard to find at my weight class. Coach Zeke is another coach that has made an impact on me. Although, we don’t have the same build like I do with the other coaches, he’s impressively quick on his feet, and his agility is remarkable. He has taught me discipline, which is such an important trait to have in life. He waits for me to make a mistake in practice and will immediately call me out for it to fix the mistake. This makes sure it does not become a bad habit.

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From sophomore year, to now, I have become a better version of myself. I looked up to the wrestlers that were going to college to wrestle, and I am proud to say that I have become one of those wrestlers. I give credit to my high school coaches, but my club coaches have made all the difference in my wrestling career. I’m a better person because of wrestling, I’m physically at my best. Most of all, the passion that I once lost has been found; I hope I made Austin in the 2nd

grade proud.

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2023 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase 

Mandy Gavares
Old Bridge/ East Stroudsburg University

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Defined as “Strength in the face of pain”, courage is the key to unlocking the doors that seem to shut right in your face. Wrestling did not plant the seeds of courage within me, instead it watered the seeds that waited my whole life to grow and blossom. The little bit of courage I possessed at first helped start my wrestling career as an eighth grader at Jonas Salk Middle School. Their all boys team did not know how to handle a girl, the first girl, on their mats. Even the head coach, admitted his cluelessness. At first, he thought I wanted to be a manager and treated me as such, but I followed what the other guys on my team did and shrugged any negativity off. None of my teammates showed fear and if I wanted to prove I belong, I could not break either. I spent that season learning, but not just technique and rules. I observed the habits of great wrestlers and found that the courageous ones got their hands raised the most. The guys on my team who fought tooth and nail against their bigger, scarier opponents had courage and even when they lost, they bounced back immediately. I learned about “embracing the suck” and standing up to fear in pursuit of greatness. To this day I firmly believe that those mindsets are the foundation not just for a successful wrestling career, but for a successful life, and without wrestling I would not have those foundations.

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After my eighth grade season I learned about off season wrestling and joined my first club, Rhino Wrestling. The extra mat time felt great, but they lacked female presence, and I knew I was missing out on a lot of opportunities. My high school provided me with the opportunity to wrestle on their offseason summer team, and thankfully I took full advantage of it despite hesitation from having to wrestle high school guys. Through those summer events I met Gabby Miller, who introduced me to Elite Wrestling, a club that represented courage to the highest levels. More than just that, they accepted girls with open arms and for the first time…I was part of a girls’ team. The female practices ran by Bri Bogdan became my first taste of wrestling comradery. I saw how each girl worked together and helped each other despite differing age and experience levels. Even as the new girl, they treated me like family and even helped me learn freestyle two weeks before my first freestyle tournament, Super 32.

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Elite was my first experience with practices so grueling that people stopped wrestling to throw up. My first few days outside of the all girl’s practices pushed me past my limits and made me second guess if I belonged in this sport. It was a reality check that showed that I needed to get a lot tougher and a lot more courageous if I wanted to wrestle. I witnessed a plethora of athletes vomit then go straight back to wrestling, I heard Coach Steve yell and call out athletes for all of their shenanigans, and I saw the phrase “blood, sweat and tears” come to life. As much as all of that shocked me, it also expanded my courage. I followed the path of those tougher athletes in the room, and now I “embrace the suck” and enjoy the blood, sweat, and tears. I do not think any other club could have instilled that mentality in me; even now I have yet to see anyone else run a room as onerous as Elite.

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On top of the rigorous practices that exhibited real bravery, Elite Wrestling taught me how to compete. The work and grit I learned to put in during practice eventually carried over to matches. In the room you have to wrestle whoever is in front of you and you have to give it your all, just like you should in a match. It may have taken a few years, but each and every practice I built up my courage and allowed the fear of competing to subside. Now, instead of dodging them, I chase the hard matches. Coach Steve is emphatic about performance over results. To this day he talks about how it is okay to lose, but not okay to chicken out and give up. Once I bought into that, I saw myself jump levels.

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To continue, the courage that grew from wrestling transitioned into my daily life. I went from an average student with minimal school participation to graduating with a 4.6 GPA and participation from clubs, honors societies, etc. I stopped fearing failure in school and started to embrace the learning process, just like how I did with wrestling. Embracing the “grind” and not thinking about results is how I found my passion for math and now this fall I will be majoring in Mathematics at Ursinus. Math rests far outside of my comfort zone, but so does wrestling. Life and wrestling are parallels: if I can thrive on the mat with courage and an open mind, I can thrive in any aspect of life.

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To add on, my life goals broadened because of wrestling. Within the sport, I hope to become a national champion and then make my way to the international stage. Outside of wrestling I hope to earn my P.H.D in Mathematics, go into statistics and do research, and possibly teach at some point in my life. Without courage, I would not even think to attempt achieving these goals. Realistically, they sound far-fetched, I mean, I could not even win a state title in high school, how can I win a national one in college? Through Elite, I learned that unrealistic goals are not unrealistic if you are not a coward. With the right preparation and attitude, you can beat anyone on any given day.

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Courage is the main factor that separates the good from the great. Matt Ramos needed courage to upset Spencer Lee, C.E.O’s needed courage to start their business, and I think you get where I am going with this. Wrestling turned the seeds of courage I held within me into blossoming flowers, and Elite acted as the fertilizer, constantly pushing me to grow and providing me with the opportunities I missed out on years ago. There are more goals to set, more obstacles to overcome and more fear to face, but I believe in myself, my preparation, and my courage, so I know that I can handle it all.

 

 

2023 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase 

Zander Silva
Christian Brothers Academy / Princeton University)

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Getting pulled out of the hallway during sixth grade, where my assistant soccer coach specifically states, “ I heard you play football, looks like your wrestling for me” had to be the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Obviously being in sixth grade with the only wrestling that I’ve ever known was WWE, I was a little skeptical. I went to my first practice and was awfully confused on how this works, but I started to like it. Fast forward a couple school practices and my first match arrived. I stepped out with confidence and got pinned in maybe 15-20 seconds. I was mortified, I hated the sport at the beginning and contemplated quitting. After getting my rear-end handed to me a couple times I had a very close match with an opponent from Marlboro. I lost by a point with about a second left. A second away from winning my first match. This lit a fire under me, I got the realization that more work needed to be done. So I did a little bit of research and got a suggestion about trying out Elite Wrestling Club. On a cloudy Wednesday night I packed my bags and had my mom drive me over to Elite Toms River and I specifically remember seeing Frankie Edgar as soon as I walked in and instantly knew this was the place to be. Hayden Hrymack and Vinnie Dellefave were running the first practice there. To be honest at first, I didn’t think either Hayden or Delle liked me. I was the new kid with little to no knowledge of wrestling. After a couple practices I started to hang with my partners. I was getting into little scrambles and began to score takedowns. My confidence was beginning to grow and I thought I could make my way into Jackson Elite. I met Steve for the first time at Jackson who welcomed me with open arms. Steve made it apparent that there were no dumb questions in my situation and encouraged me to make mistakes because that is what practice is for. Fast forward a few weeks, I wrestled against Millstone and got my first win with a wrist and a half. I was ecstatic. There was no better feeling and I knew I fell in love with the sport. So I started heading to Elite, specifically both locations, back and forth. Fast forward to seventh grade I qualified for youth states with the help of my coaches and my training partners. I went 2-2 and was not happy with how I did. My only solution, keep working harder. 

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Eighth grade came around and I was wrestling in many dual tournaments and doing countless privates with my coaches. I was confident with my wrestling abilities at this point and had a goal in mind, to place top eight at youth states. At the time, it seemed like the biggest deal in the world so I put my mind to it. I went undefeated during my regular middle school season and I had strong confidence I could make some noise this year. March came the state tournament and I was lucky to be coached by some of Jackson Memorial’s best such as BJ Young and Dougie Hamman. That year was a bittersweet feeling, I had a great run throughout the tournament then lost in overtime, in the blood round. I was devastated. I thought it was the end of the world for me and I lost all confidence with myself. I was beyond heartbroken, but I knew this wasn’t the end, my coaches informed me this was only the beginning and I was just getting started. 

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With the advice from the Elite staff, going to CBA was the best decision I could have ever made in my life. After learning about the successes of Sebastian Rivera, and the similar background we both came from, I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give it a shot. I remember Steve telling me CBA is all good things and I heeded his advice. Freshman year rolled around the corner and I remember absolutely dreading the Elite Practices with a sweatshirt and sweatpants. I knew it had to be done and I had all of my coaches reminding me that I’m no one’s bitch and that stuff that needed to be done, needed to be done. Whether it was losing 7 pounds that night before a match or going over a mistake during a match, or just cleaning up some basic technique to stay sharp. I had this preached to me and I did more than I believed I was going to achieve. 

 

A bump in the road occurred as COVID rolled around. The little privates we had kept me from going insane for being inside for such long periods of time. I kept working towards my goals throughout this time with the help of all my coaches from this club. Due to this, I ended up making the blood round of states my sophomore year with all the mass confusion due to the newly implemented super regions. Junior year came around and this time I learnt to believe. Believing in your preparation goes a much longer way than just those three words. I learnt the true value of training and how much effort you put into practice translates into your matches. Because of this and the countless hours of training my coaches provided me with, I was able to take third in the state. I never thought I would place this high, after all, my goal was originally to place once in high school. 

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Sequentially, I started to get recruited by Top Division 1 schools such as UNC, Virginia Tech and Columbia. But after rolling around with Princeton coach, Joe Dubuque at Elite, he offered a visit and I was then sold. I then committed to Princeton University to wrestle for the next 4 years. My senior year, I went out with the intention of just having fun and appreciate the privilege to wrestle. I ultimately took 2nd in the state and I wasn’t horribly devastated as I knew I prepared myself and I did just that, so I held no grudge against myself.

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Now I am here today typing this essay, about to assist the younger kids at Elite Camp with my college coach being the guest. I never knew any of this would be possible. But I had great mentors along the way, great training partners and endured all the suffering in this burning barn which has and will continue to make me be the best man I can be on and off the mat.

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2023 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Peter Abline 
Jackson Liberty / Clemson University

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When I started wrestling, I thought I would just do it as a fun sport. When I got to middle school, I realized that I wanted to take it more seriously. When I got into 7th grade, I found out about Elite Wrestling and that’s when I started going to practices. In the early stages of going to Elite, I had little self confidence and a lot of self doubt as I constantly told myself that I was the worst wrestler in the room. Living in Jackson, my dad drove me all the way to Toms River because it was the “easier room”. After a couple of months, I was told to start going to the Jackson room. I was terrified and nervous the entire time leading up to it, I had no clue what to think. As I started wrestling there, I realized the competition was definitely harder, but it would only make me better.

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As I kept wrestling, I realized the amount of progress I was making. Throughout middle school I was one of the best on the team. Everything was going good until my freshman year. I was a backup and knew I had to change something. I stepped it up at Elite and worked harder than ever. Even as a young freshman at 102 pounds, I managed to work my way into the starting lineup wrestling 113. I credited this to not giving up which included working out at Elite and keeping a positive mindset. As the season came to an end, I was screwed out of a spot to wrestle in districts which only made me want to work harder. Immediately after that season, the Coronavirus hit.

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When the Coronavirus lockdown first started, I was happy that I had two weeks off of school. When those two weeks passed and we had not returned to school, I began to feel confused. As the weeks went on I grew bored of being in my own home, I felt trapped. I became anxious to do anything possible and when I saw that Elite was opening back up during the lockdown, I immediately jumped on it and started going to practice. This really lifted my spirits as I was able to return to the sport I loved. I really feel like Elite not only gave me an outlet to continue to do what I love, but it truly saved my sanity. It was the one bit of normalcy in my life during a time when it seemed like the whole world stopped. I continued working hard, and the following season was a shortened one. It definitely took a couple years, but soon enough I was my team captain and helped my team out in every match.

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During my junior year I went down a bad path struggling with my mental health. My grades started dropping, I started disliking the team that I was on, and I started disliking myself. I was constantly in some sort of bad mood. Although it was easily my best high school season, I felt my individual performance was lackluster and felt as if I wanted to quit. Going to Elite helped me andI felt as if it was my escape from the real world. The couple of hours a week I spent there helped me battle my mental health and I slowly became myself towards the end of the season. Even though my season ended with a concussion in districts, I was happy to be able to start to feel like myself again and it felt good to be reconnected with my teammates.

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Over the years, all of the hard work I put in definitely paid off. Although I didn’t achieve all of my goals in my wrestling career, Elite has given me strengths I can keep for the rest of my life. Discipline is the biggest thing I learned. After my years at Elite, I realized how much of a sacrifice it really was. To train in a room with a temperature of 95 degrees while cutting weight and battling injuries is definitely crazy to look back on. A big part of this was the support I had in the room. All of the coaches helped me in different ways and were supportive of every single wrestler in the room individually. This really made me feel part of a family while inside of the building. During my time I never had a favorite coach. I knew that any coach I talked to would help with anything I needed. Throughout the time I spent wrestling, I had to have talked to 30 different coaches, all of them being very helpful. One moment that stands out to me was when I was in a tournament that was way out of my skill range. It felt as if I was just there while the rest of the team was successful. Throughout the tournament I was 0-9, until the very last match of the weekend. I somehow managed to win and I ran off the mat with a huge smile on my face, right into a hug from Coach Vinnie and Coach Hayden. Throughout my whole career, that moment stuck with me as I truly found the joy that the sport could bring. Several years later, during a random practice in my senior year of highschool, Coach Vinnie approached and brought up that tournament from several years prior. He told me that the same moment when I won that one match was one of his favorite coaching moments ever. Hearing this, after thinking no one else remembered the moment, made me realize how much the coaches actually care. It has truly left an enormous impact on me.

 

Although every coach at Elite is amazing, no one compares to Coach Steve. A great mix between coach, mentor, and friend. Although I was never the best, he constantly supported me. He truly cares about all of the wrestlers in the room. If he sees someone struggling, he takes the time to make sure they get the move down. I knew that anytime I talked to him, he would help with anything I needed. Throughout the time I spent wrestling, he was always an inspiration to me.

 

As I reflect on the past 6 years of going to Elite, I realized how much it shaped me into a better person. All of the life lessons gained will stick with me for the rest of my life. Some of the moments that happened while wrestling in an Elite singlet will also stay with me. I thank every person that is associated with Elite for helping me along my journey. Although I will most likely never wrestle a match again, it was one of the best experiences of my life and I am truly grateful that I was able to wrestle. To say I miss wrestling feels a little bit weird considering it is tremendously hard work, but now that I'm sitting at the end of my career, all I want is one more day in the barn.

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2023 Elite for Life Student/Athlete Showcase

Anthony  Lawrence
Christian Brothers Academy / East Stroudsburg University

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I’ve been in sports my whole life, some turn sports into a lifestyle and some do it for the fun, the routine, and the simplicity of staying active. I chose to turn wrestling into a lifestyle. Since I was a young kid I have wrestled for Elite Wrestling Club. I had bounced around here and there but mostly was at elite because it had something special to it. It felt different from any other wrestling practice. There were great partners, amazing coaches, and we'll run practice by each coach on different days of the week. It felt like I belonged there once I would step foot in the room. It was more than wrestling there, everything was a mindset and the coaches pushed us knowing it would break some of us, but in the long run that's what we needed.

 

I know sticking with Elite wrestling and believing in the process and coaches was the best decision for me and I'll tell you why. Elite Wrestling formed me into something different. It has shaped me in so many different ways. Most of us know the sport isn’t easy, it can be both mentally and physically rough on an individual but that’s what this sport does to make you stronger. The Coaches were there for us in every aspect of the sport, if we needed to lose weight they were there, if we needed mental strength, someone to talk to, they were always there for us, making us better at wrestling and shaping us into grown men and women.  All the practices in the heat just non stop flowing were the ones that made you stronger, and the Coaches were wrestling and suffering with us which shows their love and compassion towards all of us. It made me realize nothing is ever going to be easy and there is no easy way out. Elite wrestling teaches you many things about the real world that will carry on in real life situations.

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Furthermore, I could sit here and talk to you about all of the accomplishments I made during my wrestling career but instead I want to tell you how wrestling made me who I am today. Wrestling to start is not an easy sport, all of the countless hours on the mat could sometimes be mentally draining.What I did outside of elite practice to help keep myself on course during the entire season would be lifting or running. It helped keep my head straight, helped me push through the hard times. Helped when I would get extremely tired but able to push till the end, and that is what I really love about the sport. Wrestling at elite is a mental game so if you're stuck in your head things are gonna be hard, that's why being okay with being uncomfortable is very important. Elite Wrestling has made me change the way I think in numerous ways. Whenever I start to freak out about anything I sit back, relate to the situation and figure out a way to work around that problem. Dealing with things head on is what the coaches preach because nothing is easy and trying to take the easy way out will only make it worse.

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To finalize one thing before I end this essay, all the coaches at Elite are there for us, to push us, get us better, teach us wrestling, and support us through our journey’s. Coach Steve is the leader of all the amazing coaches. There is no one like Coach Steve, his mindset and the way he thinks makes you want to change your ways and motivates you. His love and care for each wrestler at his club is unbelievable. He is always there for you and is an amazing mentor in wrestling and in real life. To say the least he has been the core upbringing of my wrestling career and I wouldn't be where I am without him or any other Coaches at Elite. Coach Dellefave has been like a brother to me and pushes me like no other. He guides me and the other wrestlers only in the right direction. He is very loving and direct and has a way of putting things in perspective. Delle was always there for me doing privates after practice and making sure I put in the extra work for myself to improve overall as an athlete and a man. He has been there for me every step of the way and will forever be in my corner and I couldn't thank him enough for everything he's done to support my success. Last Coach Hrymack has been my backbone, and my guy, and teaches me everything about life and wrestling. Hayden was always there for me in my lows and highs. We connected in a different way and he has made me the wrestler I am today just as much as all the coaches. He teaches me life lessons and makes me push myself to the limit as always, I can’t put it in words to describe how I've been blessed with these coaches. Thank you to all the coaches that helped me get better at Elite from the bottom of my heart.

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In conclusion wrestling isn't just a sport in my eyes, it is a lifestyle. I have dedicated the past twelve years to becoming a strong man mentally and physically and couldn't be more proud of myself for it. I have made many accomplishments within myself because of the support and guidance from the coaches at Elite. They taught me life lessons such as being a part of a team, holding myself accountable, listening to my coaches and teammates around me who want me to succeed, winning isn’t always guaranteed, you have to work for it, time management and showing up for yourself and the sport. Those are just some of the basics I’ve picked up from wrestling and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. I love this grind and lifestyle and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me in life and this sport. Thank you to my village, Elite Wrestling.