Wrestling is a demanding sport that requires commitment, dedication and sacrifice. All members of the West Milford Wrestling team are expected to attend all practices once the season starts. This requires an abundance of personal sacrifice since our season is very long and demanding. You will be training or competing during the holiday season, when others are home resting or on vacation. Practices are everyday after school or on Saturday mornings, which last anywhere from two to three hours long.
All of our wrestlers will be certified under the guidelines of the NJSIAA requirements and may only wrestle within the weights of which they are certified. The wrestling lineup is determined by wrestle offs, with an occasional adjustment during specific TEAM matches. Furthermore, we as a coaching staff may bump a wrestler into the lineup, out of the lineup, or up a weight class to gain an advantage based upon our opponent.
Wrestlers are expected to be positive role models for their team, school and community. They are expected to follow the academic and athletic training rules adopted by the State and Board of Education. They are to also follow all team rules and be in support of their teammates at all times.
To earn a varsity letter, a wrestler needs to, win a varsity wrestle off, compete in six varsity matches, or make a major contribution to the team in a tournament or league championship. The final decision on all varsity awards is up to the coaching staff.
During the off-season, we highly encourage members of the wrestling team to participate in another fall or spring interscholastic sport. It is our belief that being a member of multiple teams has a pure positive impact on each individual athlete. Members who do not participate in other sports are encouraged to maintain their fitness and conditioning level by making use of the weight room after school and by following work out routines provided by the coaching staff.
Summer workouts, camps, clinics, clubs and tournaments are optional. Over the past years some of our team members have opted to attend a team camp at The College of New Jersey, where they receive technical instruction and individual competition. We also offer open mats at the high school in the summer. These sessions are always supervised by a member of our coaching staff.
On the whole we provide our athletes with an array of opportunities to enhance their ability as not only a wrestler but as a representative of West Milford Township High School. We want to develop respectful and positive minded athletes who are great role models to the school and take pride in the community of which they grew up in.
The West Milford Wrestling Coaches,
Mike Blakely
Craig Spencer
Gary Stoll
Taylor Pevny