Kodie Silvestri has traveled a long way to get where he ultimately wanted to be.
The road to realizing his wrestling dreams has been one full of detours and disappointment over the years, but none of that seems to matter much these days.
Silvestri is basking in the glow of a championship, recently capturing an NCAA Division III title in Wisconsin.
The former Wallkill Valley Regional High School star was part of a championship team at Wartburg College, which claimed its ninth team crown with four individual champs. Silvestri won the 141-pound title and in doing so became the first Wartburg wrestler to win Outstanding Wrestler honors, defeating two-time champ Bebeto Yewah of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 11-9.
"It's been a dream that came true," said Silvestri, who suffered back-to-back losses in the New Jersey state high school finals in 2008 and '09. "The goal coming here was to at least get [one] national title. Everything went the way I wanted it to go."
Silvestri's teammate and good friend, former High Point state champ Drew Wagenhoffer, finished sixth at 149 pounds to earn All-American honors as a true freshman. Being a part of team to win four individual championships is certainly nothing new to Wagenhoffer, one of four New Jersey state champs for the Wildcats a year ago.
"It's kind of crazy," said Wagenhoffer, who dazzled New Jersey fans a year ago in capturing the 145-pound state title in Atlantic City. "We expected to get one more [champ] in the finals [at Wartburg]."
Wartburg put five wrestlers in the finals and amassed a total of 141 1/2 points -- the fourth-highest total ever in a national tournament. In fact, Wartburg teams have posted the four best totals in championship history. The 2003 team owns the record with 166 1/2.
"It's just great to be part of this team," said Wagenhoffer, one of only three to win four district titles and among just four to win at least three region titles at High Point. "It's just a great group of guys to be around."
Completing a Sussex County All-American trifecta in Division III was Centenary's Chris Burdge. The former Kittatinny star finished fifth at 157 pounds and is now a two-time All-American.
In other championship news, former two-time state champion Ethan Orr of High Point captured a junior college championship and helped lead the Labette Community College team to the national title in the NJCAA Championships in Rochester, Minn.
Check out the story here and see Orr hugging the team trophy with delight.
Silvestri shows his stuff
Silvestri (22-2), a junior at Wartburg, is one of the most talented wrestlers ever to come out of Sussex. His tremendous high school resume includes a career mark of 145-18, one district and two region titles. But all of those second-place finished have haunted Silvestri over the years, particularly the state finals.
As a senior in 2009, Silvestri was seconds away from a state title before a crushing 7-6 loss to Camden Catholic's Taylor Walsh. After his finals loss the year before to Kittatinny's Derek Valenti, Silvestri competed in the Junior Nationals at Virginia Beach. There, he lost another heartbreaker at the buzzer to a wrestler that would go on to win his third NCAA Division I title this year -- Kyle Dake.
It's those losses that have fueled Silvestri's run toward glory. After a few seasons at Nassau Community College, Silvestri is now a champion, and he couldn't be any happier with how his story has played out.
"I can't explain it. I think about [winning the title] all the time ... every day," said Silvestri, a physical education major. "I always wanted to be on a team like this. I wanted to come here to a school with a reputation of success. They pushed me to my limit and I got my national title. I knew this was going to be my year."
Success breeds success
Wagenhoffer (26-11) had the benefit of being on some of the greatest teams ever at High Point. As thrilled as he was with his own season, Wagenhoffer was even more so tickled to see his good buddy win the national title. The two friends, who came up together through the Wallkill Valley midget ranks, were finally able to share something special as teammates once again.
"I was so happy for him," said Wagenhoffer, who unfortunately had to battle through knee injuries that admittedly hampered him this season. "I cried, actually. He's been like a brother since we were little. I've seen all of his hard work. Once he won there was an eruption in the arena, everyone was cheering for him. It was amazing."
Wartburg coach Jim Miller struck a chord with Wagenhoffer from the very first day of practice. It was a statement to the team that made the Sussex County resident feel like he was home.
"He told us to go and outfight someone [in the room]. That's how we win here," Wagenhoffer recalled. "That's the same thing that coach [John] Gardner told us at High Point."
Winning. That pretty much sums up the careers of Silvestri and Wagenhoffer. And they're not done yet.
"Now the goal is to win three national championships," said Wagenhoffer, a fitness management major who will switch to education with a minor in history next fall.
After all, he's already one behind his good buddy.
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