According to multiple sources, former Lenape Valley wrestling coach Bob Poggi is being recommended by superintendent/principal Paul DiRupo to become the school's new athletic director.
The move is pending approval at the next board of education meeting on Aug. 27. Poggi would succeed Gerhard Sanchez, who recently resigned as the Patriots' AD after less than a year on the job to take the same position at Irvington High School starting on Aug. 1.
Poggi, a very popular figure at Lenape Valley and in the Sussex County wrestling ranks, currently serves in a supervisory capacity at Lenape Valley. Poggi also has been on the Region 1 seeding committee for many years, assisting seeding chairman Brad DiRupo.
Poggi guided the Lenape Valley wrestling program for 15 seasons from 1986-2002. His teams compiled an overall mark of 156-107-3, a program record for wins that he shares with current coach Doug Vetter. The Patriots also captured two of their four sectional titles under Poggi in 1998 and '99.
Individually, Poggi coached 27 district and six region champions and two of the school's three state finalists -- Vetter (1990) and Chris Ressa (2001). D.J. Russo (2006), coached by Vetter, also finished second in the state for the Patriots, who have never had a state champ.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Warren Hills-P'burg lineups for Pin Cancer match
Ticket price is $5. All proceeds go to cancer research and development. Check out http://www.pincancer.org/ for more information on this tremendous organization.
Probable matchups are listed below with Warren Hills listed first.
The Blue Streaks will hold a wrestle-off for the 173-pound spot. Phillipsburg rising juniors Corey Zinsmeister and Jimmy Schuitema, along with Warren Hills' Tai Adetula and Evan Butka, will not compete due to offseason surgeries.
107 -- Zach Nauta vs. Brandon Paetzell
115 -- John Fluck or Matt Valli vs. Tyler Agans
123 -- Fluck or Valli vs. D.J. Wissing
130 -- Austin Pidoto vs. Tyler Petchonka
135 -- Max Nauta vs. Steve Friedman
140 -- Bassam Ramadan vs. Donald Agans
145 -- Anthony Roessner vs. Garrett Wolfinger
154 -- Justin Pidoto vs. Max Elling
162 -- Shane Deemer vs. Broderick Bupivi
173 -- Kurt Nemeth or Anthony Casiano vs. Jake Kocsis
185 -- Ryan Ostir vs. Drew Horun
197 -- Steve Cleaver vs. Joe Maso
220 -- Ryan Witner vs. Tim Hinkle
285 -- Andrew Pacheco vs. Isaiah Williams
(Box from this past season's high school dual)
PHILLIPSBURG 46, WARREN HILLS 18
195 -- Jr. Ryan Witner, WH, d. So. So. Tim Hinkle, 7-3.
220 -- Sr. Tyler Bridygham, WH, forfeit.
285 -- So. Andrew Pacheco, WH, d. Sr. Jarrett Williams, 9-7.
106 -- Fr. Brandon Paetzell, P, p. So. Austin Pidoto, 2:32.
113 -- So. Max Nauta, WH, d. Sr. Zach Fisher, 4-2 SV.
120 -- So. Steve Friedman, P, d. Jr. Tai Adetula, 5-4.
126 -- Sr. Joe Kratochvil, WH, d. So. Corey Zinsmeister, 7-5.
132 -- Sr. Anthony Johnson, P, p. Fr. Raymond Steinmann, 1:23.
138 -- So. Max Elling, P, p. Sr. Kevin Bundschuh, 3:44.
145 -- Sr. Andrew Kaluzny, P, d. Sr. Tom Rush, 9-4.
152 -- So. Jimmy Schuitema, P. p. Jr. Evan Butka, 2:46.
160 -- Jr. Jake Kocsis, P, p. Sr. Xavier Adetula, 3:45.
170 -- Jr. Broderick Bupivi, P, md. Jr. Ryan Ostir, 9-0.
182 -- So. Joe Maso, P, p. Jr. Steve Cleaver, 3:09.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
UPDATE: Lockhart approved for Summit AD job
After serving for less than two years in what was once considered his dream job, Bob Lockhart is officially leaving his post as the athletic director at Warren Hills Regional High School.
As first reported by Open Mike, Lockhart was approved as the new athletic director at Summit High School during Wednesday night's board of education meeting.
"We were impressed with his strong commitment to the student athlete," Summit superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker told the Summit Patch.com. "He stressed safety, caring for kids and making sure they had proper support."
While at Warren Hills, Lockhart, in addition to being the AD, was head of the Health and Physical Education department, as well as facilities coordinator while also overseeing all of Blue Streaks' athletic clubs. Recently, Summit split its AD and head of health and phys ed positions.
Lockhart, who replaces Mike Shandor as AD, also earned a substantial pay raise with the move to Summit, where he was hired at a salary of $129,600.
"I wore a lot of hats at Warren Hills," Lockhart said recently in an exclusive interview with Open Mike. "[Summit] made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Just being an athletic director. [At Warren Hills] you can't concentrate on just sports. I mean, you can, but not the way I'd like to. My vision of what athletics should be matches Summit better than Warren Hills."
Lockhart, who was among 91 candidates for the Summit job, said he was to meet with Warren Hills superintendent Dr. Thomas Altonjy to discuss the possibility of leaving the school sooner than his 60-day notice as required by law. Lockhart said he hopes to be on the job at Summit on Sept. 1, but acknowledges that the starting date could be as late as Sept. 18.
It's hard to imagine Warren Hills without Lockhart, a Warren Hills alum and former highly successful football coach, who was turned down for the AD's job at the end of 2010. Instead, the Warren County school hired Clegg "Buddy" Freund, who was removed from the building at the start of the following school year. School administrators said that Freund, who was involved in a sexual assault coverup at Roxbury High School while employed as its AD in 2003, resigned for "health reasons."
"I'm just happy it happened," Lockhart said after being hired as AD in 2011. "It was something I've wanted and I'm excited to have the opportunity now."
But those feelings dwindled in a relatively short period of time. The added responsibilities in addition to his athletic department duties eventually took their toll on a man, who by his own admission, "Bleeds Blue and White."
"I very much have mixed feelings [about leaving]," Lockhart said. "I really enjoy the people I work with. I've been a member of the faculty for 31 years. It wasn't easy and it won't be easy [to leave], when the day comes. There are other factors that I don't want to get into. I feel it's necessary to leave. It's a good move for me and my family."
Make no mistake, this decision, regardless of it being a better position, was not an easy one. Lockhart loves Warren Hills and his coaches loved having him as their boss.
The stunning news that Lockhart, who began his tenure as AD on Nov. 21, 2011, is leaving his alma mater this fall has already begun resonating throughout the building in Washington Township.
"He's a great mentor and a great leader," said Warren Hills boys soccer and baseball coach Mike Quinto. "If you screw up and make mistakes, he's going to tell you. But you always knew where you stood with him. He's been a coach and knows what it's like for us. He's a true professional."
Quinto said he fully understands why Lockhart is leaving and wishes him nothing but the best. Nonetheless, Quinto said it's a sad day for Warren Hills athletics.
"It's very disappointing," Quinto said. "It hurts me, but I don't blame him. He does a great job as athletic director. He's a coaches' athletic director. Coaches all have different personalities and he knew how to deal with all of them. We're losing a piece of Warren Hills."
Quinto said that Summit sent some administrators and coaches to Warren Hills on a fact-finding mission to see if Lockhart was as real as he came across during interviews with the Union County school. Naturally, Lockhart inquired to Quinto about what he told them. But Quinto couldn't find the words, literally.
"I started to tell him, but I got all choked up and had to excuse myself," Quinto said.
That's how much Bob Lockhart, a 1977 graduate and former star quarterback, means to Warren Hills. The Warren County school is losing a great one.
"If I have a day off, I will be there watching [sporting events]," Lockhart said. "I'm not going to stop bleeding Blue. I wish everybody there the best."
As first reported by Open Mike, Lockhart was approved as the new athletic director at Summit High School during Wednesday night's board of education meeting.
"We were impressed with his strong commitment to the student athlete," Summit superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker told the Summit Patch.com. "He stressed safety, caring for kids and making sure they had proper support."
While at Warren Hills, Lockhart, in addition to being the AD, was head of the Health and Physical Education department, as well as facilities coordinator while also overseeing all of Blue Streaks' athletic clubs. Recently, Summit split its AD and head of health and phys ed positions.
Lockhart, who replaces Mike Shandor as AD, also earned a substantial pay raise with the move to Summit, where he was hired at a salary of $129,600.
"I wore a lot of hats at Warren Hills," Lockhart said recently in an exclusive interview with Open Mike. "[Summit] made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Just being an athletic director. [At Warren Hills] you can't concentrate on just sports. I mean, you can, but not the way I'd like to. My vision of what athletics should be matches Summit better than Warren Hills."
Lockhart, who was among 91 candidates for the Summit job, said he was to meet with Warren Hills superintendent Dr. Thomas Altonjy to discuss the possibility of leaving the school sooner than his 60-day notice as required by law. Lockhart said he hopes to be on the job at Summit on Sept. 1, but acknowledges that the starting date could be as late as Sept. 18.
It's hard to imagine Warren Hills without Lockhart, a Warren Hills alum and former highly successful football coach, who was turned down for the AD's job at the end of 2010. Instead, the Warren County school hired Clegg "Buddy" Freund, who was removed from the building at the start of the following school year. School administrators said that Freund, who was involved in a sexual assault coverup at Roxbury High School while employed as its AD in 2003, resigned for "health reasons."
"I'm just happy it happened," Lockhart said after being hired as AD in 2011. "It was something I've wanted and I'm excited to have the opportunity now."
But those feelings dwindled in a relatively short period of time. The added responsibilities in addition to his athletic department duties eventually took their toll on a man, who by his own admission, "Bleeds Blue and White."
"I very much have mixed feelings [about leaving]," Lockhart said. "I really enjoy the people I work with. I've been a member of the faculty for 31 years. It wasn't easy and it won't be easy [to leave], when the day comes. There are other factors that I don't want to get into. I feel it's necessary to leave. It's a good move for me and my family."
Make no mistake, this decision, regardless of it being a better position, was not an easy one. Lockhart loves Warren Hills and his coaches loved having him as their boss.
The stunning news that Lockhart, who began his tenure as AD on Nov. 21, 2011, is leaving his alma mater this fall has already begun resonating throughout the building in Washington Township.
"He's a great mentor and a great leader," said Warren Hills boys soccer and baseball coach Mike Quinto. "If you screw up and make mistakes, he's going to tell you. But you always knew where you stood with him. He's been a coach and knows what it's like for us. He's a true professional."
Quinto said he fully understands why Lockhart is leaving and wishes him nothing but the best. Nonetheless, Quinto said it's a sad day for Warren Hills athletics.
"It's very disappointing," Quinto said. "It hurts me, but I don't blame him. He does a great job as athletic director. He's a coaches' athletic director. Coaches all have different personalities and he knew how to deal with all of them. We're losing a piece of Warren Hills."
Quinto said that Summit sent some administrators and coaches to Warren Hills on a fact-finding mission to see if Lockhart was as real as he came across during interviews with the Union County school. Naturally, Lockhart inquired to Quinto about what he told them. But Quinto couldn't find the words, literally.
"I started to tell him, but I got all choked up and had to excuse myself," Quinto said.
That's how much Bob Lockhart, a 1977 graduate and former star quarterback, means to Warren Hills. The Warren County school is losing a great one.
"If I have a day off, I will be there watching [sporting events]," Lockhart said. "I'm not going to stop bleeding Blue. I wish everybody there the best."
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Source: Campolattano looking to wrestle at Hofstra
Four-time New Jersey state champion Andrew Campolattano is planning to continue his academic and wrestling careers at Hofstra University, according to a wrestling source.
The move is pending a review of academic records. Campolattano also is looking to regain eligibility from this past semester at Ohio State University, where he had been a student/athlete until taking a leave of absence earlier this year.
The former Bound Brook High School star recently made headlines when he faced felony drug trafficking charges that have since been dropped. It was reported that the 21-year-old Campolattano was issued a ticket on March 13 relating to an OSU campus roundup for trying to sell 15 oxycodone tablets for $410.
Campolattano left the wrestling program and withdrew from school in late April, relocating to Florida where his brother, Michael Campolattano, resides in Orlando.
Campolattano became only the second wrestler to win four New Jersey high school championships in 2011, when he pinned Cherokee's Mike Zeuli in 47 seconds for the 215-pound title. Campolattano, also named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler his senior season, won his first three titles at 189 pounds and finished with a career mark of 178-1. Delbarton's Mike Grey was the first to win four state crowns (2003-06).
In college, Campolattano started the last two seasons at 197 pounds for Ohio State, posting a combined record of 40-26 while twice qualifying for the NCAA Division I championships.
The move is pending a review of academic records. Campolattano also is looking to regain eligibility from this past semester at Ohio State University, where he had been a student/athlete until taking a leave of absence earlier this year.
The former Bound Brook High School star recently made headlines when he faced felony drug trafficking charges that have since been dropped. It was reported that the 21-year-old Campolattano was issued a ticket on March 13 relating to an OSU campus roundup for trying to sell 15 oxycodone tablets for $410.
Campolattano left the wrestling program and withdrew from school in late April, relocating to Florida where his brother, Michael Campolattano, resides in Orlando.
Campolattano became only the second wrestler to win four New Jersey high school championships in 2011, when he pinned Cherokee's Mike Zeuli in 47 seconds for the 215-pound title. Campolattano, also named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler his senior season, won his first three titles at 189 pounds and finished with a career mark of 178-1. Delbarton's Mike Grey was the first to win four state crowns (2003-06).
In college, Campolattano started the last two seasons at 197 pounds for Ohio State, posting a combined record of 40-26 while twice qualifying for the NCAA Division I championships.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Wrestling: 'Liners to host Streaks in Pin Cancer match
Summer wrestling gets no better than this: Two longtime rivals battling it out under the lights -- and outdoors to boot.
The second annual Pin Cancer match between Warren Hills and Phillipsburg will be held on Friday, July 26 at Maloney Stadium. Match time is 7 p.m. Phillipsburg defeated Warren Hills, 46-18, when the teams met during the 2012-13 season at The Pit.
"This will be such an exciting experience for our teams, and, hopefully, another huge success for the foundation," P'burg coach Dave Post said.
Post and Warren Hills coach Jarrett Hosbach will put together their probable lineups next week, so check back here for that information.
Ticket price is $5. All proceeds go to cancer research and development. Check out http://www.pincancer.org/ for more information on this tremendous organization.
(Box from this past season's dual)
PHILLIPSBURG 46, WARREN HILLS 18
195 -- Jr. Ryan Witner, WH, d. So. So. Tim Hinkle, 7-3.
220 -- Sr. Tyler Bridygham, WH, forfeit.
285 -- So. Andrew Pacheco, WH, d. Sr. Jarrett Williams, 9-7.
106 -- Fr. Brandon Paetzell, P, p. So. Austin Pidoto, 2:32.
113 -- So. Max Nauta, WH, d. Sr. Zach Fisher, 4-2 SV.
120 -- So. Steve Friedman, P, d. Jr. Tai Adetula, 5-4.
126 -- Sr. Joe Kratochvil, WH, d. So. Corey Zinsmeister, 7-5.
132 -- Sr. Anthony Johnson, P, p. Fr. Raymond Steinmann, 1:23.
138 -- So. Max Elling, P, p. Sr. Kevin Bundschuh, 3:44.
145 -- Sr. Andrew Kaluzny, P, d. Sr. Tom Rush, 9-4.
152 -- So. Jimmy Schuitema, P. p. Jr. Evan Butka, 2:46.
160 -- Jr. Jake Kocsis, P, p. Sr. Xavier Adetula, 3:45.
170 -- Jr. Broderick Bupivi, P, md. Jr. Ryan Ostir, 9-0.
182 -- So. Joe Maso, P, p. Jr. Steve Cleaver, 3:09.
The second annual Pin Cancer match between Warren Hills and Phillipsburg will be held on Friday, July 26 at Maloney Stadium. Match time is 7 p.m. Phillipsburg defeated Warren Hills, 46-18, when the teams met during the 2012-13 season at The Pit."This will be such an exciting experience for our teams, and, hopefully, another huge success for the foundation," P'burg coach Dave Post said.
Post and Warren Hills coach Jarrett Hosbach will put together their probable lineups next week, so check back here for that information.
Ticket price is $5. All proceeds go to cancer research and development. Check out http://www.pincancer.org/ for more information on this tremendous organization.
(Box from this past season's dual)
PHILLIPSBURG 46, WARREN HILLS 18
195 -- Jr. Ryan Witner, WH, d. So. So. Tim Hinkle, 7-3.
220 -- Sr. Tyler Bridygham, WH, forfeit.
285 -- So. Andrew Pacheco, WH, d. Sr. Jarrett Williams, 9-7.
106 -- Fr. Brandon Paetzell, P, p. So. Austin Pidoto, 2:32.
113 -- So. Max Nauta, WH, d. Sr. Zach Fisher, 4-2 SV.
120 -- So. Steve Friedman, P, d. Jr. Tai Adetula, 5-4.
126 -- Sr. Joe Kratochvil, WH, d. So. Corey Zinsmeister, 7-5.
132 -- Sr. Anthony Johnson, P, p. Fr. Raymond Steinmann, 1:23.
138 -- So. Max Elling, P, p. Sr. Kevin Bundschuh, 3:44.
145 -- Sr. Andrew Kaluzny, P, d. Sr. Tom Rush, 9-4.
152 -- So. Jimmy Schuitema, P. p. Jr. Evan Butka, 2:46.
160 -- Jr. Jake Kocsis, P, p. Sr. Xavier Adetula, 3:45.
170 -- Jr. Broderick Bupivi, P, md. Jr. Ryan Ostir, 9-0.
182 -- So. Joe Maso, P, p. Jr. Steve Cleaver, 3:09.