| Kearny High School Wrestling Alumni |
| Edward R. "Butch" Cuony Wrestled early 1930's Syracuse University Varsity Wrestling Team, class of '37 Inducted into the SU Letterman of Distinction in 1999 Started Geneva (NY) High's wrestling program and coached them to a Section V championship in 1950. He also coached football, track, and swimming. The first year of his wrestling program, he was also coaching swimming during the same season Chris Johnston dsfc2660@aol.com Wrestled 1963 - 66 As an original member of the wrestling team in 1963 it was a great experience. We would wrestle varsity teams and had our share of defeats. Our second season was better we started to beat the schools that beat us the year before. We had some tough wrestlers Don Gorgon, Steve Burdulis, and Gerry Farrel. We had Christmas Champs and District Champs back then. I was the co-captain with Gerry Farrel for 65 & 66. I'm currently retired from the New Jersey State Police and reside in South Florida. Donald Gordon dgordon06@comcast.net Wrestled 1964 - 66 I wrestled and did my undergraduate work at Springfield College (MA) I retired from teaching after 35 years, however, I still continue to coach both wrestling and football. Mike Jones mjones@thomasdirect.com Wresteled 1965 - 68 W.W.F, N.W.A. U.W.A. I.W.A. pro wrestler since 1978. Still currently wrestling on independent circuit. Oscar "The Kid" Cruz HeyYoCat@verizion.net Wrestled 1966 - 69 Had lots of fun in the sport of Wrestling it made me a better person in life.Mr Romeo was our coach back then. Kevin McLaren kmclaren@earthlink.net Wrestled 1969 - 1973 Shout outs to Mr. Romeo, Tony D., Joey Reynolds, "Chopper", Alan Hill, Butch Magee, Ron Witherspoon, Paul Popick, Steve Binder, Mark Churchman, George Montgomery...apologies to all I can't remember...the wrestling brotherhood. 1973-Hillside Tournament Champion, 157lb. 1973-District Champion, 157lb. Vic Hnatiuk gnat279@hotmail.com Wrestled 1970 - 74 Co-Captain of 1973-1974 team District Champ 1974 Gary J. Gnidziejko gary-gnidziejko@us.army.mil Wrestled 1970 -72 Mr. Romeo was a great role model! Mike Battaglino mktgexec22@yahoo.com Wrestled 1974 - 76 HWT, Captain of the 1976 squad. Jim Mangin jimmangin@aol.com Wrestled 1974 - 76 I wrestled on Art Monaco's first team as a Kearny coach (Frosh - 1974). Later, Tony Carratura would throw me around the mat on a regular Ron Kwicinski KwicinskiRJ@mail.navy.ports.mil Wrestled 1977 Toughest sport I've ever tried. If I started as a Freshman I might of put up a better showing against That Dellassandro kid from Bellville. Other than that I've learned to have alot of Respect for you wrestlers. Ken Welshman sarges12@msn.com Wrestled 1975 - 78 Paul Zeitler fettboba62@yahoo.com Wrestled 1976 - 79 Wrestled for Mr. Pap, Monaco and Mr.D, helped Tony C run the Rec. program before he became a big shot head coach (congratulations T) Tony Carratura tcarratura@ecdwire.com Current Head Coach Jim Mackintosh Jmack165@yahoo.com Wrestled 1976 - 80 Hwt. Wrestled for Tony "Silver Fox" DeFlumarie and Art Monaco as head coaches and with current Head Coach Tony Carratura as a friend and mentor. Learned alot about a great sport and myself. John Toriglio TheTrigZone@verizon.net Wrestled 1976 - 80 Jim Keim jpjkeim@aol.com Wrestled 1978-81 Tri Captain of 1981 team along with Paul Jerry and Mike Hyde. David Bush Sr. Wrestled 1979-83 WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO MY REC WRESTLERS..... ALWAYS GIVE 110% AND YOU TOO CAN BE A 4X STATE SUMO WRESTLING CHAMP!!!!!! Derek Cummins cpc@elp.rr.com Wrestled 1980 -1984 Its to bad I joined the navy and got married. My older brother and I could of had a career in Ultimate Fighting. To bad just a nice guy now. Go Kards pin em hard dont take no prisoners. and if Kearny ever gets a Football team remember their wimps in comparison to you guys. Allen La Tournous aalats@patmedia.net Wrestled 1980 - 84 Robert Smith dasmiffs90@hotmail.com Wrestled 1982 - 84 David Rodriguez drodriguez333@msn.com Wrestled 1982 - 86 1985 & 86 Kearny tournament champ 1985 district champion 158lbs 1986. 158lb district runner up and region 3rd 1986 STATE BASEBALL GROUP 4 CHAMPS & 2ND TEAM ALL STATE PITCHER Dan Eames rlstar97@aol.com Wrestled 1985 -86 Frank Viscuso coach@quixnet.net Wrestle 1982 - 86 I beat up Rod Nardone on a regular basis Andrew O'Donnell jrbites@aol.com Wrestled 1982 - 86 Keith Mair chefkm1@aol.com Wrestled 1984, 1986-87 Rod Nardone itsrod@optonline.net Wrestled 1983 - 87 Aiden Eames Kegcan@comcast.net Wrestled 1987 Mike Cairns maya@dilworth.net Wrestled 1986-1990 Gene Richard Firefightergq@msn.com Wrestled 1986 - 90 Patrick O'Donnell ODPat@aol.com Wrestled 1987 - 91 Mark Vilardo meandsnakes@yahoo.com or mark.vilardo@fairchild.af.mil Wrestled 1987-91 I am currently in the airforce. I am trying to get a rec. team started at my base. I was known for the best pancake on the team and possible the state(lol) Some of my Acommplishments: never made it to regions 4th in districts most pins 1990 most pancakes 1989 - 91 recieved first pancake award have busted 4 ghost in 4 years almost pinned Bustamonte and 2(state champs) almost doesn't count Favorite Moves: Pancake, singles, fireman, any escape, defense Joe Chew @.com Wrestled 1990 - 92 Ann Curtis (formerly Trento) Hera490@earthlink.net Wrestled 1989 - 92 New Jersey's first female wrestler. WILLIAM CORDOBA, JR. Wrestled 1991 - 94 I AM CURRENTLY THE HEAD COACH OF HUDSON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. VOTED STAR LEDGER HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR AT HUDSON IN 2004 - 05 SEASON. TOOK TEAM TO ITS FIRST STATE SECTIONAL. FORMER KEARNY ASSISSTANT COACH. FORMER SETON HALL UNIVERSITY WRESTLER. I WAS A KEARNY TOURNAMENT CHAMPION. I ALSO TOOK 2 THIRD PLACE FINISHES. 3X DISTRICT PLACE WINNER. A DISTRICT CHAMPION. 2X REGION RUNNER UP. BOTH TIMES LOST IN FINALS TO GUYS I CRUSHED DURING THE YEAR. 3RD IN THE GHOST CLASSIC TWO TIME STATE QUALIFIER. PLACE IN THE TOP 8 IN THE STATE MY SENIOR YEAR. WAS FIRST WRESTLER IN KEARNY HISTORY TO PLACE. ONE OF THREE KEARNY WRESTLERS TO BE STATE PLACE WINNERS. THE OTHER TWO ARE WRESTLING GREATS, DANNY MANLEY TOP 8, AND MY BROTHER , KEARNY'S FIRST STATE CHAMPION DAVID CORDOBA. PROUD MEMBER OF THE KEARNY HIGH WRESTLING TEAM GOOD LUCK TO COACH MONACO, MY FAVORITE COACH AND CURRENT COACH TONY CARRATURA WHO IS DOING A GREAT JOB AT KEARNY. GOOD LUCK ALL! Daniel Angus Livingstone Livingstone513@comcast.net Wrestled 1992-95 Rich Stacey rstacey@kearnyschools.com Wrestled 1992 - 96 Current assistant coach 2X Kearny Tournament 3rd: 1994, 1995 District Champ 1996 @125 Part of Coach Monacos first 2 district championship teams: 1995, 1996. First Team All-County: 1996 Most wins in County: 1996 If I only knew then what I know now... Mike Cordoba cordoba01@comcast.net Wrestled 1992-96 Part of Kearny's best wrestling years ever and with the best coach,Monaco, teammates and friends: 1993-1996. This is all that matters to my highshcool wrestling career. Bernice Benavides Crayoff@yahoo.com Wrestled 1994 - 97 Mike Gonzalez MIKE0244@aol.com Wrestled 1994-97 All I have to say is that the '96-97' team was the best in Kearny History! Marco A. Leiva chronichazard@aol.com Wrestled 1994 - 97 2X Kearny tourn. 3rd place winner 2X District chump 2X 1st team all county 1997 co-caiptain Member of 96 and 97 District 16 championship teamsfor the old school boyz; i wore the 70's warm-ups. Thank you Coach Monaco, for everything... Dave Wright d_wright@ml.com Wrestled 1989 - 98 89-94 REC program under Tony Carratura 94-98 Kearny High School Under Coach Monaco Present: Coach For the REC Program The 1996-1997 Team was the greatest team in Kearny's history!!!! Wrestling is the greatest sport in the world. The life lessons, discipline, work ethic and appreciation for food (ha) that it has taught me has helped me get to where I am today. Wrestling is more than just a sport, it is a way of life. Anthony Distano NeuroDoc11798@aol.com Wrestled 1996 - 99 The lessons I learned through wrestling helped to make me the person I am today. David Cordoba msu0141@aol.com Wrestled 1996 - 2000 4X Kearny Champ Bloomfield Champ 4X District 16 Champ 3X Region 4 Champ OW Regional Tourn. 4X State Place winner 3rd - 2nd - Champ - 2nd Career 136-4 Kearny's only State Champion and Wrestling All-American. David A. Nunez Dragonsoul51@yahoo.com Wrestled 1999 - 2001 3rd Kearny Tournament Yea I know I did'nt do all that much but I do know that wrestling was a great and inspirational part of my life. I joined the Air Force, got married, and know trying to get a coaching position at the local High School. I'm also currently training for the USAF Wrestling team. Wish me luck and GO KARDS!!!!!!!! Kevin Gehrmann Kevin.Gehrmann@gmail.com Wrestled 1999 - 2002 Ex-Captain of the Kearny Wrestling Team. I am 25 years old, and currently work as an accountant. Graduated Montclair State '09 with a perfect 4.0, and am proud to be a wrestler. Angel Laporte Biohazardddj@aol.com Wrestled 1999 - 2002 4x Dist.16 placer."99" 3rd, "2000"2nd, "2001"2nd,"2002" 1st 2x Kearny Tourn. Champ,"01" "02" 1st, "00" 3rd. 4x Region 4 qualifier, 3rd region 4 "02". 1x Super Region quailier. Top 24 state "2002" Career Record 109-18 Vinny Abbott vincent.abbott@wilkes.edu Wrestled 1999-2003 2x District 16 Champ @ 189lbs 1x District 16 Runner up @ 189lbs 2X Region 4 Runner up @ 189lbs Over 100 career wins - 3rd all time in Kearny 3x 1st team all county Team Captain 2002-2003 Dawayne Amos jswift71@hotmail.com Wrestled 2000- 2003 The sport taught me alot about myself as well as the things that can be accomplished with hard work and goal setting. Mr. Carratura, thank you for all you've done for me, both on and off the mat, my team mates for pushing me (and to those I used as throwing dolls, haha) 50+ career wins Kearny tourn. 3rd place winner 1st team all county Team Captain District 16 Champ. ~STAY MOTIVATED !HOOAH! Brian McDonnell @ .com Wrestled 2000 - 2004 114 - 22 career record Kearny Tournament Champ 2004 District 16 - , 3X Champ 2002 @119, 2003 @130, 2004 @130 Region 4 - 3rd 2003, 2nd 2004 States - Top 24 2003 & 2004 Danny Manley manleyd@augsburg.edu Wrestled 2000 - 2004 91 - 32 career record District 16 - 3rd 2002 @HWT, 2X Champ 2003 @HWT, 2004 @HWT Region 4 - 2nd 2004 States - 8th 2004 2x all county 03,04 all confrence 2004 co-captain 2004 currently wrestling for Augsburg College Silvio Chaves schaves6@yahoo.com Wrestled 2000 - 2004 Team won the Watchung conference all 4 years, and i was by far the toughest wrestler Tony ever had ha! GOOD LUCK FELLAS!! Mark Garripoli stlli0n228@yahoo.com Wrestled 2003 - 2005 Career record 44-12 with 36 pins 2x district 16 runner up 135/140 runner up kearny tournament 04, 4th kearny tournament 03 Wrestling taught me a lot, I wish I wrestled my freshman and sophmore year, my favorite sport since I started at 6 years old, I made some of the greatest friends I have had during wrestling... John Lopez mr.kearny.colombia@hotmail.com Wrestled 2006 - 2008 |
| Listed by year of graduation, if you are a former Kearny wrestler or coach, would like info on how to request wrestling paraphernalia like sweat shirts etc.email, webmaster@kearnywrestling.org |