Highlanders ready for winning season on the mat

For athletes to reach their full potential in their chosen sport, there can be no short cuts on the road to success.

That is particularly true in a sport as difficult yet rewarding as wrestling.

Members of the 2022-23 West Milford High School wrestling program who are dedicated will be rewarded not only this season but in the future as well.

“We are seeking our program’s 600th career victory since the program began in 1965; we need 13 more wins,’’ head coach Taylor Pevny said. “This is also a huge goal of ours this year.

“We are attending the annual Sam Cali Battle for the Belt Tournament (Dec. 27-28), which features 40-plus teams from all over the East Coast. This takes place during the holiday break at Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison campus).

“We are hosting the Second Annual Gregg Kochakji ALS Awareness Holiday Duals at West Milford on December 23. This helps raise awareness for ALS and creates a scholarship for a football player, wrestler or baseball player who graduates from West Milford.’’

The Highlanders are scheduled to host Passaic Tech on Friday, Dec. 16 before traveling to the Dover Holiday Tournament one day later.

Key returning students to the varsity lineup include junior Ben Marchetto (113 pounds, eighth place at the NJSIAA State Tournament last season), junior Colin Menier (132 pounds), senior Ryan Eckhart (126 pounds), senior Erik Reilly (126 pounds), senior Tyler Wisnewski (175 pounds), junior Spencer Ribitzki (285 pounds), sophomore Jesse Araujo (120 pounds), sophomore Nick Carbone (150 pounds) and junior Jake Pasek (144 pounds).

Newcomers looking to make a positive impression on the varsity roster include freshmen Justin Burke (106 pounds), Nick Triverio (120 pounds), Charlie Kling (126 pounds), Jeffrey Papeniuk (165 pounds) and Adonai Aarons (157 pounds).

“Each year I look for all of my seniors to lead our team,’’ Pevny said. “They have been in this program the longest and have dedicated a lot of time to the success we have had. Each and every senior has a responsibility of representing this team the right way and leading it with pride.’’

West Milford finished with an overall record of 13-14 last winter.

“(We want to) get back to our winning ways,’’ he said. “It’s been a few years but we feel like we have the lineup to get back to our program’s tradition of winning championships. We have our eyes set on conference and county championships this year.’’

The Highlanders compete in the Big North Conference Independence Division.

“We should be a contender,’’ Pevny said. “We have a lineup with lots of experience and lots of hard workers. Wayne Valley and Lakeland should be the top teams in our division. Wayne Hills, Fair Lawn and Passaic Valley are always competitive as well.’’