Metuchen Grapplers floored by new location
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer
As the Metuchen Grapplers get ready to start another season, the coaches and board members looked back on the past ones as they look to continue the success of the program.

COURTESY OF JAIME SCHLECK John Schleck of the Metuchen Grapplers, the recreation department's youth wrestling program, attempts to pin an opponent during a tournament against Hazlet in 2005. Schleck has been with the Grapplers for four years.

They are the borough recreation department's youth wrestling team.

"It has been in existence for close to 30 years and has produced a long lineage of high school- and college-level wrestlers," said Jaime Schleck, who became team coordinator this year.

Ed Angus, the Metuchen High School wrestling coach, said the fruits of the successful Metuchen Grapplers program have been a boon to the high school program.

"They have consistently given me outstanding varsity-level freshman wrestlers every year," said Angus, who is a former Grappler himself. "Given the participation level and skill level I see developing in the Grappler program today, I'm definitely encouraged for the future."

The team consists of second-graders to eighth-graders. The season begins in January and ends in mid-March.

The Metuchen Grapplers are part of 16 teams in the Middlesex County Midget Wrestling League.

After 10 years, Tracy Dalfonsi passed the team coordinator position to Schleck this year because her son Lucas transitioned from the Metuchen Grapplers to the Metuchen High School wrestling team.

"This sport is for boys as well as girls," she said. "We have kids who love to practice with us, but don't participate in the tournaments, which is OK."

Last year, Schleck's daughter Grace who was 6 years old at the time, wanted to follow in her older brother John's footsteps.

"She had three things she wanted to do," said Schleck. "She wanted to try it, pin a kid and win a medal. It was an amazing experience when she pinned another kid. She accomplished her goals, and now she is 7 and she wants to try swimming."

In 1975, Joe Zolner started the team in his basement.

"His son was on the wrestling team and he wanted to do something for the kids," said John Muccifori, treasurer of the team, who participated in the team in 1980. "Practices moved from his basement to the old Franklin School."

The practices, which are held three nights a week for two hours, have been held in the auxiliary gym at Metuchen High School until this past year, when the new wellness center, which is a collaboration between the Metuchen-Edison YMCA and the high school, was built at the high school and opened in April.

The team has found a new home at Camp Kiddie Keep Well in Edison.

"It turned out to be the perfect solution," said Schleck. "The staff at Camp Kiddie Keepwell were delighted they could help."

Schleck added that the Metuchen-Edison YMCA has also been a tremendous help with a generous donation of a new mat for the wrestling program, which was a necessity because of the move.

The Metuchen Savings Bank offered financial support, as well as numerous other private donors.

"This is just a great example of a community pulling together to make a situation work," said Schleck. "I'm just so thankful to everyone involved."

This year the wrestling program will take place at Camp Kiddie Keep Well's large dining hall, which is usually vacant during the winter. The new space is larger than the old auxiliary gym and also has a kitchen that the Grapplers will be able to use for a concession stand.

The wrestling program has seen a steady increase in the number of participants in the program. Last year there were over 50 Metuchen youths ages 7 to 14 participating in the program.

"It's been amazing to watch our kids develop," said coach Eric Palmer, who has been coaching the team for the past seven years and is a former college wrestler. "With so many kids returning this year, I can't wait for the season to get started."

Palmer stressed that wrestling is a sport for everyone.

"Some of our kids live, eat and sleep wrestling," he said. "Some have other activities and are not as intense. Everyone is welcome in our program."

Palmer added that wrestling improves balance, coordination and aerobic conditioning.

"It's a tremendous cross-training sport for anyone," he said.

The team is expecting 40 of their kids to return for another season.

"We may have 60 or more kids signing up for the program," said Muccifori. "We just couldn't be happier about the success of the program."

Muccifori added that for the past five years, New Jersey has produced two national champions at the college level.

"The college level has 10 weight classes, and the youth wrestling has 16 weight classes," he said.

The team also has an annual banquet where the kids receive awards.

"We give out an outstanding record awards, most improved awards, and sportsmanship awards," said Dalfonsi.

Dalfonsi added that the youth wrestling program is the cheapest of youth sports.

"The membership costs a child $50, which just recently went up from $35," she said. "This provides the child with a sweatshirt and T-shirt, and usually we exchange wrestling shoes so the kids don't have to purchase the shoes. Kids can wrestle in their sneakers, but kids can also purchase their own wrestling shoes."

However, the Metuchen Grapplers still have a significant need for private donations to offset the increased costs of the program. Donations can be made at http://www.eteamz.com/grapplers.

Sign-ups for the 2007-08 Grapplers wrestling program will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Little League field house on Oakland Avenue. Sign-up information can be obtained at http://www.eteamz.com/grapplers.