Great turnout for expanded summer program
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
If numbers translate into wins, then the Manville High wrestling program is on its way back to prominence.
Second-year head coach Pat Gorbatuk has expanded the Open Mats summer program developed by former head coach Brett Stibitz and, quite accurately, renamed it Summer Mats Madness. With at least 15 wrestlers attending the early weeks of the program for all three age groups, it has been madness, in a very good way.
”I’m blown away,” Gorbatuk said. “I can’t believe the turnout. I never expected it to go so well. We have close to 50 kids. That’s much more than I expected.”
The new and improved Mats Madness includes sessions for three age groups kindergarten through fifth grade, incoming middle school students (6-8 grade) and wrestlers entering high school. The K-5 group meets six times during a three-week cycle on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The middle school group has 14 sessions, which run for seven weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The 21 sessions for high school wrestlers run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Gorbatuk has been concerned about the strength level in his program, so he’s providing a little extra focus in that department. Fridays will be weightlifting only and sessions conclude at 11 a.m. In addition to the wrestling instruction, the high school athletes will learn proper strength training techniques by lifting weights three times per week.
”We focus on strength, flexibility and cardiovascular training,” Gorbatuk said. “Also, on the day we lift and do not have wrestling, we do a little ‘Caveman Training,’ which consists of odd exercises such as tire flips using large tractor tires or tire throws, which use car-sized tires.
”During the off-week of lifting (Week 4) we are going to create teams and we are going to have a competition called the ‘Tire Olympics,’ which will involve all types of odd Caveman Training games. The kids are really looking forward to this.”
Even the intense July heat hasn’t kept the youngsters away. They’ve been working hard and responding to the challenging workouts provided by the coaches, including MHS jayvee coach George Putvinski, ABIS coach Ed Ferraro and volunteer coach John Shubiak.
”They don’t let it bother them,” Gorbatuk said. “They don’t care how hot it is. The overall commitment these kids are showing is great. They want to be there. They can’t wait to be there.”
One of the many upgrades Gorbatuk has made to the program is the addition of highly qualified guest clinicians. Three-time state finalist and one-time state champion Matt Anderson highlights the list of outstanding guest clinicians, which includes former Manville High head coach Paul Kolody and MHS star wrestlers Frank Passe and Doug Kolody, coaching legend Bill Pavlak and two-time state place-winner Dan Kunst of South Plainfield and two-time NCAA qualifier Pete Ventresca, who coached the Mustangs back in the late 1990s.
”Bringing in a guy like Matt Anderson is a huge deal,” Gorbatuk said. “He’s done a lot of great things as a wrestler but he’s also a Lehigh graduate. He can teach the kids about wrestling but also about doing schoolwork and being a great person.”
Anderson is scheduled to appear on three consecutive Wednesdays to work with the middle school and high school wrestlers Aug. 6, 13 and 20. Pavlak and Kunst will share their knowledge on Fridays, Aug. 8 and 15. Ventresca is scheduled to appear Aug. 18.
Bringing back the most successful head coach and two winningest wrestlers in school history adds much credibility to the program. Passe has been working with the K-5 group, while Doug Kolody, now an assistant coach at Watchung Hills, also spent some time with the young grapplers. Former head coach Paul Kolody is scheduled to work with the middle school wrestlers next Monday and high school group next Wednesday.
Each clinician adds his own brand of expertise and wisdom to the program. Gorbatuk feels fortunate to have so much star power and knowledge coming to the Manville mats. He’s looking forward to seeing which wrestlers benefit the most from this expert tutelage.
Gorbatuk and the other coaches review basics during wrestling sessions. However, he tries to introduce moves and strategies that will be incorporated into the wrestling room for the upcoming season. The head coach is happy with the balance of the new summer program.
”It’s perfectly structured,” Gorbatuk said. “It’s not a free-for-all.”
Each wrestling session is held in the wrestling room located in Alexander Batcho Intermediate School. Wrestlers must enter and exit through the outside door located in the back. For more information, contact Coach Gorbatuk at [email protected].
”I hope that our Mats Madness program encourages the kids and their families to wrestle in more tournaments, clubs and camps,” Gorbatuk said. “Also, I hope the Mats Madness will bring the recreation, ABIS and the high school team closer. As a program, I feel we are moving in the right direction and I think the 45-plus kids that are signed up for this camp is proof of that.”