RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN
F ormer Rumson-Fair Haven Regional
High School wrestler Bryan Heller is back with the Bulldogs as their new head coach, bringing with him extensive experience as a coach and former collegiate grappler.
The 2003 Rumson-Fair Haven graduate recorded 118 wins and just 12 losses in his four years at the school, followed by a wrestling career at Penn State University. He then coached club teams in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
As a Big Ten school, Penn State has a grueling wrestling program that instills toughness, Heller said. He’s bringing that toughness to Rumson-Fair Haven.
“If we have a 90-minute practice, we have to work as hard as we can for those 90 minutes,” he said.
Heller was a starter for two years with the Nittany Lions, logging a career record of 65-35. He placed in the Big Ten Tournament twice, qualified at the national level in 2005 and finished in the top 12 at the 2006 U.S. Open.
At Rumson-Fair Haven, Heller was a four-time district finalist, winning two titles, in addition to two regional championships and two state tournament appearances.
Returning to Rumson-Fair Haven is the perfect opportunity to teach young athletes important life lessons, Heller said.
“I’m looking forward to working with kids who have the same upbringing as me and walk the same halls,” he said
He explained that his coaching philosophy centers on teaching his wrestlers to “keep moving forward, getting stronger and staying positive.”
“That goes a long way in life, too,” added Heller, who coached at Shore Thing in Lakewood, Triumph Wrestling in Ocean and other nationally ranked clubs.
Heller is taking over for Seth Herman, a former Bulldogs wrestler himself who is staying with the team as the assistant coach.
Both coaches are looking to build a new wrestling tradition at the school. Part of that plan is the Junior Bulldogs program, coached by Tom Skove, for up-andcoming grapplers in grades 1-8.
As for the varsity team, Rumson-Fair Haven has a strong group of young wrestlers who are poised to help the team work its way up the rankings.
Giving Rumson-Fair Haven a morale boost this season is a renovated gym and separate wrestling space — just another piece of the puzzle as Rumson-Fair Haven looks to shake up the Shore Conference.
Rising standouts Marcus Iwama and Cole Bisaccia will be back this winter for their junior seasons. Iwama (126 pounds) finished 33-5 last season, advancing to Atlantic City after a third-place finish in the Region 6 tournament. Bisaccia (106 pounds) was 23-9 overall.
The Bulldogs begin the season on Dec. 21 at the Caldwell Tournament, raising the level of competition right from the start.
“We’ll get some high-quality matchups there,” the new head coach said of the opening tournament. “That’s the kind of measuring stick we need early in the season.”