BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
HOWELL — For John Gagliano, it’s not 100 wins and counting.
“Honestly, the 100 wins mean nothing to me,” said Howell High School’s wrestling coach. “The most important thing to me is the impact I have on the kids.”
Since taking over the reigns at his alma mater, where Gagliano was a NJSIAA District and Region champion, that impact has gone beyond the wins and losses to the pride that he has restored to the program. Not only are the Rebels back to the lofty heights they had once enjoyed winning championships and ranking among the Shore’s best, but they have reinvigorated the program. Wrestling matters again.
Along the way, Gagliano, who is in his eighth year as Howell’s head coach, has become one of the Shore Conference’s most successful coaches, notching his 100th career win earlier in the season against Manalapan.
That’s why Howell’s 0-3 start caught so many by surprise. But Gagliano knew better than to panic. His starting lineup, which includes four freshmen, was very young and inexperienced. The Rebels were going through their growing pains, and Gagliano was confident that sooner or later the team would jell.
“We knew what we had,” Gagliano noted. “It was a matter of how long it would take.”
It turns out that was three matches. Starting with their 39-15 win over longtime rival Manalapan, the Rebels have been on a roll, reeling off six consecutive wins and getting themselves back into the postseason playoff picture.
The biggest win during the streak was Howell’s upset of Brick Memorial, ranked No. 10 in the state, on Jan. 15, 30-24. It was the Rebels’ second win in the last three years over the Shore’s most decorated program.
“It was a great match,” Gagliano pointed out. “Every kid, all 14, wrestled with intensity for all six minutes. You can’t ask for more.”
The young Rebels are maturing daily. The team’s bright future has quickly become now.
“They are wrestling very well and working hard,” Gagliano said. “These kids are the hardest workers I’ve ever had. They just keeping going nonstop and now, they’ve gotten a taste of success.”
Cody Fobes (103), Joe Langel (112), Jim Ecklof (119) and Mike Bonfig (215) are the freshmen who have been in the lineup since the start of the season.
“We knew going in that they were good,” Gagliano said.
Fobes, has two tournament titles already, the Neptune Classic (a title the Rebels picked up as a team as well), and Roselle Park Invitational, at Roselle Park. Langel placed third.
Like any good, young team senior leadership has been very important. Marty Holleran (135), Tom Russo (140) and Chris Trapani (125) are on the only seniors on the club.
“They have been doing a good job as leaders,” Gagliano said.
This will be a busy week for the Rebels as they look to keep the momentum going against two very good teams. Last night,, the Rebels hosted once-beaten Christian Brothers Academy at 6:30 p.m. and today, are at Marlboro (5-2), one of the Shore’s up-and-coming programs at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday at 10 a.m., the Rebels are hosting a quad with Brick Township, Cherry Hills West and Lower Cape May the other participants.