Clean Sweep: Mustang Wrestling Team Wins Their Division
On Friday, Jan. 13, the JFK Mustang wrestling team won their division for the first time since 2010. The Mustangs swept their competition as they went 7-0 in their division matches.
The JFK Wrestling Mustangs after defeating North Plainfield to win the division
January 23, 2023
The Mustangs’ success came largely from their group of seniors. Yousef Abdelaal, Subtain Ali, Derek Cistrelli, Giovanni Maglione and Mark Roche have used their leadership and experience to set the standard for the rest of the team.
“It feels good to see all the hard work that all of the wrestlers put in,” said Head Coach Matthew Creighton. “Especially for the seniors that have been with the program for the last three and a half years, to see them achieve something that we have been talking about since their freshman year.”
Maglione, 2022 GMC champion and state qualifier, was very proud of himself and his peers for finally getting Coach Creighton his division title. Maglione felt that winning the division was more significant because it was his senior year.
It means a lot to me because I know it wasn’t only my goal, but it was Coach Creighton’s goal and Coach McCarthy’s goal. — Senior Giovani Maglione
“Freshman year, he [Creighton] actually brought us out to the gym and he said one of his goals was to get a division title… getting it my senior year means a lot to me,” Maglione stated.
The Mustang wrestlers had a different approach to the season. They prioritized summer workouts and focused on perfecting their technique. Their hard work paid off as they have gone undefeated in division matches and are 15-0 in the season.
The next step for the wrestling team is to continue their success and host a state team match. The wrestlers also have their own personal goals for when the sport becomes individual.
The incredible season that wrestlers have had could have a positive impact on the rest of JFK’s sports. Assistant coach, Quentin McCarthy, believes more kids will be drawn to the success of the wrestling program and try out for the rest of the school’s sports.
The Mustang Wrestlers will compete in the county tournament this weekend, Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.
