New Blood On the Mat: WMC Freshman Infusion Led by Kowalik and Cabarle

11/20/24

By David Yaskulka
Photos from Jen Sheppard, Sheryl Reed, WMC Parents Club

According to West Morris Central Wrestling Coach Chris Marold, more than half his 2024-25 lineup could be new starters. “We could have 3-4 freshman starters. They are a quality group. We could also have some guys with varsity experience not starting, giving us opportunities to jockey the lineup. That depth makes us a much better dual meet team.” The season starts at Hanover Park on 12/14.

Highly-ranked freshman Chris Kowalik, along with classmates Jonathan Cabarle, Deacon Frayne, Jake Reed and Lucas Harrison could all become starters this season. Other new starters could include senior Erin Villanueva, junior Hayden Hurst, and sophomores Kurt Beyer and John Garcia.

This group is ready to complement returning starters including Brody Neill, Mark Montuore, Jacob Harrison, Jacob Fahmi, Robert Fazzino, Michael Borgia, Tommy Borgia and AJ Codella. It's a strong base including a state medalist (Neill), Region champ (T. Borgia), Region qualifiers and big men entering their high school prime (becoming juniors).

Fearsome Freshmen

Kowalik is the most heralded freshman. Full Circle wrestling ranks him #18 in New Jersey at 190 lbs. (#3 among freshmen, and the third highest-ranked on the Pack). He was USAW NJ state champion as a seventh grader, and won bronze last season. He is a Defense Soap Super 32 Wrestling All American, placing seventh at the prestigious Greensboro, NC tournament last year.

Inspired by his dad, Kowalik started wrestling at the age of six, and is a fan of Iowa high-energy All American Austin DeSanto. His goal this season is to qualify for the NJSIAA State Championship Tournament in Atlantic City, something only one WMC freshman big man has ever done. Fortunately for Kowalik, he’ll be able to hone his metal by practicing against that very ground-breaker, now-junior Tommy Borgia.

Cabarle also brings stellar youth achievements to the Pack as the reigning Northern New Jersey Youth Wrestling League (NNJYWL) champion. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament after dominating with pins in the semis and finals. Cabarle also won that championship in 2022, alongside now-teammates Neill and Borgia. Now, Cabarle is the likely 138 pound starter for the Pack.

Frayne took bronze at the NNJYWL, and fourth at USAWNJ, which bodes well for a high school career. After going 7-4 at the TCNJ varsity wrestling camp, he could start at 175, forming a fearsome freshman fellowship near the top of Coach Marold’s lineup with Kowalik. Frayne’s name is familiar to the Wolfpack faithful, as Deacon’s brother Henry was an all-time great wrestler for the Pack – the career record holder for falls, and a two-time district champion. Henry’s single-season pin record was matched last season by Neill.

Reed has a chance to achieve his goal of starting at 106 lbs. Reed is a relative newcomer to the sport, which bodes well for the possibility of rapid improvement – especially since “my dad and I watched a lot of [Penn State wrestling greats] Beau Bartlett and Aaron Brooks.” As WMC Wrestling Parents Club president Mark Montuore stated, “As you know 106 for WMC has a long history of phenomenal freshmen – Neill, Montuore, Michael Campanaro, Michael Ferrante, Robbie Bohr, Mike Caso, Shane Metzler and more.”

Harrison also has a chance to start, possibly at 126, depending on the weights of returning Region qualifiers Neill, Montuore, Fahmi and Lucas’ brother Jacob. The older Harrison, now a sophomore, was District finalist in his breakout freshman year.

More New Blood

Beyer is the most experienced potential new starter. He could take 150 lbs. as Fazzino goes up in weight. Beyer got nine varsity starts last season, while going 5-2 on JV and taking WMC JV tournament silver.

Garcia got four varsity starts and excelled on JV, going 11-3 and winning the WMC JV Tournament championship. He was the recipient of the WMC Future Stars Award. He got five wins at the TCNJ wrestling camp. Garcia was introduced to wrestling by his dad, who wrestled at Voorhees, where Metzler now coaches. Garcia aspires to start at 157, and to someday become a forensic scientist or detective.

Hurst was one of only two undefeated wrestlers for the Pack last season, going 1-0 on varsity (Brandon Dean was 14-0 before departing for Colorado). He has a chance to achieve his goal of starting varsity, possibly at 144 lbs. Hurst credits his coaches for making that possible, “My coaches are the people who have most influenced me in wrestling – they have taught me and guided me since I started.” Hurst went 6-4 at the TCNJ varsity wrestling camp.

Villanueva is the elder statesman of this group. He won WMC JV tournament bronze while getting pins in all six of his victories. After getting five wins at TCNJ, he could compete with Garcia for 157.

Freshman 2012-13 with Cole Solsky, Caleb Isemann, Ben Yaskulka, Mike Brown, Shea Owen and Noah Yaskulka.

On Deck

The Pack starts the season at historic rival Hanover Park 12/14 for a tri-meet (TBD), featuring girls state champ and #70 ranked (RankWrestlers.com) at 106 lb. Gabriella Conte, #4 190 pounder Vincenco Lavalle, #10 @120 Nick Difrancescantonio, and #23 @165 Nando Ott. WMC is at Jefferson 12/17 with #33 @215 Alexander DaSilva. Home opener is against powerhouse Pope John 12/18, with #3 @ 126 Dalton Weber, #4 @ 132 Carson Welsh, #10 @ 106 Jake Holly (whom Neill topped at States for 7th), and #21 @ 190 David Thomson.

The Morris Knolls Holiday Tournament is 12/21, and the John Goles Tournament 12/28. Goles’ degree of difficulty could ramp up a notch if powerhouse Southern (one of the nation’s top-ranked public schools, and #1 in NJ) brings their varsity squad this year.

Powerhouse Caldwell visits WMC 1/3/25 with #5 @ 106 Carmine Sipper, #13 @ 190 Andrew Fonseca, #19 @ 175 Nicholas Mignone and #20 @215 Michael Mignone.

The Del Val quad is 1/4/25 with Kittatinny and Morris Knolls. WMC visits NJ #1 Delbarton 1/7 which could feature a rematch between nationally-ranked PJ Terranova, and Neill (who pinned Terranova last match).

About the writer, David Yaskulka

David began living his sportswriter dream to avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben began wrestling for the Wolfpack in 2012. He is a passionate sustainability advocate, pet industry executive, serves as Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, Board Director at Greater Good Charities; and Board Advisor at Arch Pet Food, rePurpose Global, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.