WMC Wrestlers Montuore, Borgia and Neill Blaze Distinct Podium Paths

11/27/24

By David Yaskulka
Photos from Jen Sheppard, Sheryl Reed, Olivia Montuore

Three West Morris Central wrestling hammers, from three different classes, have traveled three different paths to the same goal: the NJSIAA State Championships. Now, Mark Montuore, Tommy Borgia and Brody Neill start their different paths to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, where the creme’ de la creme of NJ wrestlers compete every March.

They lead a group of WMC grapplers gunning for the same holy grail, including Jacob Harrison, Jacob Fahmi, and AJ Codella, who fell just short last season.

Senior captain Montuore fell just short three times, despite being one of the best wrestlers in team history, and among NJ’s best. He’s poised to leverage historic dual-meet success (on pace to surpass Shane Metzler’s WMC team points record) for a championship run.

“Making it to Atlantic City completes my career as a West Morris wrestler, and will finish off my goals for high school (besides a team Sectional title which I plan on winning this year),” he said. Montuore’s path has been blocked by crazy stacked Region 3 brackets, which could change this season.

Borgia, like only Michael Campanaro before him, got to AC his first two years – and at a weight class dominated by upperclassmen. After a highlight-reel football season, he ascends to HWT with questions: Will he succeed at HWT? Will he even make varsity, with friend and fellow District champion Codella looming?

Neill reached the promised land last season, climbing the podium no WMC rookie had ever touched, finishing seventh at 106 lbs. While ranking sites are skeptical if he can repeat (based on un-typical AC circumstances), Neill aims for the ultimate title.

New AC Paths

Sophomore Harrison and juniors Fahmi and Codella reached Regions, but like Montuore, fell short of States. They’ve knocked on Boardwalk Hall’s door, and could get in this season.

“Fahmi is one wrestler I definitely want to help make States,” said Montuore. “He fell short because of cutting weight, but I think he's made major improvements and is at the level to compete to get there this year.”

Returning starters Robert Fazzino and Michael Borgia, and some of WMC’s strong freshman class, including Chris Kowalik, Jonathan Cabarle, and Deacon Frayne could all get there too.

Wrestlers to watch? “First off is my brother [Michael],” said Borgia. “He’s gotten big and is ready to compete at a high level. Second is Cabarley. If he’s willing to put the work in, I know for a fact he will get the results.”

The hammers will help.

“We are going to push them hard in practice to get their cardio up, and get them used to six minute matches,” said Tommy Borgia. “We are going to work hard in the weight room to stay strong in certain positions, while also working agility and change of direction.”

“Mark, Tommy, and Brody have put in a ton of time this offseason,” said head coach Chris Marold, citing private lessons, top wrestling clubs, and national tournaments in pursuit of their individual goals.

But Marold also pointed to returning captain Montuore’s role leading the squad’s pursuit of excellence – “Mark is a vital piece of us being a successful team. I know I can count on him when something needs to get done.”

Brody Neill: The Harder You Work, the Luckier You Get

Ranking sites haven’t shown Neill the respect befitting a returning medalist. Neill’s all-time WMC record freshman wins (38) included a girls state champ, a nationally-ranked wrestler, a return-from-injury pin for seventh in AC, a WMC-record (tied) 26 pins, and a remarkable three avenged losses. RankWresters has Neill at #9 in NJ before adding the freshman class. FloWrestling has Delbartons’s PJ Terranona #5 nationwide at 106, while Neill, who pinned Terranova and placed higher at States, is unranked.

Why? Some think Neill got a little lucky at States. As the 16-seed, Neill faced the 32-seed in pre-quarter finals when the top-seed forfeited. Then, in consolation quarters, Oumar Tounkara was winning, but lost to Neill on an illegal injury-causing move.

Was it luck? This writer (and RankWrestlers) thought the top-seed got lucky with his seed, and Neill would have beaten him. And WMC’s best pinner never had the chance to turn the tables on Tounkara, and then had to overcome injury to win seventh. This writer thinks Thomas Jefferson had it right: "I am a great believer in luck,” he said. “I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."

Tommy Borgia: Upperclassmen Bigs Prevail in AC

Borgia is coming off a football season ranked among state leaders in tackles and sacks. He was named the top Morris-Sussex recruit by the acclaimed McCarthy Report.

At the end of last season's State Championship, Borgia said “I had a feeling I have never had before. Something clicked that I never want to have that feeling of losing in that arena again.”

Last season, 32 of 32 HWTs wrestling at States were upperclassmen. Just twelve (38%) were juniors. In Borgia’s bracket at 215 (as well as at HWT), five of the eight medalists have graduated. Now Borgia is an upperclassman and will not surprise anyone if he lands on the podium.

“I know this year is going to be different,” he says now. “ I have been working In the off-season, getting bigger, stronger, and faster than I have ever been before. I'm feeling great up at my natural body weight. And I know at this point the only thing that will stop me from getting on the podium at AC is myself.”

Team Glory to Individual Glory: Mark Montuore

Montuore could join the Mt. Rushmore of WMC dual meet wrestlers, but wants to cement his individual legacy. Last season, Montuore was seeded eighth at Regions, despite being the fourth-ranked wrestler in the bracket. With a better seed, he likely would have advanced, with losses only to the top two seeds, both of whom finished top-12 in AC.

In 2022, Montuore’s Region 3 bracket was historically brutal, with three NJ top-10 ranked wrestlers, and five in the top-15. While on average, the top 32 ranked wrestlers in NJ go to States, that year eight of those competed for four slots in Region 3. A top-15 wrestler, and Mark, went home.

RankWrestlers has Montuore ranked #25 in NJ at 113, and at the moment, only one other top-40 wrestler at 113 is in Region 3. Although many things can change, if RankWresters holds serve, they predict Montuore vs. Delbarton in the Region 3 finals, with AC a foregone conclusion at that point (since top-four advance).

About 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 and 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 plastic action platform, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

He invites all WMC wrestlers and their families to connect with him (and with each other!) on LinkedIn.