Middlesex Blue Jay Wrestling - The fastest-growing Recreation program!

Thinking about having your child try a new school sport for the Winter? Give Wrestling a try! It's a sport like no other!

Written by Joe Igneri

Winter Sports are around the corner and the fastest-growing Recreation program in town might surprise you!

Over the past three years, you may have heard all the buzz about the Blue Jay Wrestling program. It’s been around for well over 10 years, but in recent years the number of sign-ups has exploded. 67 kids were registered last year, up from 50 in 2021, for the Recreation K-6 program. They compete in the Central Jersey Wrestling league. In a town this small, that is an unbelievable turnout!

If you ask the Recreation program’s manager, Rob McQuone, he expects that number to get even higher this year. “When I took this program over, I had about 10 wrestlers and not much to offer the kids. We stuck it out, and now with so many great parents coming along, it has just taken off. I am so proud of what we built. The Blue Jay Recreation Wrestling program prides itself on taking any and all kids, from no experience at all to wrestlers vying for a state championship. I think that’s what makes our Recreation program so special. You look on the mat and there are kids with all different experience levels, but they’re all together, working hard and having fun. We have a few girls in the Recreation program too and they are some of our toughest wrestlers. I really hope to see more girls this year as well. I tell parents all the time, just come and try it. There is no pressure to compete or jump into matches right away. It’s a great workout and keeps the kids busy and off the couch. If they end up loving it, great. It’s a sport like no other.”

So how did you get started in wrestling? I asked Joe Igneri, who has two boys in the program now. “JoJo was 5 years old and we got two flyers from school. One was basketball, the other wrestling. I said, let’s try wrestling. I had no background in the sport, knew a couple kids in high school that wrestled, but it really was non-existent where I grew up. The first few practices were tough. I was at work and my wife would say he won’t go in, he was scared and nervous. So I came home early one night and made sure he went in. The rest is kind of history, we never looked back, he loves it and we’ve been hooked ever since.”

Rob McQuone, the Recreation wrestling manager for eight years, has a similar story with his second son, Vincent. “Vin was scared to just go out there and get his hand raised for a forfeit. He stuck it out and now he competes year round at national tournaments.” Rob Bender, father of Evan, one of the newest Blue Jays, says he found out through talking to the dads at football. He gave it a shot and now Evan has a new favorite sport. “I’m really glad we gave it a shot. It’s been amazing and we’re only just getting started.”

Wrestling is a sport that builds character and confidence. It really shows kids at young age they can do anything they work hard for. The Blue Jays wrestling season never really ends, and the program will be putting out some off-season clinics and hope to see more faces in the future. Keep an eye out for our Open Mat program through the Recreation Department. It’s a great place to give wrestling a try.

If you’re looking to try something new, something different, and be a part of a really special program, consider your child to become a Recreation Blue Jay wrestler.

Registration is now open for our Recreation Team, Grades K-6. The program is also open to Dunellen residents. Register by November 3rd. See our flyer for more details.

Look for our display for the month of October at the Middlesex Public Library, 1300 Mountain Avenue, Middlesex, next to the Reference Desk!

Questions? Contact Rob McQuone, Team Manager, robmcquone3110@gmail.com

Middle School Head Coach, Christian Bollin bollinc@middlesex.k12.nj.us

High School Head Coach, Ryan Boyd boydr@middlesex.k12.nj.us