Ricky DiLorenzo breaks down his journey from a lightly competing youth wrestler to a New Jersey state placer and one of the toughest competitors in the state.

In this episode, we cover:

• His rise at Toms River East

• The impact of Coach Mark Gray on the program

• Why he doesn’t overcomplicate training

• Balancing a 4.6 GPA with high-level wrestling

• His state tournament run (and tough losses)

• The mindset shift needed to go from placer → champion

This one is different — no hype, no fluff. Just a wrestler who keeps it simple… and gets results.

🤼‍♂️ NJ Wrestling

📍 Toms River East

🧠 Discipline • Consistency • Development

00:00 – Show Open & NJ Officials PSA

00:46 – Meet Ricky DiLorenzo

01:08 – Early Wrestling & Limited Competition

01:53 – Considering Leaving for CBA

02:20 – Coaching Changes at Toms River East

03:04 – Impact of Coach Mark Gray

04:02 – Freshman Year Injury (Fractured Elbow)

04:18 – Sophomore Year Breakout (4th in NJ)

04:50 – Offseason Approach: “Just Keep Working”

05:46 – Team Culture Shift Under Coach Gray

07:20 – Shore Conference & Tough Competition Ahead

07:56 – Leadership Style: Lead by Example

08:16 – Practice Habits & Routine

09:18 – Family Support & Wrestling Background

09:47 – Academics: 4.6 GPA & School Balance

10:15 – College Options: Ivy vs Big Ten

11:03 – Strength Training & Old School Approach

11:49 – Weight Management & Nutrition

12:17 – Offseason Training & Workout Partners

12:54 – Freestyle vs Folkstyle Debate

13:56 – Problems with Rules: Control & Stalling

14:47 – Would He Change Anything About Wrestling?

15:40 – Life Outside Wrestling

16:14 – Personality, Popularity & Staying Grounded

16:54 – Teammates & Training Partners

18:00 – When He Started Wrestling

18:18 – Future in MMA?

19:03 – College Goals: All-American → National Champ

20:06 – Long-Term Plans (Law Enforcement)

21:00 – Shoutouts & Support System

21:57 – Season Recap: District Title → Regions Loss

22:17 – State Tournament Loss to Greyson Pettit

23:00 – Backside Matches & Tough Losses

23:59 – Finishing 7th in NJ

24:59 – Mental Lessons from States

25:38 – Final Reflections & Moving Forward

26:28 – Outro

From getting beat up as a kid… to standing on top of New Jersey.

Gideon Gonzalez joins New Jersey Mat Chat to break down his journey to becoming a New Jersey State Champion at 138 lbs — and what it really took to get there.

We dive into:

• Growing up in a wrestling family

• The pressure of carrying a name

• Fargo & Greco success translating to folkstyle

• Bergen Catholic vs St. Joe’s rivalry

• Getting sick days before states… and still winning it all

• The mindset that separates good from elite

This episode is about more than wins — it’s about belief, development, and doing things the hard way.

If you’re a wrestler, parent, or coach in NJ… this is one to study.

🤼‍♂️ New Jersey Wrestling

🧠 Mindset • Discipline • Development

📍 Built for NJ wrestlers

00:00 – Show Open & NJ Officials PSA

00:45 – Meet Gideon Gonzalez (138 State Champ)

00:58 – What Winning a State Title Felt Like

01:47 – Growing Up in a Wrestling Family

02:47 – Early Influences & Role Models

03:36 – Other Sports & Choosing Wrestling

04:01 – Brother’s State Title & Family Impact

05:20 – Pressure, Legacy & Setting Bigger Goals

05:53 – Choosing Bergen Catholic

06:30 – Adjusting to a National-Level Program

08:34 – Early High School Struggles & Skill Gaps

10:00 – Fargo & Greco Breakthrough

10:47 – Bergen Catholic vs St. Joe’s Rivalry

12:38 – Season Journey & Early Losses

14:33 – Cutting Weight & Lineup Adjustments

15:05 – Close Matches & Learning Limits

16:33 – Getting Sick Right Before States

18:56 – State Tournament Run Begins

19:44 – State Finals Match Breakdown

21:09 – Becoming a State Champion

21:51 – Training Room, Teammates & Culture

22:30 – Mindset: Wrestling Fearless

23:37 – Club Wrestling vs Multiple Rooms

24:49 – Carrying the Gonzalez Name

24:56 – College Plans & Future Goals

26:25 – Legacy: How He Wants to Be Remembered

27:29 – Advice for Young Wrestlers

28:56 – Coaches & Final Shoutouts

Become an wrestling official: http://njwoa.net

Some wrestlers compete with doubt. Others don’t.

Luke Johnston joins New Jersey Mat Chat to break down the mindset behind his approach to wrestling — one built on confidence and preparation. And a pace like no other.

We talk about what separates good wrestlers from great ones, how he handles pressure in big matches, and the habits that build real consistency on and off the mat.

This episode isn’t about hype — it’s about control, discipline, and showing up ready.

If you’re serious about wrestling in New Jersey, this is one to watch.

🤼‍♂️ NJ Wrestling

🧠 Mindset • Discipline • Confidence

📍 Built in New Jersey

00:00 – Show Open & NJ Officials PSA

00:45 – Meet Luke Johnston

01:05 – Where It All Started (Early Wrestling Days)

01:50 – When He Knew He Was Different

02:40 – Building Confidence Early

03:30 – Training Environment & Coaches Impact

04:20 – What Separates Good vs Great Wrestlers

05:10 – Developing the “No Issues” Mindset

06:00 – Handling Pressure & Expectations

06:50 – Big Matches & Proving Himself

07:40 – Learning From Losses (Without Losing Confidence)

08:30 – In-Match Mindset & Adjustments

09:20 – Wrestling Style & Approach

10:05 – Practice Habits That Actually Matter

10:50 – Strength, Conditioning & Discipline

11:40 – Staying Focused During the Season

12:20 – Biggest Challenges Faced

13:10 – Turning Point in His Career

14:00 – Goals for This Season

14:50 – College Wrestling Aspirations

15:30 – Advice for Younger Wrestlers

16:20 – What “No Issues” Really Means

17:10 – Final Thoughts & Message to NJ Wrestling