Daily Record 3/18/03 By Joe Hofmann

12 months of dedication carries Delbarton’s Antonio Mangione to glory

Note: The following article is a reprint from the Daily Record. Writer Joe Hofmann looks back at the last 12 months that led up to Antonio Mangione's 2nd NJ State title.

There aren’t many wrestlers quite like Delbarton’s Antonio Mangione. Not many kids, either.

Few wrestlers are as talented. Few are as popular among their peers. Few are as delightful to be around.

The 140-pound senior won his second straight state championship in Atlantic City on Sunday, but he was just as thrilled for some of the other state champs. And as supportive of those who didn’t win.

Of course, Mangione was clearly pumped when Delbarton teammate Mike Grey won the 103-pound state championship. But Mangione was one of the first ones to greet Mendham’s Steve Adamcsik when Adamcsik won his 119-pound state title. And Mangione was one of the first to console close friend Ivan Wiggins of Sterling after Wiggins lost a disputed semifinal bout Saturday.

Once Mangione was through answering reporters’ questions after winning his title Sunday, he asked Toms River East’s Vin Salek how he’d done. When Salek responded that he’d won, Mangione gave him a giant bear hug and an ear-to-ear grin -- the same one Mangione had worn a short time earlier, after beating Wallkill Valley’s Charlie Pinto.

"He is friends with everybody," Delbarton assistant coach Guy Russo said. "I don’t know of anyone who dislikes him. If he ran for Congress, he’d win. Little kids walk by, he’ll talk to them, too."

Mangione isn’t just Mr. Nice Guy. He became the eighth wrestler in Morris County history to win two state championships. He finished his career with an astounding 143-4 record -- just one win shy of the New Jersey record for wins.

Winning a state title doesn’t happen overnight. Repeating is just as difficult, if not even more so. Just ask 2002 state champions Brandon Becker of Kingsway and Absegami’s Jeff Black -- two guys who failed in their bid to return to the throne over the weekend.

But Mangione did get back on top.

It was a long, grueling ride, but Mangione got off it a state champion once again.

Here are a few selected days of his last year.

March 10, 2002

Antonio Mangione arrived at the famed Boardwalk Hall at around 8 a.m. He and Randolph senior Patrick Dattalo were the first to arrive.

Both made a vow that they’d bring state championships home to Morris County.

Both would be successful.

Dattalo held up his end of the bargain with a stunning pin over Bergen Catholic’s Bryan Nunziato that brought the capacity crowd to its feet.

Mangione was pumped for his buddy. A short time later, Dattalo would be just as happy for his friend.

No one loves the glitter and spotlight more than Mangione. But when it came down to business against Clearview’s Mark Cartella in the state finals, Mangione decided to forego his showmanship and simply go all-out for the gold medal.

He lacked his usual flair for wrestling but was successful in his quest -- winning a 5-1 decision for Delbarton’s first state championship.

"He did what he could to win," Green Wave coach Ted O’Donnell said. "He got ahead and let him up. Antonio is a performer, but this time he was ahead and very conservative after that."

Mangione could care less. He had finished a disappointing fourth in the states the previous year after having reached the finals as a mere freshman. So getting the ultimate prize was sweet, no matter how he did it.

"I went out thinking this was just another match," Mangione said. "I let the pressure get to me. This time, I treated it like a simple match, without any pressure."

When the clock wound down to zero, Mangione froze for a split second.

"Time stood still," he said. "It hit zero, and I’m thinking, ‘I won! ... I won!’"

Added O’Donnell, "After he wins, he looks at me and says, ‘I’m a state champ.’ All I could say was, ‘Yes, you are.’"

Said Russo, "The relief of all the stress was gone. When he turned to me and Ted, that was evident in his face. He wrestled a match like with that amount of pressure and he didn’t make any mistakes. He could’ve won by technical fall (a 15-point margin)."

That night, the Mangione family treated it like any other. They flew up the Parkway, grabbed a pizza in Morristown, went home and enjoyed their night as a family.

Sept. 14, 2002

Columbia University, New York City

It didn’t take long for Mangione to decide where he wanted to continue his wrestling career. Columbia won out over Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

"The day I decided on Columbia was the day I visited," Mangione said. "Columbia was the first one I visited and I chose it the moment I stepped onto campus. It’s so cool to me. When you’re outside the campus walls, you’re in the middle of the city. Then you’re on campus. It’s the best of both worlds. There’s so much opportunity."

Mangione will major either film -- he’d like to be a director -- or business. Of course, he’ll wrestle in college. He would like to go 141, one pound over his high school weight. But as great as Mangione is, there might be a more seasoned wrestler in the lineup at his weight. So he may have to settle for a backup spot or even drop to 133.

Nov. 29, 2002

First day of wrestling practice

Delbarton School

No day is more grueling for a wrestler than the season-opening practice. If you’re a returning state champion, that first day can be even more difficult. And if the team has a chance to be competitive, wrestling coaches will make sure the entire team is armed for battle.

"We told them their conditioning level would never be higher," Russo said. "They’ll be pushed harder from Day One. It’s our job to make sure they’re ready."

Russo knows from experience. He was a state champion for West Essex High School in 1982. Russo was king of the wrestling world -- and he believed it.

His competition didn’t.

"No one told me that they come at you harder when you’re the champion," Russo said.

Russo saw to it that Mangione would have someone to contend with in the Delbarton workout room.

"I’d kill him in practice," Russo said.

The coaches would have the wrestlers do sprints until their heart rate was 30 beats in 10 seconds.

"By the end of the year, no one could say they weren’t in shape," Russo said. "That’s our responsibility as coaches. When you’re in the third period, you’re supposed to hit your move, not be too tired to do it."

Added O’Donnell, "We knew this could be the year we could do something as a team. To do anything, we had to be in shape. We went hard from Day One. We did a lot of running, leg work, chest work, a lot of everything."

Mangione knew the torture was coming, but that didn’t keep him from being his easy-going, joking self before practice. By the middle of practice, that would change.

"The smile kind of faded away," O’Donnell said. "Let’s just say that I think Antonio and (senior teammate Bill) Colgan had a little too much to eat before practice."

Recalled Mangione, "The first day of practice, the coaches have this sick thing of seeing how many people can puke. Me and Colgan puked. I mean, Colgan threw up everywhere. The first day was one of our hardest practices of the year. It was great. We were sprinting and going hard. We did partner squats and my legs ached for four days. It was a good way to start the season."

Dec. 21, 2002

Hopatcong Christmas Tournament

Hopatcong High School

Whoops! O’Donnell and Russo blew it at the seeding meeting before the tournament. They lost Mangione’s paper work and he was seeded a lowly eighth. He would have to face a defending champion out of Pennsylvania.

Just kidding.

But that’s what the coaches told Mangione when they arrived at Hopatcong.

"We try and take the pressure off the kids -- definitely him," O’Donnell said. "We try and take the edge off."

Said Mangione, "They love messing with me."

"We tell them, ‘Relax, it’s a wrestling match, you’ve been out there thousands of times," O’Donnell said. "He stepped onto the mat and was all business. We thought we could’ve won the tournament if we wrestled well. He had two pins and a technical fall and we won the tournament despite us bringing just nine kids."

Mangione pinned Parsippany’s Wahead Shamsudin in 3:44 in the finals. He treated the individual title the way he treats any win. He truly cherished it.

"All tournaments are big," Mangione said. "I realize anyone can get caught and beat. I just try and wrestle and not listen to crowds. It’s weird. Every now and then I hear an ooh and an aah, but to me I’m just wrestling."

Mangione’s consistent work ethic and incredible talent would serve to inspire the team all season.

"He’s a state champ, so his presence puts a lot of pressure on the other kids to work harder," Russo said. "Peer pressure is wonderful if you can channel it. Nobody wanted to let Antonio down."

Dec. 27, 2002

Parsippany Christmas Tournament

Parsippany High School

Uh-oh. Mangione was two-tenths over his 140-pound weight when he weighed in. Not good.

"I was in utter disbelief," Mangione said.

Mangione’s best friend and Delbarton teammate Eric Marcotulli, who lives in Parsippany, told Mangione where to stand on the scale.

"Their scale is a little heavier than ours," O’Donnell said. "He stepped on a different part of the scale and he made weight, no problem."

He also won his weight class, no problem. Another tournament, another title. Once again, Mangione defeated Parsippany’s Shamsudin, a solid wrestler who worked out with Mangione in the offseason.

Mangione didn’t take winning this title for granted, ether.

All tournaments are big," he said. "So winning was a big step in the right direction. I go in and want to wrestle hard. It’s less pressure compared to states, regions or districts."

Mangione is one of the few wrestlers who makes everyone stop what they are doing to watch. Stellar 103-pound teammate Mike Grey is beginning to have that effect. Russo said Mangione opened the floodgates and put Delbarton wrestling on the map.

"Some great kids have applied," he said. "(Athletics-wise), Admissions does not care who gets in, but the better wrestlers who have applied has skyrocketed."

Feb. 9, 2003

Morris County Tournament

Roxbury High School

It seems like just yesterday when a much-younger Mangione went to the MCTs and watch the big guys wrestle. Now he was one of them -- and making history in the process.

Mangione joined Hanover Park’s James LaValle and Randolph’s Ryan Brennan as the MCT’s lone four-time champions.

He ranks the county tournament right behind the states in importance -- even ahead of the districts and the regions.

"The states are the biggest, obviously," he said. "But you get to wrestle in front of people I’ve known my whole life and a lot of guys I know who are ex-wrestlers. The districts doesn’t have that many teams. At the regions, I really don’t know that many people."

The MCT is also closest to his heart because that is where the Randolph product rooted for a lot of his hometown favorites.

"I rooted for guys like (Randolph’s) Chris DiMeo," Mangione said. "I was still a Randolph kid and I wasn’t sure about Delbarton. One of my idols was LaValle, who was one of the greatest ever. It’s funny, because he would take his medals and just put them in the closet."

That’s not the way it is in the Mangione house. Donald Mangione, Antonio’s proud father, displays his son’s trophies and medals for everyone to see. What dad wouldn’t?

"My dad is obsessed with them," Mangione laughs. "I’ll bring a girl or a friend into my house and I’ll just shuffle them through, hoping that no one sees anything."

This MCT was more fun for Mangione to be a part of for another reason. Delbarton won the team title for the first time ever.

"We thought we had the possibility to win as a team," O’Donnell said. "He won, but he really helped us at the tournament as a leader. He helped the younger guys get focused. He’ll fool around, but when the whistle blows, he’s all business."

Feb. 18, 2003

North Parochial A Tournament

Bergen Catholic, Oradell

Delbarton was eliminated from the state sectional team tournament by eventual state champion Bergen Catholic. That was expected. What happened along the way wasn’t.

O’Donnell wanted to prepare Mangione for a tough test for the upcoming postseason. He found it.

Mangione struggled mightily but eventually defeated Bergen’s physical Nick Matteo, a 145-pounder.

The days leading up to the match, Mangione got a little risky with his weight and it almost cost him.

"I was cutting a lot of weight to make 140 that day," he said. "We had a lot of days off from snow. I didn’t watch my weight like I should have. I was five pounds over and I had to cut a lot of weight. By the time I was there, I was dead. I had no energy."

Were it not for a heroic comeback, he wouldn’t have had a victory either.

Mangione took a 6-0 lead after two periods. But the final two minutes seemed like an eternity. He looked like was wrestling in quicksand.

"I knew Matteo was good, but I didn’t do anything that could’ve hurt me," Mangione said. "I was controlling him, but the guys said I wrestled for the chicks. I chose down to start the third period and he got me in a choke hold. Air stopped going into my lungs.

"The refs stopped it. I asked the ref to watch the choke hold. He told me he’d take care of his business if I took care of mine. I thought to myself that I can’t ever let a ref dictate the match. At that point, I started losing energy. I couldn’t see straight. I was locked in a cradle -- the first time I’d been cradled since freshman year (in a season-opening loss to Hopatcong’s Justin Lijo). I got off my back, but by that time I was dead. He hit me with another cradle and was winning 7-6. He caught me twice and I give him all the credit."

In the final five seconds, Mangione did what all champions do: found a way to win. He shot in and put Matteo to his back for a four-point move to end the match.

"I thought about (Lyndhurst’s Dennis) McSweeney," said Mangione, harkening back to the state tournament as a sophomore, when he lost in overtime in the state semifinals. "I stood up, used a back trip, and put him to his back to end the match."

Said Russo, "I have never seen a kid want to win a match so bad."

March 1, 2003

District 9

Morristown High School

The state tournament did not begin with O’Donnell or Russo giving Mangione a pep talk. He didn’t need one.

"At one time, I asked him if he was going to win states and he said he was going to try," Russo said. "I don’t need to do that anymore."

Mangione entered another history book when he major-decisioned Hanover Park’s McPaul Ogbonna to win his weight, 16-3. Mangione became just the fifth four-time champion in District 9 history.

A short time earlier, Marcotulli had become the fourth four-timer.

Neither of them were awarded Outstanding Wrestler. That honor went to Boonton’s Jon Latona, who pinned Parsippany’s Mike Whalen at the six-minute mark after trailing, 3-1.

O’Donnell and Russo admired Latona’s near-miraculous comeback win, but neither could believe it when he was named OW and Mangione or Marcotulli weren’t.

"You have to give Latona credit," O’Donnell said. "Plus, Whalen’s a great wrestler and a hard-working kid. But you don’t get that many four-time district champs, either. It didn’t seem like the coaches gave either Antonio or Eric a whole lot of credit."

"Marco should have gotten OW and it wasn’t the first time he didn’t get it that he should’ve," Mangione said. "His freshman year, he beat (Hanover Park’s Dan) Khitrik, who was a returning champion. He should have gotten it then and he should’ve gotten it as a senior."

"Antonio should have gotten it, of course," Russo said. "When Delbarton has an off season, it’s because we’re a small school. When we’re great, it’s because we recruit. At least, that’s what people think. People have something against Delbarton because they think we recruit. We don’t. We’re like Blair: We don’t recruit kids. Kids come to us."

Delbarton’s better wrestlers -- Mangione, Grey, Marcotulli, Colgan, Dan Berger and Austin Laverty -- seem to have picked up the pace, thanks to the coaching staff picking up the pace at practice after letting up for a couple of weeks.

"Kids lost 5-6 pounds per practice," Russo said. "When they do that, you know they’re going all out."

March 8, 2003

Region 3

Union High School

Mangione wrestled one his best matches ever, building a 10-0 lead in the first 50 seconds -- the crowd went bananas when he did it -- and defeated Columbia’s Kenrick Randall, 20-4.

Mangione won his third regional Outstanding Wrestler -- but he didn’t think he deserved it. Mangione thought 103-pound teammate Mike Grey should’ve after pinning his way through one of the best regional weight classes in all of New Jersey.

The Region 3 coaches gave it to Mangione as a testament to his career brilliance, almost as if it were a collective thank-you card for four years of greatness.

"It was one of the best matches I have ever seen him wrestle," O’Donnell said. "There was no forcing. Whatever was there, he took and that was very impressive. For someone like me, who has watched him wrestle for almost four years, I said to myself, ‘He’s on fire.’"

"He took it upon himself to show everyone that he was the best one there," Russo said. "The poor kid he beat had no idea what was going on."

Mangione thought OW was headed Grey’s way. Mangione found his jacket and was putting it on when he heard the announcement.

"That was unexpected," he said. "I thought maybe I could win it, but I didn’t think so. Going into it, I never expected to get it. Mike pinned two kids seeded ahead of him. (Seton Hall’s Jack) Decker beat (Elizabeth’s Amin) Queen. A lot of kids deserved it and I thought I was out of the race. I almost felt like I was a wasted vote and when they called my name, I was so blown away. That was the best I ever wrestled, but I don’t think I deserved it."

The better wrestlers have upped the intensity even further at practice. Delbarton’s wrestlers headed over to Union. Mangione worked with Millburn’s 2002 state finalist Zach Tanelli and Parsippany assistant coach Mike Flammer.

March 13, 2003

Caesar’s Palace, Atlantic City

The Delbarton entourage -- Mangione, Grey, Marcotulli, O’Donnell and Russo -- arrived at Caesar’s at about 3:30 in the afternoon. They checked in and Mangione, Grey and Marcotulli watched "The Ring" before heading to Planet Hollywood to eat. Mangione had a salad and some chicken. He and Grey went for a five-mile run on the boardwalk in the rain.

Sleeping the night before states wasn’t easy.

"I can’t ever get to bed here," Mangione said. "I’ll be resting, but I’m too excited right now to sleep. I’m going to states and this is my last year. I want to make the state finals and win it again. I don’t feel pressure. My sophomore year, I felt pressure. This year, I’m so excited just to go out there. I’m so ready to wrestle. How I wrestle in the region finals, that’s how I’m going to wrestle. I want to wrestle as aggressive and fast and as hard as I can. I don’t want to look back and say maybe I could’ve gone harder, I want to go all-out every match."

March 14, 2003

State tournament opens

Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

Mangione drew a first-round bye and beat Warren Hills’ tough freshman Dave Richmond in the second round, 8-4.

Trouble? Nah. Mangione knows the value of the old tournament adage: survive and advance.

"He was actually a tough little freshman," Russo said. "Antonio had the experience edge on him. Going into the tournament, I knew Antonio would wrestle a little more cautious. In the state tournament, you can’t go as all out as you normally would. You make a mistake, you’re done. It’s a whole different kind of wrestling. It’s tournament wrestling."

March 15, 2003

State quarterfinals, semifinals

Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

In the quarterfinals, Mangione beat Brick Memorial’s Drew Duddy, 21-12. Duddy put Mangione to his back for a three-count, but points were so easy to come by for Mangione that it didn’t matter. He continued his recipe that has carried him in state tournament competition. Score early and then frustrate opponents with his impeccable defense.

"Never was their a time when he was in jeopardy," Russo said. "He controlled the match. You can see the score and it was close, but watch the match and it wasn’t."

In the semifinals, Mangione hammered out an 8-2 win over Rancocas Valley’s Ryan Pope, another stubborn wrestler.

Down at the states, every wrestler has two or three moves that are head and shoulders above everyone else’s. That is why they are in Atlantic City and most of the other wrestlers are in the stands or at home.

That’s why Mangione has to forego his usual showmanship and return to basics. You won’t see Mangione attempt to win with a leg cradle, like the one he used to pin West Morris’ Matt Marino in 1:34.

Getting your hand raised by the official at the end of the match is all that matters.

"The states comes down to who the smarter kid is and who can score points early," Russo said. "A lot of times, matches are not blowouts until a kid is behind and really has to go for it."

Wrestlers are adversaries for six minutes on a wrestling mat. Off the mat, many of them have competed since lower grade school and have the utmost respect -- not to mention friendship -- for each other.

When Mangione and Wallkill Valley’s Charlie Pinto were through giving newspaper interviews after winning their semifinal bouts, they caught each others eye, smiled and shook hands.

"I’ll see you tomorrow," Pinto said with a laugh.

"It’s a date," Mangione answered, smiling.

March 16, 2003

State final

Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

The moment Delsea’s Don Fisch won the 135-pound championship, Mangione raced onto the mat in anticipation of his match with Pinto. He scored two first-period takedowns and then the pace of his match took a sudden turn. Like an angry dog latching onto the mailman’s ankle, Pinto began to hang with Mangione. And Pinto refused to let go.

Trailing 5-2, Pinto took Mangione down to close to within 5-4 with 1:16 left in the match. Sensing an upset, the crowd of 10,000 came alive.

Mangione escaped 14 seconds later.

Late in the third period, he was hit with a stalling warning, and with one second remaining was called for stalling. He hung on for a 6-5 win.

Even if it looked like Pinto was the aggressor, Mangione didn’t care because he had the gold medal.

Some seemed genuinely disappointed.

"So that’s the great Antonio Mangione?" someone asked.

"Look, everyone had 120 matches for him to be Antonio The Magnificent," Russo said. "But in the states, you can’t afford to take those chances. You can’t watch him go 1-2 matches to see just how great he is."

March 16, 2003

Antonio Mangione’s home

Randolph

Mangione is one of the greatest in Morris County history -- not to mention one of the most grateful. Not only is he ultra-talented and popular, he truly has grown to love and appreciate the sport of wrestling.

That was truly apparent when he penned this letter and posted it on a wrestling website:

"I just wanted to say thanks to everyone in this sport. My last four years have been a roller coaster ride from my "fun" introductions with (Sterling’s Mark) Manchio to my second title run ... and I wanted to say ‘Thank you’ to everyone that has been there with me the whole time. I want to say thank you to all the wrestlers that have showed me different lessons: Ivan Wiggins coming back this year to take third ... Pat Dattalo pinning his way to his second state title... (Camden Catholic’s) Bobby Ray Stinson never giving up and winning his elusive state title and the same with (Camden Catholic’s) Eddie Giosa.

There are a lot of people I can go on about, but I just wanted to say thank you to the fans, the wrestlers, the refs, and anyone else who’s a part of this sport. My last four years have been a challenge. To all those who just came up short -- (Millburn’s Zach) Tanelli and (Bergen Catholic’s Bryan) Nunziato -- don’t lose sight of your dream, and to (Delbarton’s Mike) Grey, one at a time.

And to everyone else good luck and God bless you guys. Thank you again everyone for everything. Oh, and (Lodi’s) Jerry Rinaldi showed us all what courage was. Congrats, brother."

Sad to say, Antonio Mangione will now be mentioned in the past tense as a high school wrestler. It’s on to the world of college wrestling at Columbia.

What will Morris County wrestling be like without him? Never the same.

With him, it was never better.

Joe Hofmann can be reached at jhofmann@gannett.com or (973) 428-6674.