Daily Record 7/14/02
By Kevin Bruffey

Manahans giving Morristown Wrestling a lift

Note: The following is a reprint from the Daily Record - Matt and Bryan Manahan are the founders of Mo-Town Grapplers Club, Inc.

Bryan and Matt Manahan have one aspect of their lives that they love to share besides their bonds as brothers: They have Morristown wrestling in their blood. Having starred at Morristown High School in the late 1980s, both brothers were on teams that were ranked statewide. Recent wrestling seasons at Morristown have not lived up to the success of the past, and the Manahan’s were eager to help their alma mater rebound

The opportunity presented itself last year when Bryan, a 1992 Morristown graduate who teaches math and science at Morristown’s Frelinghuysen Middle School, was offered the job as wrestling coach for the middle school. According to Matt, this allowed them to “totally combine the efforts of the middle school and the town wrestling programs,” which the Manahans had been involved with for a number of years. The goal: Provide a bigger, more unified club.

The result of this marriage is the present Mo-Town Grapplers Club, a non-profit organization that is designed to provide the youth of Morristown a chance to learn the sport of wrestling.

“We think that wrestling is the best sport in the world, and that success in the sport gives kids confidence that many need at this age,” said Matt Manahan. The support and success of the first year program has been remarkable. Already claiming over 40 members in grades 2-8, the program continues to grow.

Jens Velasquez, who helps run the program, is confident the Mo-Town concept will have nothing but positive affects on the participants.

“This program gives the kids a sense of accomplishment, but also teaches the kids to deal with both sides of the spectrum, the winning and the losing,” Velasquez said. “The Manahan brothers are great role models and deserve the credit for getting the ball rolling on this program.”

A part of the North Jersey Wrestling Conference, the Grapplers’ regular season runs from mid-November through mid-February, with practices held three times a week. They also conduct clinics throughout the year, such as the one held last week when high school state champions Antonio Mangione of Delbarton and Patrick Dattalo of Randolph volunteered to help the young wrestlers. Velasquez described them as “personal, down to earth guys with great technique that the kids can really look up to.”

With the program meant to provide the Morristown youth a chance to learn the sport of wrestling, Matt Manahan said he hopes that the program will quickly serve as a feeder system to high schools. Three of the more successful wrestlers in the program’s first year were Jeremy Richardson, Trevor Owens, and Justin Ryan. All three wrestled for Mo-Town at the prestigious Meet of Champions meet at Bloomfield High School.

“These guys were definitely the leaders of the team,” Matt Manahan said. Richardson, who went 48-6 with the Grapplers in the 165-pound weight class, is headed to Seton Hall Prep next year, while both Trevor and Justin are headed to Morristown High School to wrestle.

With the Mo-Town Grapplers continuing to grow in number and success, the group is always looking for local business sponsorship to jump in and help send a steady stream of experienced youth wrestlers into the high school program.