Grapplers Ready to Hit the Mats at State Championship

sophomore 120-pounder Mike Magaldo doesn’t believe that he will have a problem meeting winning expectations when he steps on the mat at the State Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City later tonight. 

“Every match is a tough match down there,” Magaldo said after practice on Thursday afternoon. “I’m there. Why not me, why can't I win?”

There’s little doubt that he can. Of his 30-plus matches this season, he only lost three.

Still fresh in his mind, however, is the sting of defeat in last year’s state tournament where he finished second to South Plainfield sophomore Anthony Ashnault, who won the gold at 112 pounds.

“Our goal with Mike Migaldo from day one has been to win a state tournament,” said coach Dan Smith. “He has got tough kids in his weight class but on any given day there isn’t a guy he cannot beat in this tournament.”

It will be a challenging road, however, as Magaldo’s new arch-rival Troy Heilmann of South Plainfield, is also a returning tournament medalist. Magaldo’s only losses during the regular season were to Heilmann.  

Smith, however, has two other wrestlers to also inspire toward winning grace—Matt Coppola and Mike DeVito. “I’d like to get these guys to place,” Smith said. “Basically they are ready in terms of being battle tested.”

Junior 132-pounder Coppola will be on his second trip to Atlantic City.  

“I made it last year so I had high expectations for myself, so I would say I'm just proud to be there,” Coppola said.

Smith said Coppola will be facing a tough first round opponent from Belvidere.

“If he can get past him, Matt can make some noise,” Smith said. 

Coppola needs to wrestle well in the first round in order to stay in the tournament.  

“I’ll do well,” Coppola said. “I am definitely prepared.”

The third state qualifier is 145-pound senior Mike DeVito, who is in a winning groove after a season record of 38-3.

“Getting into the states was my goal but I am also surprised because I did come into a region where there were four other tough kids that were right there but at the same time it could have gone either way with any of those kids,” De Vito said. 

Smith hopes that in the tournament, things will continue to go DeVito’s way.

“He caught a break in terms of bing in a good spot (for the tournament),” Smith said. “If he wrestles well, he has a shot to place. He is good enough to do it—it's a matter of executing.”

DeVito likes his chances.

“I am kind of under the radar right now,” DeVito said. “I have never made it to the states before and I am a senior. I am not really up there—some people know who I am and others don’t.”