High School North has never had a wrestler represent the school at the NJSIAA State Championships in Atlantic City.
Until now.
After a 98-win career — the best in school history — North senior Vinny Porreca punched his first and final ticket to states, starting March 6 and lasting the weekend. The 220-pounder finished second in Region 5 on February 28 to get there.
The Mercer County champ lost only twice this season, both times to Monroe’s Nicholas Goff, who bested Porreca in both the District 20 and Region 5 finals by one-point margins. But head coach Ed Ferraro said Porreca can out-wrestle Goff.
“I honestly believe that Vinny can beat this kid,” he said. “[In the losses], he wasn’t getting points that he should have by the official. I believe that he’s a far better wrestler.”
This season is Ferraro’s first at the helm, and he has led the whole squad to success in addition to Porreca. The team finished the season at 8-17, a far cry from the one-win seasons the Knights are used to.
The coach partially attributed the team’s turnaround — and Porreca’s trip to Atlantic City — to a new, goal-oriented team atmosphere.
“When I develop a wrestling program, I really focus on bringing the wrestlers and their families into becoming one wrestling family,” he said. “There was a lot of support from the kids’ parents. The kids really bought into that team atmosphere. We started the season with 14 guys and ended with 14 guys. That’s a rare thing in a wrestling program.”
He had each of the team’s 14 wrestlers make a list of goals for the season before preseason practices started, and they hung the list in a place where they would see it every day. Porreca’s included finishing in the region’s top three, advancing to states, and finishing in the top eight, as well as a district title, which he just missed.
“They see it every day, so they know what they’re working for,” Ferraro said. “What are you doing here if you don’t have goals?”
And the coach is not surprised Porreca met his. If Ferraro is late to practice, he doesn’t worry. Porreca usually gets things started on time.
“When I walk into that room, Vinny has them going. They’re already involved,” he said. “He’s not only a great wrestler, he has a good coaching mentality to him as well. He says he’s thankful that I came, but he would have done it without me. I can’t take credit for what he’s doing. He just works so hard.”
Heading into states, Ferraro and Porreca are confident. At the very least, Porreca hopes to win two matches, elevating him to the 100-win milestone.
“In districts, he was reserved. He had the undefeated season on the line,” Ferraro said. “He wasn’t wrestling like himself in the final match. If he goes out as Vinny and wrestles like I know he can, he’s going to win matches.”
Porreca isn’t the only local representative heading down the Parkway, though. Nick Maher, a junior at High School South, also earned a trip to states after finishing third at regions. After a semifinal loss, the 126-pounder had to come from behind to win two matches. The bronze medal finish was his best ever at regions, and he currently sits at 35-6 on the year.
