At an 8-7 record, the Glen Rock/Saddle Brook Varsity Wrestling team looks to keep going strong, and some of the wrestlers have demonstrated impressive individual success. Glen Rock has a combined wrestling program with Saddle Brook, and this is the tenth year the two schools have had one team. This year has been a quick start for the Panthers, under the leader ship of new head coach Michael Karcher.

After talking with Coach Karcher, senior wrestler Eric Schlett, and junior wrestler Zach Hunko, I learned that the key wrestlers for the Glen Rock side of this partnership were senior Eric Schlett, junior Zach Hunko, junior Mark Hwang, junior Jesse Forstot, freshman Jack Boscoe, and freshman Ryan Cosgriff. Senior captain Eric Schlett reported that his goals for the season are “to win another district title as a team and as an individual.”

Coach Karcher emphasized his goal of player safety. He said that his number one goal for the season is to keep each wrestler healthy. Coach Karcher also talked about his desire for the JV wrestlers to get experience, and for all of the new wrestlers to stay for next year as well. The team has many new wrestlers this year, and all have shown great dedication and have helped to improve the Glen Rock Panthers wrestling team.

Another goal and expectation for Coach Karcher is to win the league, as Glen Rock and Saddle Brook has done for the past three seasons, as well as winning the district for the fourth season straight season. He wants to continue the success that Glen Rock has found in the past under the new regime.

When asked what his favorite aspect of coaching was, Coach Karcher said, “I enjoy watching the kids progress from match to match and from year to year, as well as watching what the coaching staff has taught being implemented during the matches.”

Coach Karcher has experience interacting with students, as he coached for three years as an assistant in Ridgewood and two years as an assistant coach in Glen Rock, before becoming the head coach this year.

The Panther wrestling team looks forward to competing the rest of the year and watching the wrestlers improve. With the large number of new wrestlers, the team looks to be set up for future success. The focus right now, however, is to win the division and league, while watching the wrestlers compete in individual tournaments. The Glen Rock/Saddle Brook wrestling program’s future is looking bright.