Excellent Weekend for GCC Wrestling Program

The GCC Wrestling Coaches at the home match on Saturday night, a 35-15 win for the Roadrunners. More photos on our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/gccathletics

December 3-4, 2011 Deptford, NJ - Article contributed by Ben Sweezy

The past weekend for the GCC Roadrunners Wrestling Team might have been the most important of the whole season.  Saturday marked their home opener against Stevens Tech, and Sunday was the Bob Quaid open at Centinary College.  By no means did they disappoint.

In the GCC gymnasium, there was a crowd turnout that the wrestling team has not seen in years.  First year head coach Pete DiPol could not stress how important that was, “It was great how many people we have out her tonight, I want to thank all the fans that came out to support us and Angela Gattuso.”  Angela Gattuso is a GCC student who in March was the victim of a hit and run accident.  There was a fundraiser for her and her family at the match that raised over $650.

The Roadrunners defeated Stevens Tech 35-15 in a match that had many ups and downs.  After the 125 lbs weight, the Roadrunners were down 6-4.  But answered back very quickly winning the next 5 matches, 4 of them ending in a fall.  “It was really important that we got out on the right foot in a regional match, and the way our guys were able to get bonus points was a good accomplishment.” Coach DiPol said about his wrestlers being able to hit the big moves.  The Roadrunners proved they can score points when needed with 5 of the 7 wins they had resulting in bonus points. 

Sunday was a big day for a number of wrestlers, with four wrestlers placing in the top four.  The lone champion to come through the tournament was 133 lber Louie Shearer, returning national qualifier and team captain.  Shearer showed his dominance of his weight by winning all three matches by fall, with the final match only lasting 1:15.  “It was my first time down at 133 this year, so I felt like I had to start the year on the right foot before we hit the break.”  Finishing the weekend with four falls, and leads the team with five.

Hugh Nawn also made it to the finals for GCC, placing second in a tight 6-4 match. They also had Anthony Dawson and Ray Martinez place third. 

It was also an important regional tournament for them, with a strong showing against arch rival Nassau Community College in the head-to-head match ups.  GCC had a 5-1 record. 

Throughout the whole weekend the Roadrunners seemed to have a chip on their shoulder, perhaps it was Angela Gattuso and her strength that helped them.  Or maybe it is the energy of their new coach, what ever it is, it seems to be working. 

Wrestling Program to Help with Fundraiser for Hit and Run Victim

December 3, 2011 Deptford, NJ

One of the goals set by GCC Head Wrestling Coach Pete Di Pol when he took over the program was to get the wrestling team involved in the community. The team has already participated in the Gloucester County Autism Walk this year as well as other on-campus activities but when Di Pol heard about the case of GCC student Angela Gattuso he knew he wanted the team to be involved in some way. On Saturday the Roadrunners will do that by collecting donations for the Gattuso family at their home wrestling match against Thaddeus Stevens College at 7pm.

If you are not familiar with the story of Angela Gattuso she was hit while standing next to her car by an unknown motorist in March while her father, the owner of a towing company, was preparing to tow her disabled vehicle. Gattuso was a GCC student at the time of the accident but has been dealing with severe injuries and complications since the accident which have put strains on the family. In the meantime, the hit and run driver was found and prosecuted. Link to Courier Post article on Angela and family...

Members of the wrestling team will also have a table set up during Saturday afternoons championship and consolation games of the Roadrunner Classic Men's Basketball Tournament to accept donations.