Our Coaches

The Sparta Pride and its volunteer coaches have two important goals. The first goal is the development of each child's wrestling skills. The second goal is the growth of the sport of wrestling in Sparta.The Sparta Pride Wrestling team is dedicated to achieving these two goals. We ensure that our wrestlers have a clean, safe learning environment. Our coaches are all USA certified through the NJ State Wrestling Association and are CPR, First Aid, NFHS (Sports Concussions), AED (automated external defibrillator) certified. In fact, our facility is equipped with an AED for your child's safety. In addition to this the Sparta Pride coaches attend various wrestling clinics (Camp Of Champs Series) to keep their coaching and wrestling techniques current.

Meet Our Coaches

Ed Piccola


4 Year Varsity Wrestler for Sparta High School from 1997-00
6 Years Club Wrestling Experience (Sean Hall, Wrestling Plus, Ultimate, Iron Horse)
3 Years Volunteer Coach (Ultimate, Iron Horse)
4 Years Volunteer Coach (Sparta High School)
1 Year Paid Assistant Coach (Sparta High School)
2 Years Head Novice Coach (Sparta Wrestling)
Co-Captain of Sparta's 2000 State Finalist and Sectional Championship Team
In his 3rd year of Coaching Sparta Pride
Has been instructing various sports and activities since 1997 (wrestling, swimming, football and first aid training)

Fran Hanley


4 Year Varsity Wrestler for Newton High School from 1982-85, Team Captain senior year.
3 year varsity at York College of Pa. Injured senior year, did not wrestle.
BS in marketing.
Head Coach of Pride for 2 years.

Brian Neal


Wrestled for Wallkill Valley RHS from 1985-88 - member of SCIL Champions in 1987 & Group 2 Runner-Up
1987 & 88 - 3rd Place in District
Qualified for Region 1 Tournament 1987 & 88
Assistant Coach Sparta Youth 2003-04
Assistant Coach Wallkill Valley Youth 2004-05
Head Coach Sparta Spartans Youth 2005-2009
Coached Multiple County & State Champions
3rd Place SCMC Team Championship 2005-06
Multiple Team Tournament Place Winners
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice & History
Master of Arts Degree in Education
Social Studies Teacher at Sparta Middle School from 2002 - Present
2000-2002 History / Physical Education Teacher - St. Virgil Catholic School, Morris Plains, NJ

Bob Stewart


Wrestled for Minisink Valley High School, Slate Hill, NY 1976-79:

2x District Champ 1978, 1979
Region Place winner 1979

Wrestled for Orange County Community College, NY 1980-81:

NJCAA Region XV 3rd Place
NJCAA National Qualifier

Wrestled for East Stroudsburg University, PA 1982
Head Coach for Washingtonville High School, NY 1986-87
Founded Wizzards Wrestling Club / Grades 5-12 1986
Empire State Games Qualifier for Greco Roman Style 1986
Inducted into the Minisink Valley High School Wrestling Hall of Fame 2006
Basement Boyz Wrestling & Conditioning Club / Owner & Trainer
Bachelor of Science Degree in Health & Physical Education, East Stroudsburg University, PA 1984
Teacher Certification K-12

Casey Crowley


3 Year Varsity Wrestler for Seton Hall Prep 2000-02:

Recipient of The Daniel Galorenzo Skills Award
3x Member of Seton Hall Prep's "Beast VIP Club"
St. Benedicts Tournament Champ 2002
Team Champions of The David Brearley Tournament 2002
District Runner-up 2002
Member of the Peak Wrestling Club
Graduated from Rutgers University 2008

Sam Rozynski


4 time County Champion through High School
4 time state qualifier
2x Eastern Maine runner up
Wrestled in Florida in 11th grade qualifying for states
Freestyle wrestler qualifying for Sunshine State games
Jr. Olympic pre-qualifier
Finished High School Wrestling career with over 100 wins
8th season coaching a Sparta Team

Currently competes in NAGA:

In the last 2 world championships placed 2nd in 170lb class and 3rd in 160lb class

Rich Falotico


Began wrestling in 1977 with the Emerson boys club wrestling program and continued with the sport right through senior year of high school in 1989. During the years with rec. program won 3 district gold medals, 3 regional silver medals and 2 regional bronze medals.

Wrestled for Emerson Jr. Sr. HS under one of NJ's most successful coaches, Stan Woods.
Team captain for the (88-89) season in football & wrestling.
Finished 3rd (161 lbs.) in The 1987 & 1988 Caldwell Tournament, 4th (160 lbs.) in the 1987 Bergen County Coaches Assoc. tournament and 3rd (171 lbs.) in the 1988 Bergen County Coaches Assoc. tournament.
Was a 2x district 1-champ (160 & 170 lbs.), a 2X region 1-runner-up (160 & 171 lbs.) and 2X NJ State tournament participant.
Was recruited by Coach Tom Martucci to wrestle at Bloomsburg Univ., but elected to play football at West Chester Univ.
Served as an Asst. Coach under John DiRenzo on Bergen Catholic's HS wrestling team from 1991-1993. Served as a volunteer coach with the Hackettstown Tiger Wrestling Club (09-10) season.
Employed as a Police Officer with the Ramsey Police Department since 1995. Currently assigned as a Sergeant in the patrol division. Certified in CPR/First Aid, AED, and an instructor in firearms and defensive tactics.
B.S. Sociology/Criminal Justice-William Paterson University (1993)
M.S. Corporate Security-John Jay College of Criminal Justice (2008)
Coaches Corner
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