Greg DeMarco
A 1964 state runner-up at Amityville (NY) High School, DeMarco wrestled for Dick Voliva at Rutgers University. After graduating from Rutgers, DeMarco began his head coaching career at Madison Township High School. Eight years later DeMarco left to assist John Sacchi for three years at Middlesex County College. DeMarco left to become head coach at East Brunswick for the next seven years. During his 15 years as a head coach on the scholastic level, his teams complex a 147-63-4 dual meet record, won seven district championships, five Middlesex County titles and one Central Jersey Group IV championship. In addition he coached three state champions, 19 state place winners, 20 regional and 58 district champions. But for DeMarco, who passed away in 2008, his legacy is more for what he did for the sport rather than how he coached it. Constantly thinking of ways to make wrestling more attractive and interesting, DeMarco founded the Old Bridge Festival, a summer tournament that stretched for two weekends and was highly successful from 1975-2002. He was creative in developing what is known as the "Madison System" which was devised for off-season tournaments. Weight classes were determined after weigh-ins, with brackets including kids who weighed about the same - thus eliminating the pressure of having to lose weight for predetermined weight classes. The Top of the East Tournament in South Brunswick, the East Brunswick Wrestling Club, and the Mat Rats Kids program Tournament in Old Bridge were all DeMarco productions. In fact, DeMarco wore many hats. He was state editor for USA Wrestling, was president of the Middlesex County Wrestling Coaches, president of Region 6, and director of the Middlesex County and Top of the East tournaments. Among the honors bestowed on Demarco was his induction into the Region 5 Hall of Fame in 1992 and (in 1996) the Harry E. Lake Award. He was selected as New Jersey Governor's outstanding teacher at Madison Central in 1989 and at Old Bridge in 2002. After 34 years of teaching math and computer science in the Old Bridge district, DeMarco retired and moved south with his wife Eileen. In retirement he continued his passion for promoting wrestling by conducting a coaching clinic in North Carolina and creating the website www.wrestlingassistant.com specifically for wrestling coaches. His legacy lives on through his website, which is maintained by daughters Corry, Brooke and Caitlin, and continues to spread lessons learned in a lifetime dedicated to amateur wrestling.
Awards:
Year
2011
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Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
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Chapter/Region
New Jersey
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