Ed Kochajki

Ed Kochajki is one of the most decorated wrestlers in New Jersey history. He is one of only three North Jersey wrestlers to win three Bergen County and three State Championships. Ed was the Harry E. Lake award recipient in 2012 and inducted into the National Junior College Hall of Fame. "It's a wonderful recognition", said Kochajki the head coach at Bergen Community College from 1977 - 1992, and again from 1996 - 2004, when the program was revived. Ed coached four NCAA All Americans at BCC: Rob Young ('82), Tim Doherty ('83), Mike Indorato ('89), and Mike Massenzio ('03-'04), who won it all in 2004. Ed measures his coaching success in other ways. " I felt it was my job to keep the sport alive for those athletes that may not get a Division I scholarship." Ed worked for the Bergen County Special Services School District, doing job placement and training students with special needs. Ed has had a host of wrestlers go into coaching including Mike Messenzio, Tim Doherty, Frank Guadagnino, Ken MacIver, Don Spataro and Chris Bitetto. But Junior College wrestlers are getting fewer opportunities today, as the number of programs has dwindled from 18 to just four. Ed Kochajki was very fortunate to wrestle for Hall of Fame coach Sal Cascio at Bergenfield High School, where he compiled a record of 80 - 2. The one match he will never forget (neither will we) was the state final in 1968, in Asbury Park, where he had to fight off his back in the 1st period to defeat an outstanding P'burg wrestler. Ed lives in Montvale, New Jersey, with his wife Debbie and their daughters Justine and Kaitlyn. Congratulations to Edward Kochajki on being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Class of 2017.

Awards:

Year
2017
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
New Jersey

All American Awards:

Season
1970
School
C.W. Post
Tournament
Division II
Weight
126
Place
6

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