Two brothers from New Jersey share a love for wrestling and follow in their dad’s footsteps as well.
The boys, Jack and Vincent Anello, ages 9 and 6, of Pequannock Township, who are members of the Olympic Wrestling Club in Wyckoff, began wrestling when they were 5.
Their love for the sport can be traced back to their father Vince. He wrestled at the youth level, for Pequannock High School and briefly for Montclair State University until he tore his ACL.
Vincent explained that after seeing pictures of his dad wrestling and picking his brain about the sport he knew it was something he wanted to try.
“I look at what he accomplished when he wrestled and I want to achieve even more,” Vincent said. “My dad has taught me a lot of what I do. Whenever I have a question at home he always has the answer. He teaches a certain style to wrestle very aggressive and constantly be on the attack.”
As he got older he grew to love it. He credits his dad with a lot of his success, but also attributes it to coaches Florian Ghinea, Pete Gonzalez and Wayne Oakley, his uncle Sal and Pequannock wrestlers Patrick Daly and Steven Pocze.
Vincent has become quite a force on the mat. In addition to being a state champion, Vince is a three-time state finalist and a three-time War at the Shore National championship runner– up.
“Accomplishments are good but having fun is most important,” he said. “I always think positive win or lose. When the match is over I forget about it win or lose and focus on the next match I have. Only to think about the match in front of me and wrestle one match at a time.”
The boys both stressed that as much as their father makes a difference in their lives, the bond the two of them share on and off the mat is irreplaceable. Jack idolizes his brother and went to all of his matches before he began wrestling.
He would cheer him on and knew he would soon follow in his footsteps. Jack credits his brother with his success and enjoys having him in his corner.
“I love it he's my best friend and I learn a lot from him,” Jack said. “He always roots for me for my matches.”
“It's really cool he is my best friend,” Vincent added. “He came to everything to watch me for three years and now it's awesome he's wrestling with me and doing very good too. We practice a lot together at home on our mat in our basement. I like to be in his corner and help coach him for his matches.
Jack recalled how his first match had extra special meaning because for the first time he was actually able to wrestle, rather than sit in the stands. Like his brother, he feels his dad has had a big impact on his wrestling career.
He has taught him techniques, helped him become stronger, better, meaner and showed him wrestling is as much mental as it is physical. More importantly, having at their matches cheering them on means the world to both boys.
In the summer, the youngsters took home silver medals at one of the largest youth national wrestling competitions in the country. They competed against some of the best wrestlers in the country at the Grand River Rumble in Lansing, Mich., on July 14 and 15, earning All American Status and winning 18 matches combined.
Jack and Vincent were recruited for the competition by Young Guns, a prestigious wrestling club from Ebensburg, Pa. They wrestled with the Young Guns on the first day, each going 5-1 and each finished 4-1 individually the second day.
“There’s no words to describe it,” their father said about them winning. “It’s how they carry themselves that makes us proud. I told them to do their best and wrestle one match at a time. They respect the sport, win or lose.”
Vincent says that he enjoys being part of a team, but also growing as an individual. However, he noted that many of the kids at the club are bigger and older than him so it is a challenge.
But, with the help of his family, coaches, teammates and hard work, he has become a better wrestler. He noted he would like to improve on scoring more points, more specifically more in the top position.
“I'm a lot more confident and comfortable in big matches,” Vincent said. “I've gotten stronger, faster and better at countering my opponent, hitting moves and my defense.”
Both boys play travel soccer and baseball and plan to wrestle in high school and then in college for the University of Iowa.
The brothers have had a great deal of success during their careers and won numerous awards. Vince was the only NJ state champion in the past 30 years from Pequannock and the youngest ever at 6, until Jack recently topped him.
Jack has also been a state champion and a War at the Shore National champion.
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