NewJersey Wrestling History with Screwy Louie: Master Phil in Your Corner EP 166
This episode of "Master Phil In Your Corner" featured a conversation with Louie Lazzari, alsoknown as Screwie Louie, focusing on the history and evolution of wrestling inNew Jersey. Louie shared his personal wrestling background, starting from his childhood in Cliffside Park and his high school wrestling career, including memorable matches and coaches like George Bennett. The discussion covered thechanges in the state tournament structure over the decades, from only regionchampions advancing to the current system allowing multiple wrestlers per weight class. They also touched on the rise of parochial schools in the sport, the growth of girls' wrestling, and Louie's experiences coaching and officiating. The conversation included anecdotes about notable wrestlers likeMike Frick and Mark Cannon, and reflected on the toughness of New Jersey wrestling compared to other states.
Wrestling Podcast Episode Introduction
Phil introduced episode 166 of his podcast "Master Phil In Your Corner" and welcomed his guest Louis Lazzari, known as "Screwie Louie." Phil explained that Louis is a well-known figure in New Jersey wrestling with extensive knowledge of wrestling across the country and world. The discussionbegan with Phil planning to share Louis's background, wrestling accolades, and coaching experience, particularly his work with New Jersey freestyle teams.
Louis's Wrestling Career Origins
Louis shared his early life growing up in Cliffside Park, including how his family moved near Palisade Amusement Park when he was one month old. He described hisintroduction to wrestling through summer day camp in 1966, which led to his high school wrestling career at Cliffside Park High School, where he competed in the 106-pound weight class as a freshman. The conversation touched on thecultural background of Cliffside Park's wrestling team in the 1970s, with most athletes being Italian, and included details about the wrestling schedule and practices of the time.
1974 Wrestling Experiences and Training
Louis shared his wrestling experiences from 1974, including his struggles with weight cutting and his decision not to wrestle in a tournament after being disciplinedby his coach George Bennett. He described how he trained with a wrestler from Dumont named Joe Darrow while also attending evening practices at Cliffside Park, resulting in double sessions.
High School Wrestling Tournament Formats
Louisand Phil discussed their high school wrestling experiences, including memories of wrestlers like Rich Battaglia, Steve Hobie, and the Cannon brothers. They compared the current wrestling tournament format to the older system, withLouis explaining that before 1961, wrestlers who lost at districts or regions were eliminated without the opportunity for wrestlebacks. The conversation highlighted how the current system allows more wrestlers to advance to statescompared to the earlier format where only district and regional finalists could compete.
New Jersey Wrestling Tournament Evolution
Louis discussed the evolution of New Jersey high school wrestling tournaments from 1971 to 1975, explaining how the format changed from including only regionalchampions to including regional finalists, expanding from 8 to 16 wrestlers.
Wrestling Experiences and Career Connections
Louis shared his wrestling experiences, including attending NCAA Wrestling Tournament matches with his mother and being inspired by local wrestlers like Mike Frickand Joel Rauchee. He discussed competing against fellow wrestlers Butchie Vogler and Larry Atsuka, all of whom were in the same weight class and achieved success in regional and state competitions. Louis mentioned coaching Larry Jr.at Bergen Catholic and noted the interconnected nature of their wrestling careers.
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46 mins