🏆 ONE GOAL. ONE FINAL SEASON. AN NJ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gavin Young has one goal for his senior wrestling season: Become a New Jersey State Champion.

🤼 The Old Bridge wrestler was practically born into the sport. His father coached at South River, his family has a history of wrestling success, and Gavin started competing through the Old Bridge Mat Rats as a young kid.

But his high school career hasn't gone exactly as planned.

🚑 Freshman Year: A serious concussion just days before regions ended his postseason.

🔥 Sophomore Year: Gavin returned, placed at regions, and accomplished his childhood dream of wrestling at the NJ State Championships in Atlantic City.

🥇 Junior Year: After winning his first district championship, Gavin suffered a devastating loss in the regional quarterfinals. The disappointment carried into the wrestlebacks, and he admits he wasn't mentally prepared to keep competing.

🎯 Senior Year: He's determined to make sure that doesn't happen again.

In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Gavin opens up about the setbacks, lessons, and motivation driving his final high school season.

---

💬 “There's only one thing on my mind. It's just being a state champ.”

Gavin knows what it's like to have a season end before he's ready.

He knows what it's like to lose when everything is on the line.

And he knows that the only person who can change the outcome is himself.

Now he's entering his final season at Old Bridge with something to prove.

One more season. One more opportunity. One very clear goal. 🏆

---

🎙️ Guest: Gavin Young

🏫 School: Old Bridge High School

🤼 Series: New Jersey Mat Chat

🎬 Episode: 89

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to New Jersey Mat Chat for interviews with the wrestlers, coaches, and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling.

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's harder in wrestling — preparing to win or bouncing back after a devastating loss?

Watch 'The Godfather of MMA'

Now available now on Amazon Prime:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S

00:00 The Godfather of MMA

01:06 Meet Gavin Young of Old Bridge

04:43 The Concussion That Ended His Freshman Season

05:15 Bouncing Back and Reaching Atlantic City

06:49 Managing Weight and Ignoring Opponents

08:51 Learning From a Devastating Regional Loss

11:06 One Goal: Become a State Champion

12:33 Why Gavin Added Football

14:27 Taking Responsibility on the Wrestling Mat

15:20 Training at Ryze and Old Bridge

16:26 Coach Post and the Old Bridge Wrestling Culture

17:53 College, Careers and Coaching Ambitions

19:04 How Nutrition Changed His Wrestling

20:05 College Decisions and Future Plans

20:40 Greatest NJ High School Wrestler Ever?

22:09 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro