By Andy Loigu

Former Warren Hills athlete and coach David Sbriscia is starting a new program at Centenary College, women’s wrestling.

He has applicable experience, after coaching female wrestlers at Warren Hills High School to medal winning performances in the state tournament.

Sbriscia, a nominee for the Warren Reporter’s Athlete of the Year Award in 2006 when he was a football and wrestling standout as a Warren Hills student, was a health and physical education teacher at WHRHS from 2014 to 2023. He was an assistant coach in both football and wrestling until he earned the head wrestling coach’s post in 2018. Under his leadership, the Streaks won multiple conference and sectional championships in boys wrestling.

From 2011 to 2014 he was a health and physical education teacher and football assistant at North Warren with the Patriots.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ithaca College in 2010 and 2011.

Under longtime coach John Garriques, a Phillipsburg graduate, the Centenary men’s wrestling program enjoyed over 100 wins in 12 seasons. The Cyclones come into the new season with the momentum of last year’s 12-2 record and a number 17 national ranking.

While building such a winning legacy, Centenary has become a hotspot for wrestling interest and it is not surprising that females who are ready, willing and able to meet the challenges of this grueling sport are eager to compete.

Many athletic directors have dropped wrestling, saying they had to drop the sport due to Title IX factors. Title IX has mandated that schools receiving federal assistance must offer an equal number of sports for women and males, so women would not be denied the benefits of competing in top level competitive athletics.

With wrestling available for both men and women, Centenary is in compliance,

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.