By Dan Hirshberg

When Taylan Zafis steps off the plane next week in Iowa for the national junior college wrestling championships, it’ll also be another step in his determination to overcome the odds. 

Zafis, a Sussex County Community College sophomore from Mansfield Township, earned a spot to the championships through a special coaches recommendation process implemented this year as a result of pandemic restrictions that sidelined many college programs. Zafis is the only wrestler from Sussex to get the recommendation. 

“I picked him based on his skill level, work ethic, and attendance,” said Sussex wrestling coach Chris Burdge, noting that Zafis has been training regularly since the fall. “He improved significantly during this season, and I am excited to see if he can make some noise at Nationals. I do think he has the chance to do well and turn some heads.”

During the COVID restricted “exhibition season,” Zafis was only able to wrestle twice, winning one and losing one. Burdge saw enough to confidently recommend Zafis for the championships, scheduled for April 21-22 in Council Bluffs.

“I think Taylan can be a true underdog story,” said Burdge. “He has battled through adversity.”

Zafis’ wrestling career has always had some adversity, but he never gave up hope every step of the way.

A 2017 Warren Hills Regional High School graduate, Zafis went 1-18 his sophomore year (220 pounds). He moved up to 285 as a junior and posted a 16-16 record. Things got even better his senior year as he racked up a 28-12 record that got him to within one win away from making the state tournament. 

Following graduation, Zafis did what he could to stay in shape, hoping that someday he could return to the mats with a junior college program. In between training, Zafis attended Warren County Community College part-time for two years. When he heard that Sussex was starting a wrestling program last year, he registered for classes there. 

“I’d been wrestling with some clubs,” said Zafis. “I looked into some junior college programs around the state but they didn’t work out for me. So I kept working out constantly. When I saw that Sussex was starting a program it was what I was looking for. Coach Burdge has been great to work with.”

In Iowa, Zafis will wrestle at 197, a far cry from his high school weight class.

“My weight was about 230 a year ago,” he said. “Getting to 197 was a good weight cut for me. I feel great (at 197). Here I am!”

Zafis, who plans on wrestling at East Stroudsburg University in the fall, is looking forward to the challenge at Nationals.”

“I’ve always been somewhat of an underdog,” he said. “I am going to take it one match at a time. I’m going to let it fly and try and make some noise.”