058: Roundtable

What really happens between coaches and officials during a wrestling match? For the first-ever New Jersey Mat Chat Coaches Roundtable, veteran wrestling official Gary Wade sits down with two of South Jersey's most respected coaches — Mike Ahern (Audubon) and Mike Lamb (Haddonfield) — for an honest conversation about the relationship between coaches and referees. Nothing is off limits. They discuss: 🔥 Why coaches get so emotional during matches 🔥 How officials are trained in New Jersey 🔥 What officials wish coaches understood 🔥 State tournament consistency and controversial calls 🔥 Video replay in high school wrestling 🔥 The PowerPoint system and weight classes 🔥 Stalling, edge wrestling, and rule interpretations 🔥 Coaching your own son 🔥 Building respect between coaches and officials The episode also opens with a heartfelt tribute to Chase Sedano and the St. Augustine wrestling community, reflecting on the impact he had on those around him. Whether you're a wrestler, coach, official, parent, or lifelong NJ wrestling fan, this episode provides a rare look at the sport from both sides of the whistle. It's a conversation about passion, accountability, and making New Jersey wrestling even better. 🤼 Guests: Gary Wade – New Jersey Wrestling Official Mike Ahern – Head Coach, Audubon Mike Lamb – Head Coach, Haddonfield 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:26 – Welcome to the First Coaches Roundtable 02:00 – Mike Ahern & Mike Lamb's Coaching Backgrounds 02:52 – Rivalries, Respect & Wrestling Brotherhood 04:15 – Remembering Chase Sudano 06:30 – Why Coaches and Officials Clash 08:08 – Gary Wade's District Tournament Story 09:33 – Seeing Wrestling Through an Official's Eyes 11:35 – How New Jersey Officials Are Trained 15:08 – Wrestle-Offs, Tough Decisions & Parent Pressure 18:52 – Coaching Your Own Son 21:10 – Why Officials Need a Short Memory 24:07 – Are Officials Consistent at the State Tournament? 28:32 – NCAA Replay Reviews & Overtime Controversies 30:28 – Should High School Wrestling Have Video Review? 35:31 – How Many Weight Classes Should NJ Have? 38:20 – Too Many Matches, Not Enough Practice? 41:44 – Edge Wrestling, Stalling & Rule Changes 46:35 – What Makes a Great Wrestling Official? 49:25 – Coaches Admit Their Biggest Regrets 52:44 – Bridging the Gap Between Coaches & Officials 54:55 – Final Thoughts & Coffee Toast ✅ Follow us on... 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/newjerseymatchat 🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FSWGcAZgr6I4IDjDX0i7d?si=c377f97049fc4c6d 🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-jersey-mat-chat/id1813387872 #NJWrestling #HighSchoolWrestling #WrestlingLife #WrestlingSeason #NJMatTalk #NJWrestlers #NJWrestling #NewJerseyMatChat #HighSchoolWrestling #WrestlingOfficials #SouthJerseyWrestling #WrestlingPodcast #Coaching