073: MJ Gorrell

New Jersey wrestling has a new name to watch this season: MJ Gorrell. Except MJ isn't exactly new. The Somerset, NJ native spent his first two high school seasons competing across the border at Conwell-Egan in Pennsylvania, reaching the state blood round as a freshman and placing Top 8 in PA as a sophomore. Now he's coming home. MJ is transferring to St. John Vianney, stepping into the Shore Conference and setting one very clear goal for his first season wrestling high school in New Jersey: 🏆 Win an NJ State Championship. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, MJ talks about: 🤼 Why he originally left NJ to wrestle at Conwell-Egan 🏠 Living away from home during wrestling season 🔥 Training with Pennsylvania wrestlers at NPR 🥇 His first two runs through the PA postseason ➡️ Why he decided it was time to return to New Jersey 🦁 Choosing St. John Vianney 🌊 What he expects from Shore Conference wrestling ⚖️ The differences between Pennsylvania and New Jersey wrestling 🤼 Why his funky, scrambling style is better suited for folkstyle 💪 Training at Frost, Duro and NPR 🧠 The coach who's had the biggest influence on his career 🏆 His goal of becoming a New Jersey State Champion 💥 The intense strength and conditioning program he does with his father 🎓 His interest in forensic science 🐯 Training at Princeton and his goal of wrestling in the Ivy League MJ has spent years wrestling and training around high-level competition on both sides of the Delaware. Now New Jersey gets to see what he can do. Welcome home, MJ. 🤼 Guest: MJ Gorrell 🏫 St. John Vianney 📍 Somerset, NJ 🏆 PA State Top-8 Finisher 🎯 Goal: NJ State Champion Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches and legends shaping New Jersey wrestling. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition 01:22 Meet MJ Gorrell 01:41 Leaving NJ to Wrestle at Conwell-Egan 03:00 Training at NPR & Wrestling in Pennsylvania 04:05 PA State Tournament Success 04:48 Living Away From Home During Wrestling Season 05:51 Why He’s Coming Back to New Jersey 06:53 Choosing St. John Vianney 07:49 What MJ Expects From NJ Wrestling 09:28 Entering the Shore Conference 10:24 Academics & Life After Wrestling 11:09 Freestyle vs. Folkstyle 12:32 Training at Frost, Duro & NPR 13:36 PA vs. NJ Wrestling Rules 15:35 Getting to Know His New SJV Teammates 16:36 His Biggest Coaching Influence 17:52 The Goal: Win an NJ State Title 19:18 How His Dad Drives His Training 20:08 MJ’s Wrestling Style 20:48 State Title or Bust? 21:19 His Dream Training Partner 22:04 Princeton & Ivy League Goals 22:52 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro