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On November 2, seven new members will be inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame

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On November 2, seven new members will be inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame

The South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Nov. 2 at Masso’s Crystal Manor in Glassboro.

The Class of 2024 inductees are: Robert Deutsch, Angelo DiJoseph, James Green, Zach Greenwald, Nick Orio, Dave Ritz and Tom Scotton.

Tickets are $50. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chris Ormsby at (609) 841-5293 or email [email protected].

Cocktail hour will take place at 5:00 PM and dinner will begin at 6:00 PM

Robert Deutsch

  • Deutsch, a 2011 graduate of Eastern Regional High School, captured four District 26 and four Region 7 titles and was a two-time state champion.
  • Finished second in the state as a freshman 103-pounder, falling in the title fight by a 4-2 decision. As a sophomore at 112, he captured his first state title with a second-period pin over Dave DellaTorre of River Dell. Deutsch finished third in the state as a junior 119-pounder.

  • Won won the 119-pound title at the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament as a senior, defeating South Plainfield’s Troy Heilmann 7-4 to win his second state title.
  • He finished his career with 156 wins, a state record at the time.
  • At Rider University, he was a team captain for two years, a three-time conference champion and earned the Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2016. He was a four-time NCAA Tournament qualifier.
  • Was the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Wrestler of the Year in 2011.
  • Deutsch lives in Cherry Hill and works as a law enforcement officer.

Angelo DiJoseph

  • A 1988 graduate of Cumberland Regional High School, DiJoseph was a two-time District 31 champion, a Region 8 champion and a three-time state qualifier.
  • After a seventh/eighth state finish in 1987, DiJoseph defeated former state champion John Doran of Pennsville in the Region 8 finals during his senior season. He defeated Chris Wolkwitz of Voorhees by an 11-0 major decision to place third in the state.

  • DiJoseph finished his college career with a record of 93-8-1.
  • He attended Central Connecticut State University, where he won All-American honors at the University Nationals in 1990.
  • DiJoseph was an assistant coach for 23 years. During an 18-year run at Delsea, he assisted the Crusaders to numerous South Jersey titles and three state Group 3 championships. He was named District 31 and Region 8 Assistant Coach of the Year and won the prestigious New Jersey State Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009. During his five seasons at Haddonfield, he was named District 28 and Region 7 Assistant Coach of the Year. in 2008 and earned District 27 Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015.
  • He served six years in the United States Marine Corps.
  • DiJoseph works in the Washington Township maintenance department and lives in Franklinville with his wife, Iris. The couple has one daughter, Kaitlyn.

James Green

  • Green, a 2011 graduate of Willingboro High School, was a four-time District 26 titlist, two-time Region 7 champion and four-time state qualifier and two-time state finalist.
  • After winning three straight wrestling matches and placing fourth in the state as a sophomore, Green advanced to the state finals when he dropped a 7-5 decision to Eastern’s Hank Stinson.

  • As a senior, Green dominated Paramus’ Nick Alphor 16-4 in the 145-pound state final. He finished his college career with a record of 148–8.
  • Attended the University of Nebraska, where he was a four-time All-American at age 157. He finished seventh twice and third twice. In 2010, he was the Big Ten 157-pound champion. He picked up his second bronze medal with a 3-1 decision over Virginia Tech’s Nick Brascetta in his final collegiate fight.
  • Green was a six-time World Team member and two-time place winner. He won the 2017 World Championships in Paris as the highlight of his career. He says finishing fifth on the World Team just days after the arrival of his daughter, Glory, was his most memorable moment.
  • Green is an assistant wrestling coach at Nebraska and lives in Lincoln with his wife Chandelll and two daughters Aubrey and Glory.

Zach Greenwald

  • Greenwald, a 2010 graduate of Paulsboro High School, was a four-time District 29 titlist, two-time Region 8 champion and three-time state place winner.
  • After placing seventh at 189 pounds in 2008, Greenwald picked up four straight wins in wrestling backs to earn a bronze medal, pinning Lenape Valley’s Vinnie Companite for third place at 215.

  • Greenwald captured a state title at 215 with a 3-1 overtime win against St. Peter’s Kevin Innis, who had defeated him in his previous two meetings.
  • A four-time place winner and two-time Escape the Rock Tournament champion, Greenwald finished his scholastic career with 140 victories.
  • He attended Kutztown University, where he was a star football player. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year for Kutztown and was named to the All-PSAC team three times.
  • Greenwald was named College Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club in 2014.
  • Greenwald lives in Glassboro with his wife Morgan and two children Emma and Max. He works as a police officer.

Nick Orio

  • Orio, a 2005 graduate of Eastern Regional High School, was a three-time District 26 titlist, three-time Region 7 champion and four-time state qualifier.
  • After finishing second with a 7-5 loss to Jefferson’s Dan Vallimont at 135 pounds, Orio reached the top step of the podium in the same weight class the following season. He earned the state title with a 7-3 decision over St. Mary’s Dave Greenwald.

  • Orio was a two-year captain for Eastern, leading the team in most wins in a single season (37) and career wins in the fall (80) and finished his scholastic career with a record of 127–8. He said the highlight of his career was wrestling in the state finals as his brother, Anthony, in 2004.
  • He attended The Citadel, where he went 16-8 before suffering a career-ending shoulder injury as a sophomore. He transferred to Pittsburgh, where he graduated in 2009.
  • Orio is the Vice President of Global Sales in Washington DC. He lives in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife Janine and their two children Nicholas and Cecilia.

Dave Ritz

  • Ritz, a 1996 graduate of Highland Regional High School, was a two-time District 30 champion, a Region 8 titlist, two-time state place winner, including a silver medalist as a senior.
  • After finishing fifth in the state at heavyweight as a junior, Ritz defeated Paulsboro’s Jermaine Ruffin for the Region 8 title. He lost the rematch to Ruffin in the state finals 3-2.

  • Ritz finished his college career with an 89-10 record and helped lead the Tartans to three Group 4 group titles.
  • He attended Gloucester County College, where he finished 28-5 with a fifth-place finish on the 1999 squad that won the Junior College National Championship.
  • After graduating from Rutgers-Camden, Ritz began coaching. He was an assistant at Moorestown (2000-2004) and Timber Creek (2005-2014) before landing the head coaching job in 2015, a position he still holds.
  • Ritz works in Timber Creek’s special education program and lives in Erial.

Thomas Scotton Jr.

  • Scotton, a 2006 graduate of Willingboro High School, captured three District 25 titles, two Region 7 titles and was a three-time state qualifier.
  • After placing fifth in the state at 145 as a sophomore, Scotton advanced to the state finals at 145 the following season and finished second. He placed third in the state as a senior.

  • Scotton finished his college career with a 135-13 record, including a fifth-place finish at the National High School Coaches Association Senior National Tournament. He was ranked ninth in the nation in his weight class by WIN Magazine and was named Burlington County Times Wrestler of the Year.
  • He attended the University of North Carolina, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I Tournament qualifier. He finished with a career record of 96-50, including titles at the Edinboro Open, Hokie Open and the Southern Scuffle before graduating in 2011.
  • Scotton received his master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers-Newark in 2018. He works for the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington DC and lives in Landover, Maryland.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, where he has covered South Jersey sports for more than 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Support local journalism with a digital subscription.

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