The 2024-25 season was a defining year for the legacy of the Blue Devil wrestling program. With an 18-9 record and remarkable showings at multiple tournaments, the team proved that dedication and discipline to build the right culture can lead to incredible success. More important than wins and losses, this season was about growth, leadership and laying a foundation for the future.
“The team is so strongly connected because we all go through similar struggles whether it’s regarding weight, physical or mental deterioration. It’s hard to be committed to such a tough sport like wrestling, but it starts with buying into the team culture and this year we did an amazing job, leading to a lot of team and individual success,” said senior co-captain Dylan Sontz.
The Blue Devils opened with the Pandy-Leh Invitational, finishing 5th of the 10 teams in attendance, displaying immense potential for the rest of the season: junior Jake Zemsky overpowered all of his adversaries, taking first place in the 190 pound weight class; senior co-captain Jack McDermott came in second in the 175 lb weight class; junior Daniel Berardi and Sontz took third place in the 113 lb and 132 lb weight class, respectively.
Despite the success at the invitational, the Blue Devils fell to Howell and Elizabeth before dominating wins over Keyport and Roselle. The matchup against Roselle marked the first of many significant milestones throughout the season.
Head coach Kurz hit his 300th career win, a testament to his dedication to developing wrestlers and fostering a culture of excellence. Also seen through Kurz’s emphasis this season “on rebuilding our culture and restoring some of our values. We focused on living our lives the right way on and off the wrestling mat. We wanted to make sure they were getting enough sleep, getting the proper nutrition, and they are students first,” said Kurz.
The thoughtful consideration of every aspect of life displays how the deep culture of the program became the backbone of their success. Prior to the Union County Championship meet, Westfield beat Bloomfield, Teaneck, West Orange, Union, New Providence and Governor Livingston, one of the most exciting meets.
“We went into the meet on paper as a very heavy underdog. And we blew the doors off them and shocked them. Our kids wrestled lights out, scoring in places where we were not executing to, winning all of the close ones and scoring bonus points where possible and it was a great match,” siad Kurz.
As a team, Westfield’s season ended after a tri-match on Feb. 15 following a devastating loss in the quarterfinal round of the North 2, Group 4 sectional tournament. On the other hand, the individuals’ state seasons had just begun.
Sending a full varsity line up to the District 13 tournament, Westfield came out with four first-place finishes from Berardi, Sontz, Zemsky and senior Yehia Abdelrahman; a total of eight qualifiers for Region 4; and Zemsky being dubbed Overall Wrestler.
In the Regional tournament, Berardi and Zemsky took first place, and Sontz and Abdelrahman took fourth place, enough to send all four to the state tournament.
“It was a dream of mine since freshman season that I never really viewed as possible,” said Sontz. In a stressful blood-round, he and his opponent were tied 1-1 in overtime before a swift takedown by Sontz. “I’ll never forget that feeling. I’ve watched the video of me winning maybe over a 100 times where you can see me celebrating, my mom going crazy, and my dad screaming his lungs off,” said Sontz.
This sentimental moment was not the only incredible aspect of the regional meet. In addition, freshman Laia Colet-Rams participated in the girls regional tournament, surpassing a returning state-qualifier in a rematch from earlier in the season. This victory meant Colet-Rams would finish the tournament in third place, sending her to the state tournament as the first girls state qualifier from Westfield’s program.
Sending five wrestlers to the state tournament is also the most the program has seen in over 25 years. “Add to the legacy,” said Kurz. “We told our kids that the legacy that has been left for them is that we perform well in these high-pressure situations, and our kids did that. We told them that is the legacy you’re going to leave for our feeder program.”
Although Zemsky was the only to place in the top eight, the future is bright for Westfield wrestling, with an impressive group of young wrestlers coming up through the ranks. The team’s success is a reflection of their leadership, hard work, and the culture they’ve cultivated. The seniors served as essential mentors for younger athletes.
“They showed heart and worked hard everyday. Again they tried to live their lives the right way. Jack McDermott and Dylan Sontz were great leaders, and if you told me three years ago Dylan Sontz would be a great leader I wouldn’t have believed you, but he really came a long way,” said Kurz.
Not only have the seniors passed down valuable information, but they have learned a lot for themselves. “Westfield wrestling has forever impacted me and molded me into the person I am today. Coming into highschool I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, sport-wise. I was short, weak, and small. There aren’t too many sports for someone with those credentials…I was very immature my freshman and sophomore seasons. It took a lot of time to shape me into the wrestler and person I am today, but I’m forever thankful because I needed that change. Coach Kurz watched me go from a small immature kid to a state qualifier and team captain and I think that’s something to be very proud of,” said Sontz.
Next year, Kurz noted that consistency was a key area of focus for improvement. “There were times when we were really good, but we lost a couple of close matches due to lack of consistency,” said Kurz. The team will continue to build upon the progress made, focusing on keeping up the intensity and addressing areas that need refinement.
Westfield Wrestling’s 2024 season was about more than just titles; it was about creating lasting memories, overcoming challenges, and forging a legacy that future generations of wrestlers will continue to build on. With an incredible mix of leadership, dedication, and talent, the program is undoubtedly on the right track toward even greater success in the years to come.
