The 2009/2010 Wallkill Valley Wrestling team brings a mix of young talent and experienced veterans to compete against opponents in the new NJAC Conference.

Assistant coach Adam Vazquez has promising expectations for this year’s grapplers. “I’m looking forward to the upcoming season. As a team we are young, but because of our work ethic, I feel we will be very successful.” Vazquez stated.

As with every year, Wallkill Valley will host this year’s Regionals. Wallkill carries a deep wrestling tradition and the student body provides a lot of spirit and support behind their Rangers.

This year Wallkill has three highly ranked wrestlers returning in seniors Ryan Calahan, Evan Bowlby and junior Zack Dipini. Calahan went all the way to Atlantic City last season and placed an impressive second in the state. Dipini and Bowlby both qualified in the states and have expectations to go even further this winter.

Vazquez also stated that he’s looking forward to the matches against some upper-level teams that include High Point and Kittatiny. He feels that as a coach, he likes to see the wrestlers get the best competition they can throughout the year. Wallkill fans will bring a lot of spirit when they face those rivals as well.

Having a winning season is always a goal of any sports team; however, preparation is a key to this goal. Coach Vazquez knows being ready will be the key to the Rangers success.

“Wrestling is very demanding  ...Read More

Former Sparta wrestler Jim Miller has been enjoying a very successful career in the UFC for the last few years.

In the early part of the decade, Sparta wrestler Jim Miller was a hard nosed feather weight for the Spartans, competing at 103 to 140 weight breaks during his career. Back then he was considered one of the better wrestlers in the area, but not even he knew he would eventually become a professional fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship league.

The 2002 graduate left Sparta with only a handful of losses during illustrious wrestling career and even finished 7th in the States during his senior season. After high school, Miller went on to Virginia Tech to wrestle at the next level.

After college he started his working career in construction. But during a short stint in the working world, Jim and his brother Dan had the wrestling bug and decided to get into Mixed Martial Arts. They quickly excelled and in May of 2005 they both became professional. Soon after that, the UFC signed the both of them and the rest is history.

NJAC Sports Center caught up with Miller to reminisce about the old Sparta wrestling days, how his life as a professional athlete has evolved and what his message is to the Sparta athletes is this year.

Q: What was your favorite moment as a wrestler for Sparta?
A: My favorite moment as a Sparta wrestler is easily when we won the state sectional title in 2000 at Indian Hills High School. The team worked very hard and wrestled great in that tournament.

Q: Were you a fan of mixed mar  ...Read More

We are currently perfecting our new publication using Boy’s and Girl’s Lacrosse as our lead sports for West Morris. However we will soon be opening our recruiting doors to cover additional sports. If you are interested in joining in the fun of being a part of the world of sports journalism and making a difference for your school, please contact Barry Buchanan at buchanan@wmchs.org and tell him that you would like to interview for one of our roles.

This is a terrific way to get great experience in the world of sports journalism and photography and while putting something very tangible on your college resume. It involves a commitment, like any team, but is a lot of fun!

Sincerely yours,

George Muha (aka Unruly)
Conference Director
Iron Hills Sports Conference of the HSjox.com network.