Summit, Chatham Combine Wrestling Squads

SUMMIT, NJ - Wrestlers in Summit and Chatham are combining forces on the mat, as Summit High School and Chatham High School have been given permission to combine their wrestling teams for the 2018-2019 school year.

According to officials, this new co-op is renewable for the following year. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association-approved co-op is designed to help both teams grow their wrestling programs in their respective communities. Co-ops have become the norm for many athletic programs in local high schools where enrollment in a particular sport was low. According to the NJSIAA website, hockey teams are the most common co-op due to its overwhelming expenses and a shortage of ice time.

The new hybrid of Union and Morris County schools will be known as United Summit-Chatham wrestling and current Summit Head Coach Mike Sandor will be the combined team's head coach.

According to Summit High School Athletic Director Dan Healy, Sandor realized this might be a need a few years ago and began to start a conversation with Summit administration and other nearby schools.

Among the suitors, Sandor found a match in Chatham Athletic Director Bill Librera.

"The needs of the community and wrestling programs were similar," Healy said.

According to officials, Chatham will provide an assistant coach. Summit will be the lead school in the co-op, hosting many of the practices and matches.

"Predominately they will practice and wrestle at Summit," Healy said.

The new squad will have little time to bask in the glory of their creation, as practices are slated to start soon.

"Practice begins after Thanksgiving," Healy said.

(Photo courtesy of the Summit School District)

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