OWNER & FOUNDER

WARREN SITE DIRECTOR

HEAD INSTRUCTOR

 

Ernie is an alumnus of Upsala College where he earned a B.A. degree in Business Administration. He attended graduate school at Montclair State University where he received his teaching certificate in Technology Education and Industrial Arts after completing 72 credits beyond his bachelor's degree. In 2012, Ernie was named “Teacher of the Year” in Warren Middle School (see article), but it was in 1984 that he revolutionized the concept of club wrestling when he founded The Edge School of Wrestling. He has been training wrestlers of all age groups ever since. Ernie has been a member of the New Jersey Wrestling Federation Coaches Council and a Member at Large on the executive board of the New Jersey Wrestling Federation. He has coached at the Junior, Cadet, and Schoolboy levels for both boys and girls for the New Jersey Wrestling Federation National Teams. Ernie has 20+ years coaching Team NJ Freestyle Cadet and Junior level national teams. He was a member of the Asics Corporation Advisory Board and a USA Wrestling certified coach. Ernie was coined “The Godfather” and “The Originator” of club wrestling by “FloWrestling’s” founder Martin Floreani in 2009 (watch here) for being the first person to mainstream amateur wrestling as a full-time private wrestling school (The Edge School of Wrestling est. 1984) in the United States.

 

Ernie’s long list of coaching accomplishments have made Edge Wrestling one of the most highly respected and nationally recognized programs of its kind in the country. The success of his students on every level has made “The Edge” a common name among college recruiters. His coaching record speaks for itself with having coached more New Jersey High School State Champions (107), and more New Jersey State Runners-ups (89), than any other coach in New Jersey wrestling history. Ernie will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022. He is receiving the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award for his contributions to the sport of wrestling. For a more complete list of the impact Ernie's Edge Wrestling program has had on wrestling nationally and its results visit our Honors page.