If a team, or in this case an entire program, does indeed take on the personality of its head coach, it isn’t all that surprising Howell is both a Shore Conference and statewide powerhouse on what has become an annual basis over the last 29 seasons.
The Rebels, who are currently ranked No. 10 in the state by NJ.com, thrive on consistency, just like their head coach. They’ve averaged 20 wins a season over the last 29 years.
Howell’s coach, John Gagliano, is the same guy he was when he took over at his alma mater before the start of the 1997-1998 season. As classy as they come, Gagliano rarely argues and never raises his voice during a match. He is gracious in both victory and defeat.
His sideline presence is so steady, it’s impossible to tell if Howell is winning, which it has done 86 percent of the time under Gagliano.
Under Gagliano’s reign, the individual is never bigger than the team — and that starts with him.
“Coach Gags is almost like a dad to us,” said 157-pound freshman Brady Little. “We grew up with him. I remember when I was younger, coach would come to a practice. You’d hope he’d notice what you were doing.”
Tuesday night, when Howell pulled away from Middletown North with an upper-weight surge, the Rebels presented Gagliano with his 600th career victory.
Gagliano uncomfortably stood with the banner commemorating the milestone with his team and family. Quickly, not as quickly as he would have preferred, it was time to think about Old Bridge on Friday.
More important than Gagliano’s accomplishment was the one his wrestlers attained. Howell won its 26th Shore Conference divisional title — its first since 2022. The Rebels also ended Middletown North’s eight-match winning streak.
“I don’t talk about it and it’s never been a goal,” Gagliano said of his career milestones. “All I ever wanted to do was produce good teams and for the kids to do well in the postseason.
“It’s never been about me.”
Gagliano now has a career record of 600-100.
“I graduated from here in 1987. My wife and I grew up here. I thank God I ended up here every day. There’s no place I’d rather be.”
The Rebels, now 16-1, stayed composed even as Middletown North mounted a comeback, taking a 21-19 lead.
Fearon connected on a powerhouse headlock and scored the pin at the a 1:40 mark, quieting Howell’s always vociferous fans.
Middletown North head coach Eric Morley, knowing the Lions needed to have a lead when they reached Howell’s wheelhouse in the final four bouts between 175 and 285, pushed Nicholas Wall to 157 pounds.
Howell freshman Brady Little had pivotal and a somewhat controversial win at 157 in a 3-1 decision over Wall.
Little scored the first points of the bout in the second period when he turned Wall with a two-point tilt. With Little ahead and the clock winding toward zeros, Wall worked for a takedown. He had Little in a sitting position driving forward when the buzzer sounded. The takedown was never awarded.
“I thought they might bump him (Wall) up,” Little said. “So I was prepared for that.
“Wrestling in our home gym I couldn’t get taken down.”
But was it a takedown?“It was close,” the gregarious Little said. “I was praying it wasn’t three.
Middletown North (16-4) took its last lead after a 5-4 decision by Nico Cordova at 165.
As expected, however, Howell closed with a flourish, getting three-straight pins from Tyler Going (175), Julian DelPrete (190) and Tim O’Rourke (214). Middletown North forfeited to Tanner Hodgkins at 285.
NOTES: O’Rourke, who has wrestled primarily at 215, weighed in at 191.1 pounds leading to speculation that Hodgins could go at 215 in the postseason. Gagliano also confirmed Luke Johnston could be dropping from 120 to 113 pounds.
“We’re keeping our options open,” Gagliano said.
Gagliano said the focus was on the approaching state team tournament. It did not necessarily mean those moves would carry over to the individual post season.
Middletown North wrestled without 190-pounder Daniel Benbrook. Benbrook weighed in, but did not wrestle.
“He’s just a little banged up,” Morley said.
