New Jersey wrestling has a new name to watch this season: MJ Gorrell.

Except MJ isn't exactly new.

The Somerset, NJ native spent his first two high school seasons competing across the border at Conwell-Egan in Pennsylvania, reaching the state blood round as a freshman and placing Top 8 in PA as a sophomore.

Now he's coming home.

MJ is transferring to St. John Vianney, stepping into the Shore Conference and setting one very clear goal for his first season wrestling high school in New Jersey:

🏆 Win an NJ State Championship.

In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, MJ talks about:

🤼 Why he originally left NJ to wrestle at Conwell-Egan

🏠 Living away from home during wrestling season

🔥 Training with Pennsylvania wrestlers at NPR

🥇 His first two runs through the PA postseason

➡️ Why he decided it was time to return to New Jersey

🦁 Choosing St. John Vianney

🌊 What he expects from Shore Conference wrestling

⚖️ The differences between Pennsylvania and New Jersey wrestling

🤼 Why his funky, scrambling style is better suited for folkstyle

💪 Training at Frost, Duro and NPR

🧠 The coach who's had the biggest influence on his career

🏆 His goal of becoming a New Jersey State Champion

💥 The intense strength and conditioning program he does with his father

🎓 His interest in forensic science

🐯 Training at Princeton and his goal of wrestling in the Ivy League

MJ has spent years wrestling and training around high-level competition on both sides of the Delaware.

Now New Jersey gets to see what he can do.

Welcome home, MJ.

🤼 Guest: MJ Gorrell

🏫 St. John Vianney

📍 Somerset, NJ

🏆 PA State Top-8 Finisher

🎯 Goal: NJ State Champion

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••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com

00:00 Champion Athletes Nutrition

01:22 Meet MJ Gorrell

01:41 Leaving NJ to Wrestle at Conwell-Egan

03:00 Training at NPR & Wrestling in Pennsylvania

04:05 PA State Tournament Success

04:48 Living Away From Home During Wrestling Season

05:51 Why He’s Coming Back to New Jersey

06:53 Choosing St. John Vianney

07:49 What MJ Expects From NJ Wrestling

09:28 Entering the Shore Conference

10:24 Academics & Life After Wrestling

11:09 Freestyle vs. Folkstyle

12:32 Training at Frost, Duro & NPR

13:36 PA vs. NJ Wrestling Rules

15:35 Getting to Know His New SJV Teammates

16:36 His Biggest Coaching Influence

17:52 The Goal: Win an NJ State Title

19:18 How His Dad Drives His Training

20:08 MJ’s Wrestling Style

20:48 State Title or Bust?

21:19 His Dream Training Partner

22:04 Princeton & Ivy League Goals

22:52 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro