John Garriques completed his fifth season as a head coach of the Centenary College wrestling program, where the team has posted a 42-29-1 mark in his five seasons. Under his direction, the program has also sent a wrestler to NCAA National Tournament in four of the past five seasons.

The 2010-11 campaign proved to be Garriques’ best, as the Cyclones received their highest-ever national ranking, No. 8 in the country, won the Metropolitan Conference Tournament for the first time in program history, sent a program-record five wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Champions and saw three achieve All-American status, also a program-first.

For his work, Garriques was named Metropolitan Conference Coach of the Year and assistant coach Mike Kessler earned Metropolitan Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

CC finished the year 12-2 overall, including 6-1 in Metropolitan Conference action, setting program records in dual victories and conference dual victories. Both of Centenary’s losses came to ranked opponents in No. 5 Ithaca and No. 12 TCNJ. The team placed second in both the Ithaca Invitational on Nov. 7 and the Doug Parker Invitational on Nov. 20.

Seven Cyclones won at least 20 matches, led by senior Matt Regan’s 28. Fellow classmates Dave Alsieux (27 wins), Jon Stillo (25), Will Livingston (24) and Charles Cannella (22) also had successful seasons, as did junior Owen Vernon (22 victories) and sophomore JD Zitone (21).

Eight Cyclones placed in the Metropolitan Conference Tournament to give CC won the event for the first time in program history. Livingston, Zitone and junior Tim Lutke won at 133-pounds, heavyweight and 197 to earn a trip to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. They were joined by freshman Chris Burdge and Alsieux, who placed second at 157 and 141.

Burdge earned Metropolitan Conference Co-Rookie of the Year honors and d3wrestle.com Rookie of the Year accolades, and he was not finished. He upset the top-seed at 157 in the NCAA’s and went on to place eighth to become Centenary’s first-ever rookie All-American. Livingston, who became the program’s first All-American last season when he placed third at 133, battled through injury to earn sixth-place and receive All-American status for the second-straight year, another program-first. Lutke took seventh at 197 as Centenary placed 13th out of 60 teams.

Centenary’s success extended past the mat, as the team posted the 10th-best GPA in the nation to earn a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Scholar Team Award. Moreover, Alsieux, Regan, Stillo, junior Jose Vega and Vernon each received NWCA Division III Scholar All-American honors, given to those student-athletes with at least a 3.2 GPA. For Stillo, it marked the third consecutive season he has earned the award.

The 2009-10 campaign proved to be historical for the Cyclones, as Livingston became the program’s first-ever All-American, finishing third in the NCAA Wrestling Championships. He also was ranked a contender by d3wrestle.com. Livingston earned a berth to the prestigious event by winning his weight class in the Metropolitan Championships, the first Cyclones to achieve that feat for Garriques and just the second in program-history. Thanks to Livingston’s efforts, Centenary finished the season ranked No. 27 in the country.

 CC placed fourth in the Metropolitan championships as Regan finished second at 165, Stillo won true second at 149 and Alsieux took fourth at 141. Centenary finished the season 8-9 overall, with six losses coming at the hands of ranked teams, including three top-ten programs. Four Cyclones won at least 20 bouts. Off the mat, Centenary finished with the 17th-bes t GPA in the nation and Stillo, Alsieux, Mike Hall and Regan all were named Scholar All-Americans.

In 2008-09, CC won 10 dual victories with only six losses. In tournament action, the wrestlers placed on 13 occasions, including one championship and one runner up. Vernon was named second alternate to the NCAA Tournament, as the team finished fourth out of nine in the Metropolitan Championships. Off the mat, the team finished with the 22nd-best GPA in Division III, and Stillo earned Scholar All-American honors with the 23rd-best individual GPA in the nation.

Garriques came to Centenary by way of a very well known wrestling program at Phillipsburg High School, where he had been an assistant for three seasons under legendary coach Rick Thompson. At Phillipsburg, which happens to also be his alma mater, Garriques was directly involved with every aspect of the daily activities within the program. During his stint with the Stateliners, the team won three Skyland Conference Championships, one Group 4 Championship and had three individual state place winners.

Prior to his return to Phillipsburg, Garriques was an assistant for one year at Middlesex County College in Edison, N.J. While at Middlesex he coached five National Qualifiers, one All-American and coached the team to a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament.

Garriques wrestled for Phillipsburg High School, where he was a three-time New Jersey State placewinner.  He also helped his team to receive recognition of being number one in the state, three years in a row. In 1997, his senior season, Garriques was a New Jersey State Finalist, taking second-place at the State Tournament. He was also named a High School All-American that same season, due to his second-place finish at the NHSCA National Tournament.

During his high school years, Phillipsburg won three Group 4 State Championship and three Skyland Conference Championships. Upon graduation, Garriques attended Gloucester County College in Gloucester, N.J. During his freshman year he became a Junior College National Champion, on his way to becoming a two-time Junior College All-American in both 1998 and 2000. 

During his career at Gloucester he also helped the team win two National Team Championships. From there he transferred to Seton Hall University in the fall of 2000, and was an NCAA National Qualifier. Garriques then completed his wrestling career the next season at Hofstra University where he also became a National Qualifier, for the second consecutive year. While at Hofstra, Garriques helped the Pride achieve National Recognition, as they were ranked in the top 20 in the country and won the CAA conference. Garriques was ranked as high as fourth in the country at his weight class during his senior season.

Garriques’ high school and college career record stands at 234-45. Along with his wrestling accolades, Garriques also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies with minors in Psychology and Communications from Seton Hall University in 2004.

Garriques currently resides in Phillipsburg, N.J. with his wife Jacqueline and their son Owen Teague, who was born Nov. 5, 2008 and classified in the 8-pound 12 ounce weight class.