Bill Savage- Paramus,Elmwood Park, FDU & Pinelands Regional
Bill got his start in wrestling under Hall of Fame Coach,Sal Cascio at Bergenfield High School in 1963.After HS he went to Montclair State where he wrestled until a knee injury finished his college career in 1969. During college he became a member of the NJWOA and officiated in the Northeast Chapter. In 1974 he would get his first Head Coaching job at Paramus High School after two losing seasons the Spartans would win 4 straight District Titles 1977-80,2 NNJIL championships and ranking 10th,4th,and 15th in NJ his last three years. After two years at FDU-Teaneck as Head Coach Bill returned to HS at Elmwood Park HS where his Crusaders would win their 1st District title in 20 years as well as 3 League championships. His Elmwood Park team would go undefeated for two years in Bergen/Passaic Counties and capture a State Sectional Championship in 1986. They were also selected by the Lehigh Alumni Association the #1 Group 1&2 team in Bergen County in 1985 & 1986. After a two year hiatus,Bill left his teaching duties at Paramus and took over the reins at Pinelands Regional in the tough Region Six area of the State.At Pinelands his teams would win 5 League Titles and 2 District 24 Championships as well as being finalists in the Shore Conference Tournament twice and the State Sectional three times. In total Bill's teams posted a record of 258-70-4 while winning 10 league 7 District and 7 Holiday Tournaments. He was selected Coach of the Year and had teams win District and League Titles as well as go undefeated in regular dual-meets at all three schools. His wrestlers won 58 District titles,15 Regional Championships and had 10 State Placewinners. In 1996 Bill watched his former wrestler, Matt Ghaffari place 2nd in the Atlanta Olympics. Working with the NJWCA and the NJSIAA Bill formulated the State Sectional Team Tournament in 1977. He served as Region President in Regions 1 & 6 and both State President and Vice-President of the NJWCA.In 1997 Bill received the Harry E.Lake Award.He is a member of the Elmwood Park, Region 2 & Region 6 Halls of Fame.
Tony Grifa - NJWOA
Tony began his long career in wrestling at Plainfield High School when he captained the Football,Wrestling,and Baseball teams as a senior. At Rutgers Tony would continuehis wrestling career. While on active duty as an Army Intelligence Officer Tony coached the Freshman Wrestling Team at Springfield College and crowned four NE freshmen Champions. Tony would go on to coach wrestling and football at Scotch Plains-Fanwood and later was an Assistant Football Coach at Wall Twp. An outstanding official on both the HS and College level in numerous sports, Tony would officiate Wrestling for five decades from the 1950's-1990's. and has officiated over 1000 Dual-meets in his storied career. He refereed the NJ State Tournament for Twenty years and the Districts for Thirty Straight years. A founding father of the Shore Chapter of the NJWOA, Tony served as it's President as well as the President and Secretary of the NJWOA. He also served as Shore Chapter Rules Interpreter for 25 years and Cadet Supervisor for 14 years. Tony is a member of the Region 6 Hall of Fame,Jersey Shore Hall of Fame and Mirshak Award winner. An E.I.W.O.A. college official for 25 years Tony is an honorary Lifetime member and is highly respected on all levels of officiating wrestling.
