OCHS Teams of the Century
Pat Lynch Raider Wrestler of the Century!
By TOM WILLIAMS
Gazette Staff Writer
There were a number of very good wrestlers that went to the mats for Ocean City High School during the
20th century – 41 of them won district championships.
But there was only one Pat Lynch.
A legend before he ever entered high school, Lynch graduated as the most successful wrestler in
Cape-Atlantic League history and one of the greats in New Jersey. He was 133-4 on the mats, including
99 straight wins. A series of injuries limited his college career, though he did reach All-American status.
He is our obvious choice as OCHS Wrestler of the Century.
Lynch, like a few other OCHS wrestlers, won district titles at different weights. We have placed him at 171
pounds on the all-century team even though he was at 189 on our All-90s team. He had his two perfect
seasons and two state titles at 171 but only one of them was in the 1990s.
Others from the 1990s’ team selected at different weights on the all-century team include Greg Austin, the
125-pounder on the all-century team but 103 in the 90s. Dan Law was picked at 160 on the 90s team, but
gets the nod at 145 on the all-century team. And Drew Muzslay, picked at 171 in the 90s, joins Walt Dull
at 189 on the all-century team. We again selected two wrestlers at 189 since Ocean City has had no real
successful wrestler at the relatively new 215-pound class.
Dull joins Lynch as Ocean City’s only region champion. Lynch won three region titles and four district
championships. Austin and Muzslay were the only other OC wrestlers to win three district titles.
In addition to Lynch, Austin and Muzslay, our all-century team features three others who won two district
championships. That trio includes Tim Gallagher at 112 pounds, Fred Latella at 160 and Trip Snyder at
heavyweight.
Rounding out the all-century wrestling team are Dennis Barr at 103, Joe Monteleone at 119, Phil Faunce at
130, Tim Givens at 135, Carmen Perone at 140 and Jess Compagnola at 152. Each won one district
championship.
The coach of the century is Bill Nickles. He brought quality and integrity to the program for the final 23
years of the century, in addition to developing a consistent lineup of winning wrestlers. And he did it
against competition like Absegami, Oakcrest and other teams ranked among the best in South Jersey.
The best single team of the century is the one OCHS team that beat all the top area teams – the 1987-88
district champions. This team finished 14-4, losing only to four teams ranked among the Top 20 in South
Jersey. Four members of our all-century team were in that lineup – senior Latella, junior Gallagher and
freshmen Lynch and Muzslay. Another, junior Dave Law, was a district champion. And Nickles was named
District Coach of the Year.
The All-Century Raider Wrestling Team
103 Dennis Barr (1976)
112 Tim Gallagher (1989)
119 Joe Monteleone (1981)
125 Greg Austin (1999)
130 Phil Faunce (1981)
135 Tim Givens (1987)
140 Carmen Perone (1977)
145 Dan Law (1993)
152 Jess Compagnola (1996)
160 Fred Latella (1988)
171 Pat Lynch (1991)
189 Walt Dull (1996)
189 Drew Muzslay (1991)
Hwt Trip Snyder (1985)
Coach Bill Nickles (1977-2000)
The 1987-88 team - Best of the Century
103 Chris Curtin
112 Tim Gallagher
119 Dave Caracciolo
125 Will Delp
130 Dave Law
135 Vic Gano
140 John Redding
145 Drew Muzslay
152 Pat Lynch
160 Fred Latella
171 Chris Daily
189 Rich Maguire
Hwt Eric DiTizio
Coach Bill Nickles
Championship Team
District title: 1988
All-Time Coaches Records
Bill Nickles (23 years)....229-183-9 [.556]
Al Matthews (4)...............17-34 [.333]