Will Cordoba said that he has always enjoyed challenges. Growing up in Kearny, he wanted the challenge of becoming a talented wrestler, which he became, finishing fifth in the state in 1994 at 130 pounds, before moving on to a successful collegiate career at Seton Hall.
Cordoba wanted the challenge of becoming a high school wrestling coach after college, so he got involved in the Kearny High School program and worked as an assistant for seven years.
When Hudson Catholic reinstituted the sport last year after a nearly 20-year absence, Cordoba wanted the challenge of being an assistant coach, teaching a new crop of kids the intricacies of the sport.
And when former head coach Michael Blancard stepped down at the end of last season, the 28-year-old Cordoba knew he was going to have to be ready to take on the challenge of being the new head coach of a still-fledgling program, now in the state of flux.
“I knew what I was getting into,” Cordoba said. “I was taking over a new program. I was familiar with the kids. I knew a lot of them were brand new to the sport. We were going to have to take these kids from scrap and turn them into athletes. Most of the freshmen coming out thought wrestling was the WWF. We had to take that out of their system.”
And with many of the wrestlers in the Hawks’ wrestling room, everything was so brand new.
“We had to spend so much time literally teaching them wrestling, what a takedown was, what an escape is,” Cordoba said. “They were asking how you get back points and how to set up their feet. It was all basic fundamentals. I thought it was going to be frustrating at first, but it was the challenge that I love. I hope to be able to turn these kids into competitive wrestlers.”
Cordoba comes from a strong wrestling family. His younger brother, Mike, also wrestled at Kearny High and now serves as an assistant coach with the Hawks. Another younger brother, David, was a state champion while wrestling at Kearny in 1999 (one of only two state champions in the history of Hudson County) and is back competing again at Montclair State. Both Cordoba brothers help their older sibling in coaching the Hawks.
“We want to be able to build young men who have discipline and morals,” Will Cordoba said. “I’m very fortunate to have my brothers with me as much as possible.”
Early in the season, Cordoba has found out firsthand that the challenge was even bigger than he expected.
“I don’t know if any other coach could understand that,” Cordoba said. “Unless they’re put in the position to see it, they don’t know. But I’ll tell you, it’s a very rewarding challenge. I’m already happy with the progress the kids have made. I hope to get a place winner at District 16. That would make me very happy.”
Cordoba has taken the Hawks through a very competitive schedule, facing quality programs like Pequannock, Cranford, Elizabeth, Don Bosco Prep, Colonia, Vernon and Pope John of Sparta.
“What I wanted to do this year was to expose our kids to the best competition,” Cordoba said. “We’re wrestling a college style within a high school schedule and we’re teaching according to the styles that the kids like to wrestle. It’s a lot like what we did at Kearny and we’re going from there.”
So far, the Hawks have a 3-8 record. Not exactly world beaters, but doing their best to be competitive.
Leading the way is junior 140-pounder Manny Hernandez, who has won eight matches thus far.
“Manny has taken wrestling to a whole different level this year,” Cordoba said. “He’s become quick and explosive. He picks up moves easily. He’s improved a lot.”
Another improved wrestler is senior 171-pounder Ryan Talerico, who has captured seven wins thus far.
“Ryan is very good at the bottom position,” Cordoba said. “He’s a good defensive wrestler and he’s so strong. If you make one mistake, he’s going to stick you.”
Gary Giordano, a 152-pound junior, has shown vast improvement. Giordano, a member of the Hudson Catholic soccer team, has become a tough wrestler who is good on his feet, according to Cordoba.
Junior Joe Nickerson, a 160-pounder, has been picking up his pace of late.
“Joe has the most heart on the team,” Cordoba said.
Cordoba has also been impressed with the styles of senior 189-pounder Frank Tamargo, junior 215-pounder Azam Twal, who came off a fine football season for the Hawks.
“Azam is the strongest kid on the team,” Cordoba said. “This is his first year wrestling. He’s doing a fine job.” Cordoba likes the promise he sees in freshman heavyweight Anthony Lucci.
“He’s working very hard, and if he keeps pushing himself this way, chances are that he’s going to be very good by the time he’s a junior,” Cordoba said.
So it appears as if Cordoba’s in the mix for the long haul with the Hudson Catholic wrestling program. “We have a lot of young kids,” Cordoba said. “Give me two years and we’ll be right up there with the established programs like St. Peter’s Prep. We have so much potential.”
Potential that begins with the new head coach. – Jim Hague