Edge Wrestling, widely regarded as one of – if not the – best wrestling club in the state, is bringing their grappling pedigree to Hoboken.
Located above the Hoboken Car Wash on Observer Highway, the club has a brand-spanking new facility for the first satellite campus of the original Edge Wrestling in Martinsville, Somerset County.
Edge Hoboken has 15 kids enrolled in their bi-weekly workouts, but their space could end up accommodating about 100 wrestlers. The children range in age from 6 to 14.
Dave Esposito, head of the Edge staff, said of the professionally-designed facility, “It’s pretty amazing.”
Esposito wants to use the space to host classes for mixed martial arts.
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“Kids in Hoboken can always use another activity,” he said.
In fact, he hopes to start a recreational club to teach local kids about wrestling and act as a feeder club for Edge.
Peeking over the horizon, Esposito said the club also would like to diversify into mixed martial arts and other fields of fitness.
Edge’s edge
Edge Wrestling has a stellar reputation, both in New Jersey and across the country, as one of the best preparatory wrestling clubs around.
Is it the best?
“It’s been around the longest,” Esposito said, trying to modestly avoid the question. “We do have a better track record [than the competing clubs]. But we’re not trying to kill you with numbers.”
But they could. Consider the stats: 40 college All-Americans, 16 NCAA champions, 16 first team high school All-Americans, 75 state champions (51 runner-ups), and 40 National Prep champions.
They teach wrestling, but they develop work ethic “both on the mat and off” Esposito said.
His staff includes several highly-successful wrestlers: Matt Palmer, two-time NCAA All-American at Columbia University; Brandon Kinney, who set the all-time junior record for wins in Michigan; and Chris Bitetto, a New Jersey state champion at Hackensack High School.
“We’ve got great coaches,” Esposito said of the completely volunteer staff. His staff also invites notable wrestlers in the area to teach spot sessions with the kids.
Esposito was a very successful wrestler at Lehigh University, a two-time All-American finishing third and second. He was a two-time Eastern National Champion and the recipient of the prestigious Fletcher Award for most points scored for a team over the course of his career in the tournament.
Esposito started his wrestling career at The Edge when he was 8 years old.
The club practices scholastic-style wrestling year-round and mixes in some freestyle training in the spring.
The club practices on Sunday and Tuesday evenings, with two to four coaches attending.
In the future, Esposito wants to use the space to host classes for mixed martial arts, the sport du jour among young athletes.
He also thinks adult basketball and dodgeball might be a popular use of the training facility, but one thing at a time.
“First we need to get the wrestling up and running,” he said, and the club goal is to produce their first Olympic champion.
Like his coaches, Esposito hasn’t taken a paycheck yet, still waiting to reach break-even cost on the venture.
But he’s not worried.
“I love it here,” he said. “It’s great for the community, and it’s a great space.”
Swank digs
Esposito said the club was feeling out the area when he found out he could move into the space above the car wash.
“The facility opened up…It was something we couldn’t turn down,” he said.
That’s when he brought in Sixx Design, an up-and-coming New York City design firm.
The two-level space has gym space on the bottom and lounge space on top, which Esposito said allows the club to use the facility for more than just wrestling.
Their space will also be featured in a Bravo Network television show starring the design team called “Design Sixx.”
For more information on Edge Hoboken, visit www.edgehoboken.com.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.