Four (or More) Time State Champions in College = New Jersey

 Considering that New Jersey has had a High School State tournament since 1934, I was shocked at how few four time state champions the state has produced. Honestly, I was shocked at how few three time state champions the state has produced. Like Pennsylvania, Ohio & Iowa, I consider New Jersey to be a wrestling state, which in partial helps to explain why there have been so few. The tougher the competition, the fewer the four timers. Still though, I expected at least a comparable number.  I get that there are other factors such as what year did freshmen become eligible?  Nevertheless I can't be the only person who looks at a history of 88 years & questions, "Only four?"   Three different sources confirm that while the first three time champion happened all the way back in 1941, the first four timer wasn't crowned until 2006. 

Mike Grey 

New Jersey's first four time State champion, Mike Grey won his titles for Delbarton from 03'-06'. Collegiately he had an outstanding career for Cornell (NY).  A two time NCAA All American, he was 6th at both the 2008 & 2011 NCAA championships in his freshman & senior seasons. Along with these accomplishments he was also a three time EIWA finalist, winning titles his junior & senior seasons.  A Southern Scuffle finalist his freshman year, he was 3rd in both his sophomore and junior seasons. He was also a CKLV runner-up as a junior. 

Andrew Campolattano 

A four time New Jersey State champion for Bound Brook from 08'-11', Andrew Campolattano began his collegiate wrestling career at Ohio State. A two time NCAA qualifier, he then transferred to Rutgers where he eventually decided that wrestling was no longer for him. 

Anthony Ashnault 

Representing South Plainfield, Anthony Ashnault won four New Jersey State titles from 10'-13'.  Collegiately he had a phenomenal career at Rutgers. Not only was he the Scarlet Knights second ever NCAA champion, he was also their first four time All American.  He was 8th-4th-6th-1st at the NCAA championships.  This also included winning three BIG 10 titles his last three years of competition, as well as a CKLV title. He also placed twice at the Midlands championships taking 4th as a sophomore & 3rd as a junior. His collegiate career stood 124-19. 

Nick Suriano 

Nick Suriano won four New Jersey State championships for Bergin Catholic from 13'-16'. Collegiately he began his career at Penn State, then transferring to Rutgers & finishing up at Michigan. A three time NCAA finalist, Suriano won titles in 2019 & 2022.  He also won BIG 10 titles these seasons as well. If that weren't enough gold plated plaques in his collection he also owns a Midlands title as well as a CKLV title. 

=== 

Short and sweet, but as have their one, two & three time state champs, New Jersey wrestlers are extremely competitive at the collegiate level. I knew I wouldn't find any "did not wrestle in college" four timers here.