SPORTS

Kingsway wrestling coach Badaracco latest to resign

Mark Trible
@Mtrible
Kingsway Dragon
  • Badaracco spoke with AD June Cioffi early this week and announced his plans
  • Cioffi expressed desire to keep him on staff as assistant
  • Kingsway youth program is chocked full of talent and is anxious to see who new coach will be

First, West Deptford. Then, Camden Catholic.

Now, Kingsway.

Earlier this week, the Woolwich Township school became the third major wrestling program in South Jersey in need of a coach.

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Anthony Badaracco, who spent three years at the Dragons’ helm, met with athletic director June Cioffi early this week and gave his resignation.

The move did not get announced until after the Badaracco met with his wrestlers Wednesday afternoon to break the news.

“We met at the end of the season and talked about some things,” Cioffi said Thursday. “About where I would like to see the program go and continue going.

“Kingsway has a long tradition of great wrestling and that’s my expectation. Anthony’s got a lot on his plate right now.”

Badaracco, who led the Dragons to a 2014 South Jersey Group 3 title match appearance, takes night classes as he works towards a teacher’s certification. His wife is expecting their first child.

Badaracco could not be reached for comment.

Soon, Kingsway will start its hiring process. That will begin with a two-person search committee – Cioffi and assistant principal Mike Beirao. The duo will approve candidates for the second round of interviews to be conducted by administration.

Beirao served as Cinnaminson’s head coach before his arrival at Kingsway as vice principal last year.

Cioffi intimated in an ideal world, Badaracco’s replacement would work in the high school. However, that is not a requirement.

She also has high hopes. With a strong youth program in place under Dennis Callahan, the expectation is to keep homegrown talent in black and red. A few standouts in the immediate area ended up elsewhere.

“That’s something that sticks with me, even with other sports,” Cioffi said of transfers. “I want them to come here. I want our kids to stay at Kingsway. I really can’t stand them transferring to other places.

“We have to find someone who’s going to be attractive to our kids here.”

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Many in the sport’s South Jersey community know the hotbed of talent that comes with the job. Kingsway Junior Wrestling's program has seen numbers participation each of the past five years.

Now, more than 150 kids are involved. The group went 18-0 combined between the youth and middle school teams this past season.

“We formed a great relationship with Anthony and we’re hoping to continue the situation we had with him,” Callahan, who admitted he’ll follow the hiring process closely, said. “We have the nucleus, the skill set, really good wrestlers with lots of depth to eventually translate into a successful team at the high school level.”

Bill Kinner, whose sons Trace and Quinn are the heavy hitters for the Dragons, expressed his disappointment Badaracco wouldn’t be their coach next year.

Quinn wrestled at 106 as a freshman. A 20-pound jump in weight last season seemed too much to his father.

The coach, however, had full faith.

“I was a doubter, I’ll be honest with you,” Bill said. “The jump from 106 to 126 scared the living daylights out of me.

“I never said it to Quinny’s face but I doubted he’d get out of regionals at 126. But there was a coach named Anthony Badaracco who worked him out before school every day and told him he could win states at 126. He made my son believe.”

Quinn took third in the state in March at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. He lost twice on the year – to eventual 132-pound Clearview state champ Zach Firestone and 126-runner up Ty Agaisse of Delbarton.

Bill Kinner, Callahan and Cioffi all praised Badaracco’s ability to remain present in the community. It will be a vital requirement for the next boss as well.

“I think the coaches who are successful, they seem to be able to communicate well with their kids, their parents, their administration,” Callahan said. “The (Paulsboro coach) Paul Morinas of the world, they seem to have their grip on everything.

“Community outreach is a huge part and I feel like Anthony was doing that. … We also have full faith in June. She’s a big reason our program is as successful as it is. We’re gonna let her do her job.”

For her part, Cioffi hopes Badaracco will remain on staff as an assistant coach and has a checklist for the next man in charge.

“I have high expectations of all my coaches,” she said. “I want to find that person who has some years under their belt, confident with what they’re doing, able to handle my expectations, our parents, our youth program … Someone who’s going to have that passion.”

Mark Trible; (856) 486-2424; mtrible@gannettnj.com