Howell wrestlers set to continue program s winning legacy in 2021-22 centraljersey.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from centraljersey.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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From the time he took over as the head coach at his alma mater, Howell has reached unprecedented heights and become one of New Jersey’s best wrestling programs. Now, John Gagliano has reached a milestone no other area coach has achieved.
With the Rebels’ 69-9 victory over Piscataway on Tuesday, Gagliano became the first wrestling coach in Shore Conference history to reach 500 career wins. In 24 seasons leading Howell, Gagliano has a career record of 500-79.
Gagliano was a district and region champion for Howell during the mid-1980s when Howell was a good program but nowhere near the juggernaut it is today. Before Gagliano took over as the head coach, Howell had won six division titles and six district titles while having 60 wrestlers win district titles, 16 claim region championships and 12 wrestlers take home state medals - including 1965 state champion Carlos Fontanez - between 1965 and 1997.
Great was the sorrow of her loved ones Sunday evening, January 10, when Shirley Tomka passed away at home. It was only ten weeks ago that she was brought to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in the hopes that an operation would give her a continued lease on life. However, after the operation, she did not improve. She returned home on November 25th and was cared for by her devoted husband, loving children and grandchildren and selfless siblings and friends. Shirley’s condition grew critical on Friday, January 8th. Her family was at her bedside as she peacefully slipped away from this life into eternal life with God.