2026 Matawan Huskies
Head Coach: Matt Hughes (5th Season in 2026)
Assistants: Andy Lasko (HS) / Sean Neely (HS) / Mike Castro (HS) / Johnny Short (HS) / Charlie Marsh (MS Head Coach)
Section: CJG3 / Division: E / District: 20 / Region: 5

The Huskies are on the rise. Led by a trio of 30+ match winners, two of whom made it to Atlantic City, Matawan has a great balance of proven returning talent and very promising newcomers that make them an interesting team to keep an eye on this season.

Beginning down low (106-132), the Huskies have five starters returning. In 2025, Dylan Sierra became the Huskies' first freshman to win 30 bouts in a season on his way to a 2nd-place finish at Districts at 113, the weight he is projected to return to this season, where he could be primed for a huge season. Also back down low is junior Dean Cuiffo, a 20-bout winner who took 3rd at Districts last year. Andrew & Andre Martin, Michael Kelly, and Chace Martin, along with an influx of freshmen talent, including Tyler Toth, Angelo Gallo, and Graysen Monchik, gives Matawan some good depth and lineup options down low.

Senior Alexander Liss leads the charge in the middle of the order. Liss, a 2-time State qualifier, enters the season with 86 career wins, and along with Devin Martin, Adham Wahby, and Antonio Bruno, gives the Huskies a strong senior presence in the middle as they break in some more of that freshmen class into the lineup. Among those freshmen in middle are Angelo Gallo, an Intermediate State qualifier, and Dante Marsh, who placed 8th at Intermediate States last year.

One of the Shore Conference's top heavyweights is back for one more run for the Huskies. Senior Mohammad Targali has put up 60 wins at 285 over the last two seasons, winning a pair of District medals, and advancing to Atlantic City last year after placing 4th at Regions.

With 50 kinds in the high school room, 40 on the middle school team, and 80(!)+ in the rec program, Matawan is a program on the rise. For 2026, the team looks to have a very strong, balanced lineup with some nice depth to it which will give head coach Matt Hughes some lineup flexibility. It's been 15 years since they've won a division title, but they have the horses to lead. If the returners step up, and the newcomers can make an impact, there could be a banner added to the gym