Paul Morina had some big wrestling shoes to fill.
When he took his first head coaching job in 1986, the Paulsboro alum not only replaced his mentor, he took the reins from a legend who built this small Gloucester County town into the mecca of South Jersey wrestling.
Bob Fredrick posted a 251-6-2 record during his tenure, molding the Red Raiders’ wrestling program into a model of success.
Morina focused on continuing the strong tradition that had empowered not only the athletes who competed, but the tough, gritty town they called home.
The 56-year-old certainly has achieved his goal and much more.
Morina was crowned the all-time winningest wrestling coach in South Jersey history Wednesday night with win No. 606 coming in a 47-14 triumph over Haddonfield.
Under Morina, Paulsboro has won 110 of 115 playoff matches (with one tie) en route to 28 sectional and 25 state titles. In the Colonial Conference, the Red Raiders are 258-3 and the program has only lost 18 times to New Jersey schools since 1986.
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