The Iona Prep wrestling program has become synonymous with success, consistently achieving high honors and developing student-athletes who excel both on and off the mat. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a powerhouse, the program's journey is a testament to dedication, leadership, and a commitment to excellence.
The Rise of a Powerhouse
Iona Prep's wrestling team has achieved remarkable success, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the New York high school wrestling scene. Iona Prep's wrestlers are regularly on the podium or at the top of the podium in tournaments, and have achieved highly at the state level.
The tale of Iona Prep wrestling is unique.
It was a dormant program - there was some club wrestling in past generations.
Iona Prep coach Tom Straehle started the Gaels' program in 2006.
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In his time at the Prep the Gaels have been Westchester County Champions, NYC Divisional Champion, 4x NYC Divisional runner up, 3x CHSAA State runner up and 4x JV City Champions.
Iona has had 190 Sectional qualifiers, 65 Sectional place winners, 11 Section Champions, 5 NYSPHSAA State place winner and 2 NYSPHSAA Champion.
Achieving 300 dual meet wins includes a lot of years, a lot of wrestlers and a lot of hard work.
Iona Prep wrestling coach Tom Straehle achieved that milestone on Dec. 17 when Iona Prep defeated Fordham Prep 55-22 at home.
"Lots of years, a lot of kids, a lot of good wrestlers, especially the last seven or eight years," said Straehle, a retired New Rochelle police officer who started Iona Prep's wrestling program in 2006.
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"A lot of the kids you meet, you see them later on in life, have them come back and give back to the program. Donations if we need them, coming to alumni practice over Thanksgiving, camps over the summer. They help tutor the kids."
A lot of these guys come back down and they're married and they have kids and that's nice."
Key Figures in the Program
Tom Straehle - Head Coach
Tom Straehle started his coaching career at Blessed Sacrament in 1994 as head coach.
He then coached at Mt. St. Michael Academy in the Bronx from 1995-2005 winning 4 City Championships and 5 second place finishes.
In 2006 Coach Straehle started the Iona Prep wrestling program.
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In his years as head coach, Tom has accumulated over 200 varsity wins and has served as the NYC League Chairman for the past 15 seasons. In 2022 Tom was appointed the CHSAA State Wrestling Chairman.
In 2009 Tom was inducted into the Blessed Sacrament Hall of Fame.
Tom resides in Mahopac with his wife Sharon and three children, Sydney, Emily and Tommy.
John Degl said the way Straehle works with people is key to his success as a coach.
"He's a great role model for kids. He's a consummate professional," John Degl said.
"Coaches have to wear many hats. He allows me and Coach Fama to have cushy jobs - we coach wrestling. That's what we do and we like to do it. The other stuff, which is why it's hard to get quality head coaches, is you've got to be part lawyer, part babysitter, part parent, part counselor."
You have to have really good balance and you have to treat kids differently," John Degl said.
"He's excellent at that. He knows which kids he needs to push hard and hold accountable. He knows which kids he's got to bring along slower and be a little more flexible with."
Prior to starting Iona Prep's program, Straehle coached at his alma mater, Blessed Sacrament in New Rochelle, in 1994 before coaching at Mount St. Michael in the Bronx from 1995 to 2005.
"Personally, I think the guy's a machine. He's like a cyborg," John Degl said of Straehle, noting his organizational skills and knowing small details of entering tournament meet results into databases, weight certification, and scheduling matches for both his starters and backups.
"He's relentless. That's my tagline for Empire Wrestling, but he's actually relentless. The guy does everything when you're supposed to and doesn't put things off."
John Degl - Assistant Coach
Coach Degl joined the Iona Prep staff in 2017 and brought with him over two decades of coaching experience at the youth, high school and collegiate levels.
His career started at Mahopac High School where he won a New York State championship in 1991.
He then attended the University of Iowa where he was a member of four national championship teams and four Big Ten titles.
He was a 2x Midlands tournament place winner, 2x Empire States Games champion, 2x University Nationals All American and a 1996 NCAA qualifier.
From 1997-2000 Coach Degl served as Head Assistant Coach at Hofstra University.
In 2002 as Head Coach at Mahopac High School, he led the team to a Section One championship.
Coach Degl continued his education, earning a Master’s of Science in Education at Mercy College.
He is currently the owner of Empire Wrestling Academy (formally Iowa Style) In Somers NY.
John resides in Mahopac with his wife Jen and children, Sean, Jack, Shane and Joy.
"That was kind of our turning point," Straehle said of Degl, who runs Empire Wrestling Academy in Somers, coming on board. "We had kids from his club that wanted to go to Iona Prep."
Nick Cipriano - Assistant Coach
Coach Cipriano joined the Iona Prep wrestling staff in 2019.
Coach Cipriano spent the last three seasons on the staff at Ardsley High School.
He also coaches at the youth and high school levels at Empire Wrestling Academy.
Coach started his career at Dobbs Ferry High School where he was a varsity started all for years.
He was 3x all league, a Section One place winner and served as team captain his senior year.
Eric Fama - Assistant Coach
Coach Fama is a 2004 graduate of New Rochelle High School where he was a 4x all section wrestler and Section I champion his senior year.
He then wrestled at Rhode Island College from 2005-2008.
After college he served as an assistant coach at New Rochelle High School for 2 seasons before becoming the head varsity wrestling coach at Yorktown high school for 7 seasons.
Notable Achievements
Colin Realbuto won a CHSAA state title in 2018 and placed third at NYSPHSAA. Matt Kelly and A.J. Kovacs got things going further in 2020, winning at both tournaments. Since then, Gaels have been regulars on medal podiums.
This season, wrestlers like George Johnson, Fotis Koufalis, Ralphie Rodriguez, Dorian Hidalgo and Shane Degl are threats to win or place in any tournament they compete in.
Iona Preparatory is the three-time defending LoHud.com Sports’ Tom Whelan Private School of the Year and routinely bests national averages when it comes to college commitments.
They represent 14 percent of their class, double the national average, with an incredible 9 percent going to Division I schools, more than four times the national average!
Three Catholic state titles in baseball, football and lacrosse. Two additional league titles in hockey (a first) and volleyball (a fifth). And a pair of now four-time defending Westchester County champions in track and field and wrestling.
Iona Prep Super Quad
Included in this week's schedule is the Iona Prep Super Quad on Dec. 23, featuring the Gaels, Bishop Hendricken from Rhode Island, St. Anthony's from Long Island and Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey.
Iona Prep hosts Bishop Hendricken from Rhode Island, St. Anthony's from Long Island and Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey on Dec. 23.