A state tournament championship is the ultimate goal of a scholastic wrestler in New Jersey.
While Matthew McCann, a junior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, is determined to achieve that ultimate award—— and he possesses the skills and work effort to win that elite prize one day—— he revealed that he follows the beat of another goal.
“Sure, everybody’s goal is to win a state championship,” said McCann, who is one of the valuable members of the record-setting wrestling program at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
“But if I give 100 percent in my effort, then I have met my goal.”
It is that sort of sound and mature reasoning that McCann was selected for the distinguished role as a Student Ambassador for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).
The NJSIAA, which is the governing body of New Jersey high school sports, selects its Student Ambassadors from the junior and senior classes of students throughout the state.
And the NJSIAA does not spread this prestigious award around.
McCann is just one of eight juniors throughout New Jersey who were named to the role as Student Ambassador for the Class of 2027.
A total of 13 seniors from throughout New Jersey make up the Class of 2026 Student Ambassadors.
According to the NJSIAA website, “The NJSIAA Student Ambassador Program will promote leadership in the classroom and on athletic fields, sportsmanship, the health and safety of student-athletes, and to enhance positive relationships with coaches, officials, and other student-athletes. The NJSIAA Student Ambassadors will work to represent the perspective of all NJSIAA student-athletes by presenting their feedback to the NJSIAA Executive Committee and Staff, which will thereby assist in decision-making and development of initiatives for future improvement that will benefit all NJSIAA member schools.”
McCann was nominated in June for this honor by Bill Deniz, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Director of Athletics.
“I nominated Matthew to serve as an NJSIAA Student Ambassador because I believe he would be an outstanding representative of our school and the values of the NJSIAA,” Mr.Deniz stated.. “Matt has been an active member of three athletic programs at Bridgewater-Raritan High School: cross-country, wrestling, and lacrosse. His dedication and leadership in each of these sports have made a positive impact on both his teammates and coaches.
Mr. Deniz added:
“Matt is the type of student who always takes the time to say hello in the hallway. He leads by example, both in and out of competition, and has never had any disciplinary issues. Within our wrestling program, he is seen as an extension of the coaching staff, someone younger athletes look up to and trust. His character, commitment, and natural leadership make him an ideal choice for this honor.”
McCan received the news of his appointment when, one morning this summer, “ I woke up and looked at my phone and it was a message from Coach (Kyle) Murphy that I was named an NJSIAA Student Ambassador.”
“Coach Murphy congratulated me on being the first Student Ambassador ever from Bridgewater-Raritan.”
Murphy is McCann’s wrestling coach, who values him both as an athlete and student.
“Matthew is the definition of dedicated. He is dedicated to becoming a better wrestler, a better leader and a better student,’ Coach Murphy said. "His loyalty to Bridgewater-Raritan and work ethic will continue to prove why he is the perfect choice for NJSIAA Ambassador and to represent Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District schools proudly. I look forward to seeing all the good he does over the next two years.”
On the wrestling mat, McCann has compiled a 65-20 record over his first two years at Bridgewater-Raritan.
As a sophomore, he won the District 14 title at 150 pounds, while he finished as a runner-up at that weight class in the Somerset County Tournament and the Dessino Tournament at Middlesex High School. He placed fifth in Region 4 at 150 pounds last season.
He was a catalyst for what may be regarded as the finest wrestling season ever at Bridgewater-Raritan last winter.
Coach Murphy guided Bridgewater-Raritan to a 21-8 record, a school record for victories, and the program’s first trip ever to a group state championship match. Bridgewater-Raritan fell to three-time state champion Southern Regional High School, 58-18, in the Group 5 state championship bout at Rutgers University
But it was McCann’s heroics that helped send Bridgewater-Raritan to the state Group 5 final.
McCann’s pin at 3:10 in the final bout at 157 pounds rallied Bridgewater-Raritan to a 36-33 victory in the Group 5 state semifinals against Monroe High School.
McCann’s skills on the mat and in the classroom can be attributed to his parents, Kevin and Michelle McCann.
Kevin McCann won the state tournament championship in 1991, wrestling as a senior at 135 pounds for South Plainfield High School. He went on to coach wrestling and serve as athletic director at South Plainfield High School and is currently the principal at the Grant School, an intermediate school in South Plainfield.
Michelle McCann is an educator in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, where she teaches 1st Grade at the Adamsville Primary School.
“Athletics runs in Matt’s family; his father was an athletic director at South Plainfield High School and one of the most respected and decorated high school wrestling coaches in recent history. That legacy of leadership and sportsmanship is clearly reflected in Matt's character,’’ Mr. Deniz said.
“My parents are a very big influence on me,” the younger McCann said.”Every day, I want to put in so much time and effort to represent them both.”
Spoken by a true ambassador.
Here are the Class of 2027 NJSIA Student Ambassadors:
Barnegat High School – Nicholas Malinowski
Bloomfield High School – Inez Brewster
Bridgewater-Raritan High School – Matthew McCann
Delran High School – George Willard
Kearny High School – Makayla David
Morris County School of Technology – Duncan Felch
Princeton Day School – Sophia Vriesendorp
Wayne Valley High School – Sabrina King