OWNER

Ernie Monaco     Founder & C.E.O

Ernie is an alumnus of Upsala College where he earned a B.A. degree in Business Administration. He attended graduate school at Montclair State University where he received his teaching certification in Industrial Arts and Technology Education. In 1984 he revolutionized the concept of club wrestling when he founded The Edge School of Wrestling and he has been training wrestlers of all age groups ever since. Ernie has been a member of the New Jersey Wrestling Federation Coaches Council and a Member at Large on the executive board of the New Jersey Wrestling Federation. He is currently a member of the Asics Corporation Advisory Board and a USA wrestling certified coach.

Ernie’s long list of coaching accomplishments have made the Edge program one of the most highly respected and nationally recognized names in the business. The success of his students on every level has made “The Edge” a common name among college recruiters. His coaching record speaks for itself with having coached more New Jersey High School State Champions (64), and more New Jersey State Runners-ups (56), than any other coach in New Jersey wrestling history. In total 120 High School State Finalist. He has worked with wrestlers on all levels from youth to Olympic. His unique system and approach has proven to prepare Edge wrestlers for success in high school, college and beyond. His students have won world and national titles. Three of them were named to the Star-Ledger All-Century Team. Ernie’s wrestlers have been chosen as National High School Wrestler of the Year, and selected to wrestle in the prestigious Dapper Dan Classic. Eleven of them were selected First Team Asics High School All-American. Thirty-one of them have gone on to become Division 1 All-Americans with eight reaching the finals and four being crowned NCAA Division 1 National Champions. Today Edge wrestlers are coaching on the college level in high schools and recreation programs.

As the owner of The Edge, Ernie personally ensures that all coaches are well educated and trained in all aspects of wrestling. He makes sure that coaches provide all Edge members the best physical training, technical skills and quality service that have been the standard in the industry for over 20 years.

COACHES

Dave Esposito

Dave is a graduate of Lehigh University where he received a B.S. degree in Marketing. Following his graduation from Lehigh, he worked at The Edge as an assistant for two years before attending Columbia University Graduate School where he received his Masters degree and was an assistant wrestling coach. Among his many accomplishments as a college wrestler Dave was a two-time NCAA Division 1 All-American finishing third and second. He was a two-time Eastern National Champion and recipient of the prestigious Fletcher Award for most points scored for a team over the course of his career in the tournament. While at Lehigh Dave was voted Lehigh’s outstanding wrestler twice and named Captain of the team. He received the male athlete of the year award for Lehigh University. On the Open or Olympic level, Dave was ranked as high as fifth in the nation. In high school, he attended JFK Iselin where he was a three-time state place finisher. Dave is one of the best wrestlers ever to come out of The Edge.

Dave started his wrestling career at The Edge when he was 8 years old. Today some 18 years later he is an extremely valuable part of The Edge and its future. His technical knowledge, understanding of the sport and ability to communicate it make him a great coach on any level. His college recruiting experience, and national contacts make him an invaluable resource when it comes to college placement. His unique ability to relate to younger wrestlers and inspire them by his example set him apart from most. We are extremely proud to have Dave back at The Edge and as a principle member of our staff.

Karl Monaco

Karl is an alumnus of Montclair State University where he received a degree in Health and Physical Education. He later received his Masters degree in Education from William Paterson University and a second Masters degree in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University. Karl is also qualified to be a High School Athletic Director.

As a competitor, Karl finished third on the Olympic ladder. He was a two-time NCAA Division 1 All-American finishing third and second. He is also a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion and the last Division III wrestler to reach the NCAA finals. Karl was Captain of the Montclair State University team and awarded the outstanding male athlete award of the university. In high school, Karl wrestled for Clifton, New Jersey where he was a three-time state finalist and two-time state champion loosing on the fourth criteria tie-breaker (most reversals) after a tie in over-time his sophomore year.

Karl was the Head Wrestling Coach at Garfield high school for eight years and an assistant there for five years. While at Garfield he was voted “District Coach of the Year” two-times. His teams won five District Team Titles under his guidance and were Group sectional champions. He has been coaching at The Edge for the last few years. His competitive experience has taken him around the world. He is highly respected for his accomplishments as a competitor and a coach within the wrestling community. He is a great technician and a master teacher. His experience, education and wealth of knowledge make him a tremendous asset to The Edge program. We feel very fortunate to have Karl as part of our staff.

Greg Francesca

Greg is a graduate of the University Of Virginia where he received a B.A. degree in Government, as well as, a Masters degree in Social Foundations of Education. During Greg’s graduate work, he achieved a 3.5 GPA while being named to the deans list, and the athletic-academic honor roll.

Besides a stellar academic career at Virginia, Greg also stood out on the mat. Greg was a captain of his team, an ACC Champion and Virginia Intercollegiate State Champion in 2001, and ranked top 12 nationally in his weight class by two different wrestling periodicals.

Greg attended Union High School where he finished 4^th in the state as a senior. Greg attended Blair Academy for his post graduate year. While at Blair, Greg compiled an impressive winning record culminating with a third place finish in the Prep Nationals held at Lehigh University.

Greg’s wrestling and Academic prowess can only be surpassed by his driving desire to teach future wrestlers that academics and sport go hand-in-hand, and that success in life can only be achieved through hard work, self-discipline and a determination to succeed.

Greg has been associated with the Monaco Family, and has been a member of the Edge for over 20 years. Today Greg is a successful Businessman working for Schering-Plough as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative.

Eric Swick

Eric is a graduate of Harvard University where he was a highly recruited Division I wrestler gaining All-American honors during his high school career. He was a Four-time New Jersey State Place Winner and finalist. Eric also was an alternate on the Cadet World Team while placing second in the Cadet Nationals. He ended his high school career by gaining All-American honors by placing fourth in the National High School Wrestling Championships and winning the Sports Illustrated Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Having three shoulder surgeries during his high school career, Eric was forced to retire early from the sport after another reconstructive shoulder surgery early in his sophomore year at Harvard. With his competitive career behind him, Eric continued to stay with the sport and assist the wrestling team by helping develop a year-round strength and conditioning program while continuing to work on his wrestling technique with the help of many Harvard coaches including Olympic Champion, Kendall Cross. After receiving an MBA from UNLV and working in the business world, Eric is currently pursuing a career in education and eventually administration as he earns his doctorate. Eric started attending the Edge at the age of eight and is excited to use his wealth of experience and knowledge to help current members of the club in the same methodology that has made his career and the Edge itself such a success.

CONSULTANT TO STAFF:

Dr. Robert Monaco

Dr. Robert Monaco has been the Team Physician at Rutgers University since 1996. His primary responsibilities are to oversee the medical treatment of athletes for the 30 Division I sports at the University, as well as supervise a group of eleven full-time certified athletic trainers. In addition to his work with the Scarlet Knights, Dr. Monaco is a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and assists with directing the school’s Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.

His educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia University, where he competed in wrestling and captained the team his senior year. He went on to receive his Medical Degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his residency at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and St. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick, working with the Department of Family Medicine.
Dr. Monaco has also done postgraduate study and completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, which included work at Princeton University and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. In addition, Dr. Monaco holds a Master’s in Public Health from Rutgers and UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.