Spotlight On: The Wrestling Coaches

Since 2006, the Centenary University Men’s Wrestling Team has been led by Head Coach John Garriques. Now Director of Wrestling at the university, Garriques is also the Women’s Wrestling Head Coach, which entered its inaugural season in 2024-2025. 

Coach Garriques has created an impressive resume during his time in high school and college wrestling. Garriques wrestled at Phillipsburg High School where he was a three-time New Jersey State Placewinner, and a finalist as a senior. He also helped his team become the number one team in the state from 1995 to 1997.

Upon graduation from high school, Coach Garriques attended Gloucester County College in Gloucester, New Jersey. He became a two-time Junior College All-American in 1998 and 2000. After Gloucester County College, Coach Garriques transferred to Seton Hall University for the fall semester in 2000 where he became an NCAA national qualifier.  The following year, he  attended Hofstra University and wrestled for legendary Head Coach Tom Ryan. Coach Garriques’s high school and college career stands at an impressive 262-76. 

Joining Coach Garriques on the coaching staff is Assistant Coach Robert Melisse who has been helping Coach Garriques on and off the mat. Coach Melisse is a Phillipsburg native, who also had a very impressive and similar high school wrestling career as Garriques. Melisse was a three time New Jersey State Placewinner, also becoming a finalist. During his 2016-2017 season, Melisse won the Region 3 title at 220 pounds and set the single season pin record with 28 falls. After high school, Melisse attended the University of Dubuque in Iowa, where he was a starter for five years, becoming an Academic All-American. 

Coach Melisse had a few words to share about what he wants athletes to take with them after they graduate. “Honestly the work ethic,” said Coach Melisse. “Everything we teach in our program is to work hard for everything you go after. That comes with a sense of pride in our program as well as the sense of pride in our own accomplishments. When you are trained to work hard for everything, all the positives that come with it are ingrained as your own because you are attached to it via work. It is important to know that hard work always pays off whether it's the result being what you wanted or the emotions tied to giving a specific thing all you have.” 

For the current 2025-2026 season, Centenary Wrestling has added Xavier Pena to the list of coaches after his senior year of wrestling at Centenary University. The Somerset, NJ native attended Bound Brook High School, where he attained three district titles, county titles, and became a three time State Qualifier. He also capped his career with a Regional Championship, and over 100 wins his senior year. 

At Centenary, Pena continued competing at the highest level. Pena had an impressive career with the Cyclones, becoming a Regional champion, four time NCAA qualifier, and an Academic All-American. Pena completed his college career with a record of 111-22, becoming the third to reach 100 wins, and the all time wins leader at Centenary University. 

Coach Pena had some thoughts to share about what brought him to Centenary as an athlete and what keeps him here as an assistant coach, What brought you to Centenary as an athlete and now as an assistant coach? “The family culture that Coach Garriques brings to the program and his enthusiastic support he gives to all of his wrestlers,” said Coach Pena. “I would spend countless hours with Coach after practice and in the summer practicing my craft with him. I wanted to help him coach to get the chance to learn from Coach Garriques and help him lead the team in the right direction as athletes and people.” 

After becoming Head Coach for Centenary in 2006, John Garriques has completely turned the program around. Coach Garriques has created 14 NCAA All-American, 41 NCAA qualifiers, and 35 NWCA Academic All American. He has also led the team to three Conference/Regional Championships. 

We caught up with Coach Garriques and asked him, Can you speak about the growth of this program over the years of being Head Coach at Centenary University? “When I first took over the wrestling program in the fall of 2006, Centenary College at the time gave me one year to straighten out the program, then they were going to meet to discuss if the College at the time was going to continue to sponsor wrestling,” said Coach Garriques.

“It was a difficult year being a part time coach, with full-time responsibilities. I took it seriously because, in my junior year in college, our program was no longer sponsored, and though we were able to keep our scholarships, the school no longer sponsored the sport that we all came to compete in. It was devastating to us all, so saving Centenary wrestling was personal to me.”

“We had to change the culture, so we started giving back to our communities, and came up with the motto, ‘Live The Good Life.’  That motto, along with showing the kids how much we not only cared about the program, but each and everyone of them helped us to win three consecutive Conference/Regional Championships, the top three in the country.”

“It's been difficult as one must adjust through the years, not only as a coach, but also as a recruiter, and as a person, as times change, and what worked in the past sometimes doesn't have the same fire in the present. The key is to make sure you are always evolving, growing of course in the sport, but also as a person. Coaching can be a thankless job sometimes, but good coaches don't do it for the praise; they do it for that one kid that you get through to, and change their lives for the better.” 

As of March 24, The Cyclones finish the regular dual meet season with a record of 10-10. Two Cyclones have headed to the NCAA National Tournament, and 5 have received NWCA Academic All-American honors. Our qualifiers include Danny Haws and Jack Thode. Our Academic All Americans include Reece Smith, Joseph Innamorato, Jack Thode, Kayla Melsky, and Elizabeth Galladay.