A familiar face will lead Roadrunner Wrestling into a new era following the recent resignation of former Coach Dan Antonelli.

That familiar presence on the RCSJ sidelines will continue to be Alex Reeves, who was appointed head coach this week starting with the current 2021-2022 season. A long-time Assistant Coach, Reeves established himself as a trusted mentor to local South Jersey athletes in helping Antonelli build the program into one of the best on the East Coast. And Reeves is excited and ready to continue the program's proud tradition.

"I was honored to help Coach Antonelli build our program, and I'm confident we will continue our success moving forward," commented Reeves. "We have a talented group of wrestlers returning and some strong recruits. We are looking forward to the new season!"

Prior to his appointment as head coach, Reeves was well known for providing solid guidance to a generation of Roadrunner wrestlers in his role as Assistant Coach.

This was on display numerous times in the past, including when the Runners recently competed in the National Duals in Louisville, KY. When the team dropped a tough match one season to Rochester CTC early in the tournament, Reeves stepped right up to the plate to address team members.

"The guys know they can come to me anytime for any reason," Reeves said. "After we lost that first match I told everyone 'you have a choice to make.' You can brood about it or keep on working. They made the right choices. They came back the next day and battled hard."

That proved to be a source of pride for Reeves, who himself wrestled at 125 and 133 while competing at Centenary University, where he graduated with a Business Marketing degree. Reeves met Coach Antonelli while at Centenary and later became a member of Antonelli's coaching staff at Clayton High School. Reeves re-joined Antonelli the past four seasons on the Roadrunner sidelines and played a key role in the program's recent success.

"We built a successful program here, and our coaching staff made a difference," said Antonelli recently, referring to Reeves and his fellow assistants. "They played big roles every day in helping these young athletes succeed."

Reeves, who will receive occasional volunteer assistance from Antonelli during the upcoming season, has already worked hard on the recruiting trail and in helping his returnees stay focused on their training routines.

"We are very excited to have Alex in the head coach position," said Executive Director of Athletics Brian Rowan. "He brings enthusiasm for the sport and leadership. We are glad that Coach Antonelli will also continue to work with the program and this should be an outstanding year for Roadrunner Wrestling!"

Reeves added that Roadrunner team goals will be to remain the dominant force in the Garden State Athletic Conference and to continue their success in District and national competition.

"We have a special group of athletes, and I can't help but be excited about what we can accomplish," he said.