5K Raises Money For Homeless Vets

By Chris Lundy

TOMS RIVER – A long journey starts with a few steps.

At the end of the road is Larry’s Home, transitional housing that will be for homeless veterans trying to get back on their feet. Part of that journey took place at Winding River Park, where Just Believe held their first 5K run/walk and 1K run/walk.

Just Believe runs the township’s Code Blue center at Riverwood Park, which opens its doors on nights when temperatures approach freezing. CEO Paul Hulse called the 5K “A beautiful day, a won - derful event to help and support our disenfranchised and homeless. Every step, every breath was focused on raising funds to support our community in need.”

He told this newspaper that the event raised $3,500 for (5K - See Page 9) timidating, hostile, or abusive.” They also believed that “adverse employment actions” were taken against her as retaliation for making a complaint about the discrimination.

The defendant is Berkeley Township, Mayor Carmen Amato, Business Administrator John Camera, building and grounds supervisor Ted McFadden, and recreation director Debbi Winogracki are named in the suit.

In the years since the suit was filed, several changes have taken place. For example, Winogracki has since

(Case - See Page 7)

Summer Concert Line-Up Changes

─Photo courtesy Wanted DOA Wanted DOA will not be playing this summer due to tragic circumstances.

By Chris Lundy

BERKELEY – Due to an unforeseen tragedy, the township has changed the schedule for the Sounds of Summer 2023 concert series.

Wanted DOA, a Bon

Jovi tribute band, is recovering from the March 30 death of lead singer Rich Figurido. They were scheduled to play on July 19. The revised line-up is as follows:

(Concert - See Page 6)

Kenny: Continued From Page 1 championship season. He will continue his career at the prestigious Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown Township. And his name is on the lips of traditional national powers Rutgers University - coached by former Jackson Memorial High School athlete and mentor Scott Goodale - and Pennsylvania State University.

“It’s great,” Kenny said. “I like it a lot. It’s fun. I have a lot more training opportunities now and it is great. I am very excited.”

Kenny has every right to be excited. His excitement will reach its apex July 31-Aug.

6 when he competes in the 17U 48KG World Amateur Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. If Kenny had opted to compete in the U15 Division, he would have had to settle for a title in the Pan American Games.

The 5-foot-2 Kenny has put opponents to the mat in numerous states, including Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

“Name a state and chances are I have wrestled there,” he said, “but I have never been overseas before.”

The fifth-seeded Kenny, competing at 48 kilograms, earned his trip to Turkey with two wins over second-seeded Grey Burnett of Ohio. Kenny prevailed 5-3 in bout one and 7-2 in bout two at the U17 World Team Trials, a Men’s Freestyle event at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas. Named the event’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, Kenny took down top-seeded Domenic Munaretto

- the 2022 U17 world champion - 4-3 in the semifinals. Kenny was 6-0 in the tournament, which featured many of the nation’s greatest high school wrestlers.

“I was really excited to get that award,” he said. “I dominated most of the tournament. I am slick and gritty. I can do both. When I compete in Turkey, I am not gonna change. I will keep doing what I do. I would like to give a shoutout to my family, my coaches, my friends, my partners and my trainers.”

“When he won in Las Vegas, we were speechless,” said Ray Kenny, one of Kenny’s coaches and a former Central Regional High School wrestler. “Paul is at the pinnacle of wrestling. He did not realize how well he did. Paul is successful because he is very natural and has a feel for the sport. He is a humble kid. He’s very tough, a grinder. He is very slick and flexible. He is great on his feet and very coachable. He loves to compete at a high level.”

“I think I can win in Turkey,” Kenny said. “I am very confident going in there. It’s exciting, very exciting to have the opportunity to compete in Turkey. I am still kind of in shock. I have watched that tournament on television for a long time - and now I am competing in it. Wrestling is very big overseas.”

Kenny will do some intense preparation at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Success is nothing new to Kenny. He’s a three-time Super 32 Tournament champion. He was ranked first in the nation at 106 pounds as an eighth grader by Mat Scout

Kenny: Continued From Page 4 and flowrestling.com. He’s ranked first in his weight class by Rofkin among rising high school freshmen.

He finished his middle school career as a two-time division, two-time Ocean County and two-time O.C.I.A.L. Tri-County champion who helped his team to the divisional title. He’s a Trinity Award Winner (WOW, Tulsa, Oklahoma Nationals and Reno, Nevada, Nationals in the same year). He’s a five-time New Jersey youth state champion. And he competed on the New Jersey 14U Freestyle and Greco Roman teams that won the first-ever United States National Championships in the same year.

Paul will be accompanied to Turkey by his father, Paul, brother, Sean, and Ray Kenny.

“I don’t feel any pressure,” young Paul Kenny said. “I never get excited. I never get nervous. I like going out there and competing on a big stage. I stay calm, cool and collected.”

He attempts to practice twice per day, one early in the morning and one at night. He undergoes private training two to four sessions per week. Strength and conditioning sessions take place two and three times per week. He attends club practice sessions six times per week.

Central Regional Middle School coach Mike Bischoff said Kenny has a strong support system.

“Paulie comes from a wrestling family that has supported him, his brother, Sean, and his cousin, Eddie, since they were young boys,” Bischoff said. “They have sought out the best coaches, practice partners and tournaments. They turned their garage into a home wrestling room where they train with their uncle, Ray, and other area wrestlers.”

Paul Kenny won the Super 32 Tournament in 2017, 2019 (he was named the event’s Most Outstanding Wrestler) and 2021. He captured the Trinity Award after winning the Kickoff Classic and the Tulsa Nationals in Oklahoma and the Reno World title in Nevada.

Bischoff said he is impressed with young Paul Kenny.

“Paulie’s maturity over the past year is evident in the way he trains and prepares himself for every match,” Bischoff said.

“Off the mat, Paulie is much like any other student-athlete his age. The differences are his work ethic and love of the sport. What he does is important to him and he prepares himself in the necessary fashion. Most kids his age won’t train as hard in a week the way he will in a day. Paulie brings mental preparation to the mat. Wrestling isn’t for everyone, but it should be. The support of his family is a huge source of his success.”

The Golden Eagles tasted plenty of success at the middle school level.

There was the O.C.I.A.L. Blue Division team title. There were Red Division champions in Sean Kenny (90 pounds), Killian Coluccio (110), Paul Kenny (115), Sullivan Hawkes (138) and Sam Yuka (144). There were Ocean County champions in Sean Kenny, Coluccio, Paul Kenny and Hawkes. And there were Tri-County champions in

Sean Kenny, Coluccio, Paul Kenny and Hawkes. They bested champions from Monmouth and Middlesex counties. The team’s assistant coaches were Chris Clerico and Mike Monetti.

Sean Kenny, a Trinity Award winner and a brother of young Paul Kenny, is a five-time Super 32 finalist. He was sixth at the United States Open. He won three New Jersey state titles. He was a freestyle national champion. He was a two-time Tournament of Champions winner. Teammate Ed Figueroa was a two-time finalist at the Super 32.

Ranked first in the nation among incoming freshmen at 106, Coluccio won the USAW New Jersey state title. He was an NHSCA Middle School national finalist. The winner of two Tri-County titles, he’s a four-time USAWNJ freestyle state champion. Ranked seventh in the nation among incoming freshmen, Hawkes placed sixth in New Jersey.

How To Help

Paul Kenny’s clothing line states, “Welcome to the PK Store! The line sells Paul Kenny wrestling gear to fund the trip to Turkey. Thank you for visiting my store and supporting me in my journey to take on the world!” It can be found at baileysprinting.com/custom-stores/paul-kenny-wrestling/category/t-shirts-46018/

A GoFundMe page has been organized by Ray Kenny to aid his nephew and other family members. Here is the page: gofundme.com/f/help-paul-kenny-becomea-world-champion

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