February 11, 2016
PARK RIDGE — His 700th career win was historic, but Stan Woods’ 701st was even better.
The 49-year wrestling coach at Emerson/Park Ridge is going back to the state sectional finals after his team defeated Jefferson, 48-28, in the North 1, Group 2 tournament.
“The 700 [wins] was nice,” Woods said. “But this is what’s important, that the kids win.”
Woods has built Emerson/Park Ridge into a consistent North Jersey powerhouse and the championship banners and signs that adorn the gym are proof of his success. He’s won eight sectional titles, with the last one coming in 2003. Woods called this year’s Cavos one of his most talented teams with the middleweights leading the way.
“They’re just very talented wrestlers,” Woods said. “The whole middle is solid and is just phenomenal. Even the young freshmen that we have in there; they keep winning, too.”
The match opened at 220 and Jefferson went on to take a 24-0 lead on three pins and a forfeit. But Woods and his team sat calmly on the sideline before chipping away at the deficit.
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/wrestling/e-pr-one-win-from-a-return-1.1510085
