EMERSON – The banner in the corner of the Emerson gym tells the story of Joe Mazzeo’s life.

He was a waterboy for the first sectional title, a wrestler for four more, then an assistant for the ones that came after. On Wednesday night, he finally added one as a head coach.

And it took every ounce of toughness his Emerson/Park Ridge team had left.

The top‑seeded Cavos captured their first sectional title since 2020 and the 12^thall-time by outlasting No. 2 Pompton Lakes, 41-30, in a dual that came down to the end.

Senior Chase Monahan slammed the door with a walk-off pin in the final bout at 215 pounds.

“This is why you coach – for memories that you have for a lifetime,” Mazzeo said. “Going into tonight, I said enjoy the moment. You can’t take back time.”

Monahan stepped onto the mat with his team ahead 35-30, but giving up almost 20 pounds to the dangerous Justin Aungst. Despite the score line and the pressure of wrestling for the first time in a deciding bout, the Cavos’ senior scored an early takedown, went up 7-0 and clinched the fall in 3:29.

“I just had to stay low and I did,” Monahan said. “He was quick. Surprisingly quick for a 215. I just stuck with him and that was definitely some of the best wrestling I’ve ever done.”

The Cavos will move on to the Group 1 semifinals on Feb. 20. They earned the No. 3 seed and a trip to No. 2 seed Audobon.

The path to victory

Getting to this point took a team effort from the Cavos (16-10).

The co-op built a lead with a surge near the middle – wins from Tony Rinkiewicz (126), Triston Festa (132), Jackson Shannon (138) and Nate Shannon (144). They never trailed after the third bout, but Pompton Lakes kept the pressure on until the final whistle.

The Cardinals had lost the first two meetings by more than 20 points each, but found ways to make this one tight. Pompton Lakes changed the math at 120 when Cayden Naples bumped up for a decision win, then surged in the bottom half with pins from Cristian Murcia (157) and Chad McConnell (175).

But the Cavos got a pivotal swing at 150, where Deven Deubel avenged a loss to Sebastian Lopez. The sophomore is in his first year as a starter after missing nearly all of last season with a meniscus injury.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment,” Deubel said. “I kept myself composed and just went at it.”

Another key came at 190, where Emerson/Park Ridge captain Nicholas Giella bumped up to face state qualifier Redon Xheladini and held him to a major decision. That gave Monahan the cushion he needed.

“I step on the mat and I hear the crowd blaring,” Monahan said. “It’s like, oh my gosh. Next thing you know, you flip the switch in your brain. It’s go time. All of that gets quiet and it’s just you on the mat.”

When Monahan walked off the mat after his clinching pin, he barely reacted. He calmly took off his headgear while the sideline erupted nearby. That was intentional.

“We don’t want to give a team point away [for an excessive celebration],” Mazzeo said. “We teach sportsmanship. I tell the other coaches to reiterate it to every kid going out there.”

Wrestling has become a family affair for Mazzeo. His sons Louden and Luke coach beside him. His mentor, legendary coach Stan Woods, watched from the stands. And the banner by the front entrance – the one he’s been part of in every role imaginable – now has a new year to add.

“We always talk about 30 years from now when you bring your own children into your school, the high school that you went to, you look up to the wall and you go, son, I was on that team. And I’ve been a part of every sectional title here.”