‘It felt good’

At 6, Luca Maggio knows what hard work looks like and what it can do.

He saw it first hand when he took to the mat during the USA Wrestling New Jersey Scholastic State Championships on March 22 at Trenton’s CURE Arena.

Luca worked hard to get there, coming in with a 60-0 undefeated record during the season. After five matches pinning the best of the best around the state in his 5- to 6-year-old age group and 45-pound weight class during states, he came out on top by beating Luke Ridge of Cranford. It was fast, just 35 seconds.

“The top three in the nine qualifying events (during the season) get to go to the state tournament …” explained Luca’s dad, Aaron. “The 27 wrestlers are then put into a bracket and only one is standing.”

And that was his son.

“It felt good,” the younger Maggio said from his home in the township, which is equipped with a basement gym. “I was really happy when I finished. Really happy.”

The first grader has been wrestling since he was 4, beginning with Cinnaminson Youth Wrestling. He’s been working on the sport five days a week for a year at All I See Is Gold Academy in Merchantville. Founded by Olympic champion and six-time world champion Jordan Burroughs, the academy is not just another training center – it’s an embodiment of dedication, passion and the pursuit of excellence, according to its website.

“He’s helped me a lot,” Luca said.

“He put a lot of time and effort into Luca,” Aaron added of Borroughs. “We’re really appreciative of it. He’s without a doubt the greatest wrestler of all time, and to get to learn from him is just such a privilege.”

Luca competed in the state championships for the first time last year, losing his first two matches, and was out of the tournament.

“That was a big thing for him,” Aaron recalled. “He said he never wanted to experience that again.”

Luca worked hard all year long to get back to the championships and achieve his New Year’s goal.

“I want to win states,” he said firmly.

The competition wrestling season runs from October to March. Luca trains all year round. Wrestlers are grouped in a different age group category every two years – from 5 years old to high school – with four to five weight classes.

Aaron noted that as a father, it’s “the greatest feeling” to see his son achieve his goals.

“Just to see him want something so bad and work so hard at it … and (to see) his hard work finally pay off and for him to really get his moment,” he said of Luca, “I couldn’t have been happier for him.”