Greg Sawyer set to leave Delsea wrestling on top, plans to step down as head coach after 21 seasons

Delsea’s wrestling coach Greg Sawyer, center, cheers on his wrestlers during the wrestling meet between Delsea and Washington Township in 2023. Sawyer plans to step down as head coach at season’s end.

Greg Sawyer wanted one thing when it was time for him to step down as head coach of the Delsea Regional High School wrestling team.

“I wanted to leave some hay in the barn,” Sawyer said about the state of the program.

Sawyer has announced his 21^st season at the helm will be his last. He wants to spend more time training his two sons, Greg and David, who are in ninth and seventh grades.

“It’s the right time,” said Sawyer, a 1998 graduate of the Franklinville school. “My views are always with the program. We’re just switching the setup. With the strength of our coaching staff and the strength of our program, the stars are aligned for this. Once you’re in the Delsea family, you’re in forever.

“There is no doubt that the big red machine will keep running smoothly.”

Delsea athletic director Ken Schoudt was away on family business and wasn’t available for comment.

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Sawyer certainly set the bar high for Delsea wrestling. The Crusaders captured their third consecutive state Group 3 title with a 45-25 win over Cranford earlier this month, earning Sawyer his 400^th career victory in the process.

The program won four state titles under Sawyer along with 15 sectional titles and captured their 14^th district title on Saturday, advancing 11 wrestlers to the regional tournament.

Sawyer earned the District 31 Coach of the Year award on Saturday.

“Going out on top is always ideal,” he said.

Sawyer leaves the program in great shape. With a solid nucleus returning next year and a talented group in the middle school program, Delsea doesn’t appear it will lose its stranglehold in Group 3 anytime soon.

Sawyer is the second high-profile coach at the school to step down. Sal Marchese retired in December after 31 years that included 249 career wins, 11 sectional titles and the program’s first state title in his final season.

Kingsway head coach Mike Barikian was surprised when he learned about Sawyer stepping down on Sunday. The two rivals waged legendary battles in the Tri-County Conference for years.

“It’s a meaningful rivalry because of the job they do over there,” Barikian said. “We’ve always enjoyed competing against them and have the upmost respect for Greg and that program.

“When you think of Delsea, you think of Sal Marchese and Greg Sawyer in the same way when you think of Paulsboro it’s Glenn Howard and Paul Morina. It’s what they brought to their programs and to those communities.”

Sawyer took over for his former coach Steve Iles, who had two separate stints as head coach of the Crusaders.

“My whole philosophy of coaching came from Steve Iles,” Sawyer said. “I added my own pieces over the year, but he was the starting point for all the progress of this program.”

Sawyer was a standout for the Crusaders during his scholastic days, compiling 91 career wins. A two-time district champ and a Region 8 titlist, he placed in the state twice, including runner-up at 215 in 1998. During that postseason, he wrestled on a broken leg. He went on to wrestle at Rider University.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Greg Sawyer set to leave Delsea wrestling on top, plans to step down as head coach after 21 seasons