BILL SWERTFAGER
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Bill Swertfager lives in Katonah, New York, with his wife Diane, a retired physical education teacher and legendary volleyball coach in the Hendrick Hudson School District. Together they have three children: John (LIU–Post), Mark (Marist College), and Theresa (University of Florida), all John Jay graduates.
Bill grew up in Chappaqua and attended Horace Greeley High School, where he was a standout multi-sport athlete. He began wrestling in ninth grade and went on to win the New York State Championship at 215 pounds as a senior, finishing his career with an outstanding 115–16 record. He was also selected to the First Team All-State football team and was honored as the NY Daily News Lineman of the decade. He also and competed in varsity baseball and track while at Greeley.
He attended the College of William & Mary in Virginia on a full football scholarship, while also wrestling for four years. During his collegiate career, Bill was twice invited to Olympic Wrestling Training Camps in Colorado, though injuries prevented him from attending.
Following college, Bill returned to Horace Greeley High School, where he served as an assistant coach and later head wrestling coach for ten years. During that time, he rebuilt the program from near extinction into a highly respected team, compiling a 65–29 record and developing numerous All-Section wrestlers.
After moving to Katonah 36 years ago and discovering there was no wrestling program in the school district, Bill founded a youth wrestling program through the Lewisboro Recreation Department. That program continues to thrive today with more than 50 participants. Twenty-five years ago, he also played a key role in establishing a modified wrestling program, which he helped coach alongside Joe Mammoser to a winning season.
In recognition of his impact on the sport, Bill was inducted into the Westchester County Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001. That same year, he was selected as the varsity coach for the newly formed John Jay High School wrestling program. His vision was to build a respected, competitive program centered on quality student-athletes. To date, his John Jay varsity record stands at 324–123, bringing his overall career coaching record to an impressive 389–153.
Bill’s lifelong dedication to wrestling was further honored with his induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Outside of wrestling, Bill owns and operates a corporate promotional products and team sports business in Somers, New York. He was elected as a trustee on the Board of Education for KLSD in 2023. He spends as much time as possible with his wife, children, and three grandchildren—and at home, he is forever working his way through his ever-growing “honey-do” list.
MARK SWERTFAGER
HEAD COACH
Mark graduated from John Jay in 2011 earning 9 varsity letters in 3 sports; Football, Baseball, and Wrestling. He was a 2 year starting defensive back for the John Jay football team receiving all league accolades. In baseball he started 3 years as the catcher for the wolves while receiving all league and all section honors. His most dominant sport, without a doubt, was wrestling. Starting for the wolves all 4 years, he remains the only 4x Divisional champion as well as 4x All Section. He is second in all time wins with 158 and top 10 in pins with 69. He helped lead his team to two Section 1 Dual Meet Championships and one Section 1 Championship.
Upon graduating, he was recruited to play baseball at Marist University. There he went on to be a two year starting catcher for the Red Foxes and helped the team to two conference finals. He graduated from Marist with a BS degree in business management and currently owns his own printing business in Somers NY.
Mark first began coaching for the John Jay Wolves right out of college, spending four years honing his skills and learning the ropes of coaching. After a brief hiatus from the sport, Mark returned to coaching in the 2022 season, bringing a renewed passion and commitment to developing student-athletes.
With a deep love for the sport and a passion for developing athletes, Mark brings a wealth of experience to the program. Having wrestled for John Jay as a student, he understands the values of hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship that the team stands for. Now, as the head coach, Mark is committed to building on his father’s success while adding his own unique
approach to the program, fostering an environment where athletes can excel both on the mat and in life. Mark is proud to carry on the legacy of coaching in the family while preparing the next generation of John Jay wrestlers for success.
WILL CARTER
ASSISTANT COACH/MODIFIED HEAD COACH
Coach Carter went to Westlake High School where he played varsity football and wrestling. He was a 3x All-League, All-Section, and All-State in football. He was 4x All-League, 3x All-Section, 2x Section Champion, 2009 Section 1 Small School MVP, and placed 5th in the State- 2 years in a row in wrestling. He went on to Ithaca College where he studied physical and health education. He also played football for 5 seasons where he was a captain for 2 seasons and was an All Region Linebacker. He currently is competing in CrossFit, in 2022 he won the fittest teacher in the world and competed on team MFLH which placed 8th in the world at the Crossfit Games. His team has qualified again for the 2023 CrossFit Games happening this summer.
JOHN SWERTFAGER
YOUTH COACH
John graduated from John Jay High School in 2008, where he Earned 12 varsity letters. He was a 3 sport All-Section athlete and Captain of all three sports his senior year. As a wrestler, he took a 3rd at sectionals his sophomore year and a 1st his senior year. (Did not wrestle entire junior
year due to injury) In 2009, he did a post graduate year at the Trinity Pawling School where he was an All- Western New England, All-New England and All-American Wrestler. He also earned All-Western New England and All-New England in baseball while at Trinity Pawling.
After graduating from Trinity, he went to Long Island University-Post where he played baseball for the next four years. John received his Degree in Business Management and currently owns Apex Fitness with his good Friend, Skaz Gecaj (a JJ wrestling alumni) and continues to work as an account executive with his dad for AIA Imprint Experts.
In the winter of 2013, John started his coaching career at John Jay with the wrestling team. He is committed to bringing out the full potential and work ethic in all of our wrestlers. He started the off -season agility program in the morning which started with 4 wrestlers and has grown to 20 and is spending a lot of time with the boys on the mat in the off -season. He is looking forward to the continued growth and success of John Jay Wrestling.
CHRIS COOK
ASSISTANT COACH
Chris graduated from John Jay High School in 2019. He began his wrestling journey in the John Jay youth program in first grade, where he was introduced to the sport that would become his passion.
During his high school career, Chris compiled 144 wins, including 94 pins—an all-time school record. He served as a two-time team captain and earned numerous accolades, including Westchester County Champion, four-time All-League, three-time All-Section, two-time Division Champion, and All-State honors, placing sixth at the state tournament.
In the offseason, Chris competed for Empire Wrestling Academy, where he placed sixth at Freestyle States, third at the Journeyman World Classic, and sixth at Flo Nationals.
After graduating high school, Chris attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he majored in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Engineering. He continued wrestling at WPI and placed sixth at Regionals during his freshman year. Chris graduated from WPI in 2023.
Following graduation, Chris began giving back to the sport by coaching both the John Jay high school and youth wrestling programs, while also assisting at Empire Wrestling Academy during the offseason. As he begins his coaching career, Chris would like to thank all of his coaches and hopes his coaching style makes them proud as he passes on their lessons to the next generation of wrestlers.
RYAN OSLEEB
ASSISTANT COACH
Ryan Osleeb is in his first year as an assistant coach with the John Jay High School wrestling team. A former standout wrestler at North Salem, Ryan trained alongside the John Jay squad during his high school career. He was a 4x Section Champion, 3x All-State, and a New York State Champion in
2011, solidifying his place among the best in New York wrestling.
After high school, Ryan continued his wrestling journey at Harvard, where he was named second-team
All-Ivy. Since then, he has transitioned into his career as a Senior Analyst at Louis Dreyfus Company, but his love for the sport has brought him back to coaching.
The athletes on the team love when Ryan is at practice, and his presence in the room has quickly become a valued asset. As this is his first year coaching, we hope to see more of Ryan in the years ahead, where his expertise, passion for wrestling, and positive impact will continue to inspire the next generation of wrestlers.
MATT FERRER
Coach Matt Ferrer is a graduate of John Jay High School, where he established himself as an accomplished wrestler and standout multi-sport athlete. On the mat, Ferrer was a 3x All-League selection, earned 70 career victories, and finished as the 2019 Section Runner-Up at 220 lbs. His senior wrestling campaign positioned him as a strong contender for both a Section and State Championship, but the season was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
In addition to his wrestling success, Ferrer was also a dominant force in football at John Jay, earning 3x All-League, All-Conference, and All-Section honors during his high school career.
Ferrer continued his athletic career at SUNY Cortland, competing in football for four seasons with the Red Dragons. He helped lead the program to a 2023 NCAA National Championship, earned All-Conference honors, and was voted Team Captain for his senior season. He graduated in 2025 with a degree in Business Economics and a minor in Computer Applications.
Currently, Coach Ferrer is the founder of a facility maintenance business and continues to train competitively in CrossFit. He began his coaching career in the fall of 2025 and brings a wrestler’s mindset and toughness to his coaching, with additional experience developing athletes on the offensive and defensive lines.
IAN GALLAGHER
Coach Ian Gallagher is a 2020 graduate of John Jay High School, where he was a standout wrestler and three-sport varsity athlete. On the mat, Gallagher earned All-Section honors, served as team captain his senior season, and finished his high school wrestling career with 56 victories, including 28 pins. At the Sectional Championships his senior year, he entered as the 8th seed and made a memorable run, upsetting the 5th-, 4th-, and 2nd-seeded wrestlers to earn a third-place finish.
In addition to his wrestling success, Gallagher was a Section Champion in all three sports he competed in. He earned All-Conference honors in football and competed at the state championship level in lacrosse.
Following high school, Gallagher attended Miami University, where he majored in Information Systems. He continued his athletic career as a member of the Miami University Club Lacrosse team, serving as a two-time captain and earning All-Conference honors as a defenseman.
Coach Gallagher began his wrestling coaching career in 2025 and is excited to help carry on the proud tradition and legacy of the John Jay Wrestling program, bringing leadership, competitiveness, and a wrestler’s mentality to the mat.
