Salvatore Peter Cascio has established an outstanding record as the wrestling coach of Bergenfield High School. A tireless worker and strong enthusiast of wrestling, Sal began to wrestle in 1948 when Leonia High School wrestling was in its infancy. He captained the teams in both 1948 and 1949. Following graduation, Sal attended Paterson State College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree from NYU. As a wrestler Sal won the NJAAU State Championship and twice placed second and fourth.

He began his coaching career at Fairleigh Dickson University, but it was his coaching at Bergenfield High School that brought him honor and distinction. He introduced the sport in 1959 on a club basis with 10-15 students; when Sal retired in 1970 he had 131 wrestlers on the mat. A reflection of the interest Sal generated for wrestling. During his coaching years, Sal was called wrestling’s foremost promoter and enthusiast.

Among some of his accomplishments include an overall dual meet record of 86-36-1, a 52 dual meet unbeaten streak, 4 consecutive undefeated seasons, 5 consecutive District Championships, and 4 consecutive Bergen County titles. In his last 6 years of coaching his teams amassed a record of 65-7-1, an accomplishment few will duplicate. He has coached 36 District Champions, 14 Region Champions, and 4 State Champions. In one year Bergenfield had 7 wrestlers win Region titles, one of the proudest moments in his coaching career, but perhaps his biggest milestone in wrestling was seeing Eddie Kochakji win his third State title and second Outstanding Wrestler Award.

Among his many honors include the Harry E. Lake award for Service to Wrestling, Bergen County Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award for four consecutive years - 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968, and the UNICO National Coach of the Year Award. In 2000 the Bergen Record newspaper named Sal the “Coach of the Century.” The impact of Sal Cascio on the lives of his wrestlers cannot be measured in terms of wins or losses. His influence among many young men goes far beyond the wrestling mat. He believed that wrestling helps young people find their personal identity. “Give me a boy,” he says, “a good boy or a bad boy, and I’ll give you a respectable gentleman.” And that he did.