Tony Gentile set the foundation for one of the most successful scholastic wrestling programs in New Jersey. Gentile did this as a schoolboy wrestler and later as a coach and administrator of youth programs that benefited not only Paulsboro but also communities throughout southern New Jersey. Gentile finished second in the South Jersey championships in 1956 and capped his scholastic career in 1957 by winning the 130-pound state championship. Gentile enlisted in the U.S. Army where he continued with wrestling and won the regimental championship.

Following his service time, Gentile returned to Paulsboro. He stayed active as a wrestler several years in AAU competition and also officiated for five years. From 1964 through 1978 Gentile was in charge of the Paulsboro Junior Wrestling Program. His teams won over 300 straight dual meets without a loss and won every division of the Gloucester County Championships during his tenure. In 1971 he joined the Gloucester County College coach Chuck Williamson to start the Gloucester County Junior Wrestling League. He helped form the Paulsboro Wrestling Association, a support group for wrestling, serving three years as its president. He helped form the Junior Wrestling League in Salem and Camden counties and was instrumental in bringing AAU age group wrestling to New Jersey. He served on the AAU Executive Board and was the state’s first District/Regional Director of Age Group Wrestling.

Gentile played a major role in helping the newly formed 7th/8th grade program in Paulsboro and served as a volunteer coach from 1980-84. A 1985 inductee into the South Jersey Hall of Fame, Gentile served 12 years as a member of the Paulsboro Board of Education. He is a member of the Courier-Post’s All Century Wrestling team, the Paulsboro High School Hall of Fame, and the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame.