An outstanding athlete in football, soccer, wrestling and baseball growing up in New Milford, NJ, Cervino was captain of his high school wrestling and baseball teams. When he moved onto Springfield (MA) College, Cervino wrestled two more years and played baseball all four years. He was captain of the baseball team as a senior and set a record for the most stolen bases in the country. A First Team All-New England selection as a senior, Cervino played professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization after graduating from Springfield. His career was cut short when he entered the military. In 1971 Cervino started working as a physical education teacher at Paramus High School. He became the JV Wrestling Coach under Bill Savage and held that job for eight years. Cervino succeeded Savage and was the head coach at Paramus for 23 years. During his years as head coach, Cervino's teams complied a 311-74-2 record and won nine District Championships, 12 league titles, three county titles and five State Sectional titles. Among the individual accomplishments of Cervino's wrestlers were 75 district titles, 10 regional titles, 13 county championships and 10 state place winners (one champ, three runners-up, one third, two fourths, two fifths, and one sixth). Cervino's efforts in wrestling did not go unrecognized. He was selected District Coach of the Year six times, County Coach of the Year five times, and Regional Coach of the Year three times. He was also a 2003 State Coach of the Year Selection. An inductee into the New Milford High School Hall of Fame, Cervino also was enshrined in the Met League Hallf of Fame and the New Jersey Coaches Hall of Fame. A varsity wrestling official from 1971 through 1981, Cervino was an assistant football coach at Paramus High School from 1972 through 1978, assistant baseball coach from 1972-81 and the head coach of the Paramus baseball team from 1982-2006. His baseball teams also generated the same success as his wrestling teams, winning seven league championships and a pair of state titles. His teams won over 500 games (511 when he retired). He was selected Bergen County Coach of the Year in 1987. Cervino and his wife Pat have been married over 30 years and have three children, all of whom have been involved with the Paramus High School wrestling program. Sons Joey and Danny were both wrestlers and daughter Kristy was a scorekeeper for the team.