066: Geoffrey Wade

Winning matches is important. Building great people is even more important. In this episode of New Jersey Mat Chat, Palmyra head wrestling coach Geoff Wade shares his philosophy on coaching, athlete development, and why creating the right culture matters far more than chasing trophies. As the owner of Outlaw Performance & Recovery, Geoff has worked with everyone from youth athletes to professional competitors, helping them improve performance, prevent injuries, and extend their careers through strength training and recovery. In this episode, we discuss: 🤼 Growing up in one of South Jersey's wrestling families 🏆 Lessons learned from legendary coach Bill Lucas 💪 Building the Palmyra wrestling program from the ground up 🧠 Why wrestling should prepare kids for life—not just competition 🥋 How jiu-jitsu changed his approach to coaching 🏋️ Why today's athletes aren't recovering enough ⚡ The benefits of fascial stretch therapy and strength training 👨‍👩‍👦 The biggest mistakes parents make in youth sports 🔥 What it really takes to build tough, resilient wrestlers Whether you're a coach, wrestler, parent, or simply passionate about New Jersey high school wrestling, this conversation is packed with practical advice and a fresh perspective on developing athletes the right way. Guest: Geoff Wade 🤼 Head Coach – Palmyra Wrestling 💪 Owner – Outlaw Performance & Recovery Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the coaches, athletes, and leaders shaping wrestling across New Jersey. ••Premier Sports Nutrition - Champion Athletes - https://champion-athletes.com 00:00 – Champion Athletes Nutrition Sponsor 01:22 – Meet Palmyra Head Coach Geoff Wade 02:31 – Growing Up in a Wrestling Family 04:20 – Wrestling at Woodbury & Gloucester County College 06:48 – Losing the Love for Wrestling... Then Finding It Again 08:33 – Why Coaching Was Always His Calling 10:17 – Taking Over Palmyra Wrestling 12:36 – Lessons Learned From Coach Bill Lucas 15:05 – The Reality of Coaching a Small School Program 18:08 – Building Better People, Not Just Better Wrestlers 21:12 – Why Youth Wrestling Needs to Change 24:28 – Why Kids Quit Wrestling Too Early 26:55 – How Jiu-Jitsu Changed His Coaching Philosophy 29:07 – Creating the Culture at Palmyra 31:18 – Inside Outlaw Performance & Recovery 33:46 – Why Strength Training Is Essential for Wrestlers 36:18 – The Truth About Recovery & Injury Prevention 39:42 – Working With Professional Athletes 43:58 – What Fascial Stretch Therapy Actually Does 47:30 – How Often Should Wrestlers Recover? 50:08 – Preparing Wrestlers for Peak Performance 53:15 – The Future of Palmyra Wrestling 55:18 – Why Parents Need to Trust the Process 58:42 – What Every Wrestling Parent Should Know 01:02:11 – Advice for Young Coaches & Athletes 01:05:18 – Final Thoughts & Outro