Our Coaches

Joe Cesari, Program Director and Head Coach

CCWC Coaches

Coach Cesari has been involved in the sport of wrestling for over 40 years as a wrestler, coach, referee, and parent of a young wrestler. He has been working with youth for over 20 years as a youth coach and a volunteer with his church’s youth ministry programs.

He is currently a high school and NCAA wrestling official, where he has officiated the North Carolina State High School Championships, NCAA Division 1 tournament qualifiers, and the NCAA Division III Championships. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Coach Cesari wrestled in college at NC State, where he accomplished the following:
  • NC State's ACC Senior Merit award winner for achievement in academics and athletics
  • 2-time NC State team captain
  • ACC Champion, 3-time NCAA Division I Tournament qualifier, and top 12 finisher.

 He wrestled in high school for his father, Joe Cesari Sr., at North Schuylkill High School , one of the most successful wrestling programs in Pennsylvania that was featured in Sports Illustrated in 1989. While at North Schuylkill , he accomplished the following:
  • GPA of 3.9/4.0;  Ranked 3rd in his graduating class
  • 3-time PA State Champion, 2-time State Tournament Outstanding Wrestler
  • High school record of 154-5-1, with 103 pins
  • First team High School All-American
  • World Schoolboy Freestyle Champion and National AAU Freestyle Champion 

“I am excited to share the great experiences I had and life lessons I learned through wrestling with our youth to help them develop into successful people, students, and athletes.”

- Coach Cesari
jcesari@capitalcitywrestling.org
919-848-3276


Will Lake, Assistant Coach

CCWC Coaches

Coach Lake has been involved in the sport of wrestling for over 30 years as a wrestler, coach, and parent of a young wrestler. He has been working with youth for over 15 years as a wrestling coach.

He was head wrestling coach at Wakefield High School  from 2002-2007. During his tenure, he coached 5 State Place Winners and led Wakefield to a top 10 team finish at the 2004-2005 State Championships.
 
He wrestled at Olivet College where he accomplished the following:
 
2-Time NCAA Division III All-American, placing 4th in the 1991 NCAA Championships and placing 6th in 1986 NCAA Championships. He currently holds the following single season records at Olivet:
 
Most Wins 50
Most Takedowns 126
He wrestled at Menominee High School in Menominee, Michigan, where he placed 3rd as a Junior and pinned his way to a State Championship his Senior Year.
 
 "Youth sports provide numerous experiences that help develop important lifelong skills. Wrestling is one of the few sports that all children can enjoy and excel in, regardless of their size and aptitude. The sport exemplifies work ethic more than any other attribute, teaching athletes the strong correlation between hard work and achievement."

 - Coach Lake


Mike Meagher, Assistant Coach

CCWC Coaches

Coach Meagher has been involved in the sport of wrestling for over 15 years. As a competitor and coach, he has travelled to a number of tournaments throughout the country. His experiences at the youth, high school and college level allow him to help wrestlers of all capabilities.

Coach Meagher began coaching youth wrestling for the Manchester, N.H. YMCA Eagles. During high school, Meagher helped coach the Eagles to multiple state and New England Championships. He was a 2-time New Hampshire State Wrestling Champion for Bow High School.

Coach Meagher attended and wrestled for both James Madison University and UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science from Carolina. Coach Meagher currently works for a commercial real estate firm in Raleigh. His younger brother D.J. wrestles for the Cornell Big Red and younger sister Ali plays women’s lacrosse for Boston College.

“The sport of wrestling has the unique capability of granting kids with the skills they need to be successful in life. I look forward to helping youth of all skills levels be the best they can be, both on and off the mat.”

-  Coach Meagher


Scott Saby, Assistant Coach

CCWC Coaches

Coach Saby has been involved in the sport of wrestling for 25 years as a wrestler, coach, and parent of a young wrestler. He is currently the Head Wrestling Coach at Millbrook High School where he has accomplished the following:

  • 2X Cap VII Coach of the year
  • Coached 1 State Champion and 7 State Place Winners
  • Led Millbrook to a top 5 team finish at the 2004-05 N.C. State Championships.
  • Led Millbrook to 3 consecutive N.C. State Duals playoff appearances. Founded the Capital City Wrestling Club in 2001.

Coach Saby was a four-year varsity letterman at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota . He received a B.S. from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. He earned his Masters’ of Education from East Carolina University and currently teaches in the Healthful Living Department at Millbrook High School.

"A youth wrestling program is a great way to introduce kids to the wonderful sport of wrestling. Wrestling offers an opportunity for young people to build character while learning self discipline and motivation. The development of a strong youth program is essential to build a successful high school program."

- Coach Saby