Coaches -Dr. TJ & Dr. Wendy Zito tjzito@jcchs.org
Why Wrestle with John Carroll Catholic High School?
#JCWrestle
John Carroll Catholic High School has a boys' and girls' varsity wrestling team for JCCHS and Catholic Feeder school students.
Wrestling combines physicality, leverage, flexibility, strength, and strategy. It is known as the "critical thinking" sport of action, and reaction. Smart kids and creative kids find a home on the mats.
Many "non-traditional athletes" and "nice kids" succeed in wrestling where they may not have found success in other sports. For football players, no sport teaches skills like positioning, hand to hand, and control like wrestling. Each year, the SuperBowl features players with high school wrestling backgrounds.
There are 14 individual weight classes for both teams ranging -
106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285.
All athletes get to compete at tournaments and there are no "bench warmers" in wrestling. Male and female athletes participate on their respective teams. Girls' team has 12 weight classes from 100lbs to 235lbs.
Current Training in the Off-season includes visiting Warrior Wrestling camp and team workouts. New Athletes are encouraged to participate in off-season.
Friendships and Team Bonds
The wrestling program also holds social events for the athletes, cheer, and families to get to know each other. Team bonds are a large key to everyone understanding how to work together as one unit.
Coaches
Head Wrestling Coach - Dr. TJ Zito, Jr
Women's Wrestling Coach Dr. Wendy Zito
Women's Wrestling Coach Dr. Wendy Zito
Dr. TJ Zito, Jr is a college Communications professor, co-owner of WJTZ Media, and Zito's Rep Services. WJTZ Media is currently producing a faith based wrestling movie with Visionary Film Productions of LA.
TJ has his PHD in Communications from Liberty University, Masters and Bachelors from the University of Alabama in Communications.
TJ
Dr. TJ Zito, Jr is a college Communications professor, co-owner of WJTZ Media, and Zito's Rep Services. WJTZ Media is currently producing a faith based wrestling movie with Visionary Film Productions of LA.
TJ has his PHD in Communications from Liberty University, Masters and Bachelors from the University of Alabama in Communications.
TJ and Wendy restarted John Carroll's wrestling program in 2019 after being dormant for over 16 years. They have volunteer coached and helped grow John Carroll's wrestling program as one of the up and coming new teams in the state. In 2021, their team qualified four wrestlers in the state tournament.
TJ was a former wrestler for Hoover/Berry High school in the 90s and volunteered with Tuscaloosa County High School wrestling as an assistant coach in the early 2000s.
TJ has stayed active in the wrestling community volunteering with coaching, announcing, scoring, and fundraising. He is on the Alabama Girls State Task Force and helped produce the first AHSAA girls state tournament
TJ and Wendy have been married for 18 years and attend Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
They also founded the 501c3 Catholic Youth Wrestling Program featuring the Catholic Wrestling Club which promotes wrestling events across Birmingham.
Women's Wrestling Coach Dr. Wendy Zito
Women's Wrestling Coach Dr. Wendy Zito
Women's Wrestling Coach Dr. Wendy Zito
Dr. Wendy Zito is a college Communications professor, Co-owner of WJTZ Media, and Zito's Rep Services.
She has her bachelor's in human development from the University of Alabama, Masters in Communications from Liberty University and PHD in Communications from Liberty University.
Wendy serves on the Alabama Girls State Task Force and helpe
Dr. Wendy Zito is a college Communications professor, Co-owner of WJTZ Media, and Zito's Rep Services.
She has her bachelor's in human development from the University of Alabama, Masters in Communications from Liberty University and PHD in Communications from Liberty University.
Wendy serves on the Alabama Girls State Task Force and helped produce the first AHSAA girls state tournament. She is the first head female wrestling coach in Alabama history to chair a state championship match.
For wrestling, she has been featured on Fox6 News, Homewood Star, and Hoover Sun.
Wendy has competed professionally in ballroom and swing across the country and has over 20 years training in jazz, ballet, tap, and hip hop. She has produced national competitions, local events, and has taught/judged across the country.
Wendy has worked with corporate clients for dance such as Macy's, Mac Cosmetics, choreographed for Food Network, and has participated on multiple dance reality shows.
She graduated from McGill Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama and excited to volunteer with John Carroll.
Official Start October
Congrats Four State Qualifiers
Congrats Four State Qualifiers
Our season will begin in October after middle school football ends and Winter Sports begin.
JCCHS High school football players can participate as soon as their season is over.
All participants must have a Dragon Fly Max account registered with John Carroll, a physical, and complete all eligibility requirements per JCCHS.
Congrats Four State Qualifiers
Congrats Four State Qualifiers
Congrats Four State Qualifiers
2021John Carroll qualified four wrestlers for the state championships
Girls State
Leona Kenny-Parkman HW(Junior, Runner Up)
Rosie Cabaniss- 195 lbs (Freshman, Final Four)
Boys State
Jay Zito 122 lbs (freshman, 5a-6a State Qualifier)
Davis Deason 172 lbs (Jr, 5a-6a State Qualifier)
