Adam S. Derengowski, B.S. ’86

Adam Derengowski has competed against Olympic-level and international wrestling opponents throughout his storied career. He ended his impressive senior season at Paul VI, and his 50-7-2 career, by winning the District 28, Region 7, and N.J. State Championships. Derengowski accomplished this, despite having never wrestled a match until his freshman year.

 

According to Adam, “Once I became involved in wrestling at Paul VI, I wanted to be state champion like Tim Curry ’82 and was never aware that it was a far-fetched dream. When I started wrestling my freshman year, I never won a match, but I was part of a great team and had many wonderful influences to steer me toward success. My sophomore year, I was on the junior varsity team and won 21 matches, with only 1 loss. As a junior, I finally made the varsity team and finished with a 15-5 record, but I lost in the first round in the District 28 tournament. This was a major crossroads in my wrestling career. After that loss, I decided that I was going to dedicate myself to the lifestyle that was needed to be a really good wrestler.”

 

After a summer of intense training, Adam began his senior year with lofty goals and a strong desire to prove to himself that he could be a champion. He lost a tournament final bout to the two-time New Jersey State Champion Dave Boncher of Phillipsburg early in the season. Adam never lost again that year, finishing his high school career with a state title win over Boncher in the finals.

 

Derengowski excelled as a collegiate wrestler at Rider University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He was a three-time East Coast Conference Champion and placed third at the NCAA Division I Championships earning All-American honors in 1991. His career mark was 101-24-1, and he was a two-time (1989-91) East Coast Conference Most Outstanding Performer. He won the University Freestyle National Championship in 1990 while “red-shirting” at Rider, and finished fourth in the World Team Trials. Twice as a Rider student, he represented the Unites States in international competition with the USSR (Russia), including a trip to the Soviet Union. Adam was selected to compete and won his bout at the prestigious NWCA All-Star Wrestling Match where the top 2 ranked wrestler’s in the NCAA’s at each weight class compete.

 

Derengowski placed in the Top 6 in the United States Freestyle Championships four times and was a member of the U.S. National team in 1994. A three-time Sunkist International Open champion, he competed in Olympic (international) wresting meets against Russia, Iran, Japan, and Canada. He was an assistant coach for 2 years at Iowa State University and for 1 year at Cornell University. Currently, Adam is considered one of the area’s premier wrestling coaches and is sought after to instruct privately at top schools and wrestling clubs.

 

Adam said, “The catalyst for my interest and evolved passion for wrestling began with my PVI wrestling coach, Gary Papa. Coach Papa was a positive inspiration who provided a road map for success: hard work, dedication, and persistence. Coach Papa is one of the most important people that I was blessed to meet while at Paul VI. The other (and not second in rank) was my future wife, Debbie. Debbie was always there to support my crazy dedication and long hours of training, and she never doubted my goals.”

 

He continued, “I was also blessed to have many great teachers while at Paul VI who handled my high energy positively. Three who stand out are Mr. Yeager, Mr. Burke, and Mr. Mitchell. Each one of these dedicated teachers tried to connect with students at all levels in challenging and engaging ways.”

 

Adam went on to say, “In addition, my parents, Adam and Betty Jane, have always been the greatest example of hard work and dedication for my sister Lynne and me. They made family and faith the center of our world and provided a nurturing home life and a strong dedication to our Catholic faith.”

 

In 1994, Adam married his high school sweetheart, Debbie Koenig ’87. They live in Mt. Laurel with their four children, Adam, Matthew, Rebecca, and Jake. He is the Vice President of Access and Engagement at ConneXion360, which is a medical communications agency that serves the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Adam has been previously inducted into the Rider University Athletics Hall of Fame, the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame & the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame.