Lodaer Img
Podiatrist in Perth Amboy, NJ | NJ Sports Spine and Wellness
Second-Opinions

Second Opinions

MRI Reviews

Insurance-Accepted

Insurance Accepted

Open Late Nights

On-Site-X-Ray

On-Site X-Ray Machine & Ultrasound

For Diagnostics & Emergency Injuries

Podiatrist in Perth Amboy, NJ - Expert Foot and Ankle Care, With or Without Surgery

Something's off with your feet. Maybe it's the stabbing pain that hits the second you swing your legs out of bed. Maybe it's a bunion that used to be a cosmetic nuisance and has now made every pair of shoes a negotiation. Or it's an ankle that's been swelling up after your Saturday tennis match, and you've started canceling plans because you're not sure it'll hold up.

Whatever brought you to this page, you've probably been putting it off longer than you should have. Most people do. Foot pain gets dismissed as "part of getting older" or "just something I'll have to live with" - and it rarely gets real attention until it starts stealing pieces of your day.

At NJ Sports Spine and Wellness, our podiatry team in Perth Amboy, NJ treats the full range of foot and ankle conditions - from the chronic stuff quietly limiting you for years to the acute injuries that sideline you overnight. We offer advanced non-surgical care, which resolves the majority of cases, and when surgery is genuinely the right answer, we use minimally invasive techniques - smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, and lower risk of infection than traditional open procedures.

Let's figure out what's actually going on with your feet.

What a Podiatrist Actually Does

A podiatrist - also called a foot doctor, or in older terminology a chiropodist - is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the foot, ankle, and connected structures of the lower leg. That sounds narrow until you realize how complicated feet actually are. Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments working together every time you take a step. When something goes wrong, pinpointing which structure is really causing the problem takes some work - partly because the foot tends to compensate in ways that mask the original issue.

That's the job. Figure out what's wrong, figure out why, and build a plan to fix it. Whether the goal is calming an acute injury, correcting a long-standing biomechanical issue, or helping you stay active despite something like diabetes or arthritis, a good podiatrist designs treatment around your life - not the other way around.

Podiatrist Perth Amboy, NJ

Conditions Our Perth Amboy, NJ Podiatrist Treats

Our podiatry team handles every common foot and ankle condition, plus many of the more specialized ones most general practitioners aren't equipped for.

Pain and Inflammation

  • Plantar fasciitis - the stabbing heel pain with your first steps in the morning
  • Heel pain and heel spurs (acute and chronic)
  • Achilles tendonitis and tendon tears
  • Ball of foot pain - metatarsalgia, Morton's neuroma, capsulitis
  • Arch pain and arch strain
  • Top of foot pain from tendon irritation, stress, or nerve entrapment
  • Foot pain when walking with no clear cause

Structural and Bone Issues

  • Bunions - including minimally invasive bunion surgery when appropriate
  • Hammertoes and claw toes
  • Flat feet and fallen arches
  • High arches (cavus foot)
  • Stress fractures in the foot
  • Ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability
  • Foot and ankle arthritis

Sports and Overuse Injuries

  • Running-related foot pain
  • Stress fractures from training volume
  • Sports foot and ankle sprains
  • Achilles issues in athletes
  • Turf toe and other acute injuries
  • Return-to-activity programming after injury

Specialty and Chronic Care

  • Diabetic foot care and diabetic ulcer prevention
  • Neuropathy-related foot symptoms - burning feet at night, numbness, loss of sensation
  • Pediatric foot issues - in-toeing, flat feet, toe walking, Sever's disease
  • Custom orthotics for biomechanical correction

Something Hurts and I'm Not Sure What It Is

A lot of patients come in without a clear diagnosis - just a nagging ache, a swelling that won't go down, or a gait they've quietly started adjusting around. That's fine. Figuring out what's actually going on is the first half of the job, and it's one of the things our Perth Amboy, NJ team does best.

Symptoms That Mean It's Time to See a Foot Doctor

Obvious pain is one trigger, but it's far from the only one. Call our office if you're dealing with any of these:

  • Heel pain first thing in the morning
  • Sharp pain in the heel when you put weight on it
  • Pain in the bottom of your foot that flares with walking
  • Arch pain that comes back every time you're on your feet for a while
  • Ball-of-foot pain when standing, running, or wearing certain shoes
  • Swelling in the foot or ankle that won't resolve
  • A bunion that's getting bigger, more painful, or harder to fit in shoes
  • Ingrown toenails that keep returning after home treatment
  • Numbness, tingling, or burning in your feet - especially at night
  • An injury that's not healing the way you'd expect it to
  • Diabetes plus any change in foot sensation, skin color, or wound healing
  • Any foot or ankle issue that's been around more than a couple of weeks

Early evaluation matters. Most foot problems get easier to treat the sooner we start - and harder to treat the longer you wait.

Our Approach: Non-Surgical First, Surgical When Truly Needed

Most foot and ankle conditions don't require surgery, and that's a good thing. Surgery always carries more weight and more downside than conservative care, so our philosophy is to lead with the least invasive option that can actually solve the problem - and escalate only when the evidence says we should.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Custom orthotics

Off-the-shelf insoles help some people and do nothing for others. Custom orthotics, fitted to your specific gait and structural issues, are a different tool entirely - especially for flat feet, high arches, plantar fasciitis, and chronic foot or knee pain with a biomechanical root cause.

LiteCure Class IV Laser Therapy

Our LiteCure laser delivers deep therapeutic light into injured tissue to reduce inflammation and support healing at the cellular level. It's one of the most effective non-invasive tools we have for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and stubborn heel pain.

Shockwave Therapy

Acoustic-wave treatment that stimulates healing in chronic soft-tissue conditions. It's become the gold standard for plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis that haven't responded to standard care - and it's one of the reasons patients come to us specifically.

Physical therapy and gait retraining

A lot of foot pain isn't really about the foot. Tight calves, weak glutes, or a minor hip imbalance can steadily overload one part of the foot until something gives. Our in-house physical therapy team retrains the whole kinetic chain, not just the spot where it's hurting.

AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill

For patients recovering from foot or ankle injuries, the AlterG lets you walk or run at a fraction of your body weight - rebuilding movement confidence and conditioning without loading the healing tissue.

Chiropractic care

When foot problems connect to alignment issues further up the chain (and they often do), chiropractic adjustments reduce the compensation patterns that keep the foot overloaded.

Manual therapy and soft-tissue work

Hands-on techniques - including instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization, cupping, and targeted massage - release restrictions around the foot and ankle that contribute to ongoing pain.

Ice and NormaTec compression therapy

For acute injuries and flare-ups, we use on-site ice compression and NormaTec pneumatic compression to speed recovery and reduce swelling.

Bracing, taping, and activity modification

Sometimes the answer is giving the tissue structural support and time. We'll show you what to do - and, just as important, what to stop doing in the meantime.

Diabetic foot care programs

Ongoing monitoring, preventive exams, and early intervention for patients with diabetes - focused on catching problems before they become emergencies.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Options

When surgery is the right call - and for some conditions, it genuinely is - our podiatrist uses minimally invasive techniques whenever the anatomy allows. These approaches typically use smaller incisions, disrupt less surrounding tissue, and carry lower infection risk than traditional open surgery.

Foot Pain Treatment Perth Amboy, NJ

Procedures available include:

  • Minimally invasive bunion surgery
  • Hammertoe correction
  • Plantar fascia release when conservative care hasn't worked
  • Achilles tendon repair
  • Stress fracture stabilization
  • Ankle ligament repair
  • Permanent ingrown toenail correction
  • Neuroma excision for cases that haven't responded to non-surgical care

Here's the honest framing: most of our patients never need surgery. Our goal is always to exhaust effective conservative options first, because the best procedure is often the one you don't end up needing. But if you're one of the patients who does need it, you want it done by a podiatrist using modern techniques - and one who will walk you through exactly why it's the right call before anything gets scheduled.

Why Patients Choose NJ Sports Spine and Wellness for Podiatry

Appointments

Same-Day Appointments

When you can barely walk without wincing, "we can see you in four weeks" isn't an answer. We offer same-day appointments for both new and existing patients whenever the schedule allows, because foot pain doesn't politely wait its turn.

Generalists

A Podiatrist Who's Part of a Full Multidisciplinary Team

You're not just getting a foot doctor. You're getting a foot doctor who works alongside our chiropractors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, and pain management specialists - all in the same building, on the same chart, working from the same plan. That matters because foot problems rarely live in isolation. If your heel pain is really connected to tight calves or a hip restriction, we don't need to send you somewhere else to figure that out.

Technology

Advanced In-House Technology

We've invested in the tools that actually move the needle: LiteCure Class IV laser, shockwave therapy, DRX9000 spinal decompression, AlterG anti-gravity treadmill, NormaTec compression, and on-site X-ray and diagnostic ultrasound. You get same-visit answers - not a two-week wait for imaging at a different facility.

Plan

Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

When surgery is needed, we use modern techniques with smaller incisions and less tissue disruption. For bunions, hammertoes, and chronic plantar fasciitis in particular, it's a meaningful difference.

schedule

A Treatment Plan With an Actual Finish Line

When surgery is needed, we use modern techniques with smaller incisions and less tissue disruption. For bunions, hammertoes, and chronic plantar fasciitis in particular, it's a meaningful difference.

Families

Patients Who Stay With Us - and Bring Their Families

Take a look at our reviews. The same theme shows up over and over: staff who know patients by name, providers who listen, a team that genuinely cares about outcomes. That's the culture.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first podiatry appointment at our Perth Amboy, NJ office is a real conversation. We'll go through when your symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, what shoes you wear, how active you are, and what you've tried already. Then we'll do a thorough physical exam - looking at your gait, range of motion, foot structure, skin, nails, and relevant joints. If imaging would clarify what's going on, we can usually do it on the spot.

From there, we'll explain in plain English what we think is happening and walk you through your treatment options. You'll leave knowing exactly what the plan is, what it involves, and what realistic improvement looks like for someone in your situation.

No pressure. No unnecessary upsells. Just a clear path forward.

Heel Pain Relief Perth Amboy, NJ

Book Your Podiatry Appointment in Perth Amboy, NJ

If you've been dealing with foot pain, a nagging ankle, or a bunion that's getting worse - let's take a look. Most foot problems get harder to treat the longer they go on, and most of the non-surgical options work better the earlier we catch them.

Call our Perth Amboy, NJ office at (908) 866-7246 to schedule. Same-day appointments available.

Frequently Asked Questions

For anything that's more than a passing ache. Primary care physicians are excellent generalists, but foot and ankle conditions have a lot of subtlety - biomechanical causes, overlapping symptoms, and treatments that depend on getting the diagnosis exactly right. If your foot or ankle pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, keeps returning, or is affecting what you can do day to day, a podiatrist is the right next step. You don't need a referral to book with us.

Probably not. The majority of bunions respond to non-surgical treatment - well-fit orthotics, shoe modifications, padding, physical therapy, and in some cases laser or shockwave therapy to calm the surrounding inflammation. Surgery is considered when conservative care hasn't reduced the pain enough, or when the bunion is interfering significantly with your ability to walk or wear normal shoes. When it is the right call, we use minimally invasive techniques whenever the anatomy allows.

It depends on how long you've had it and how severe it is. For new or mild cases, a combination of stretching, custom orthotics, taping, and activity modification often resolves it within a few weeks. For chronic cases that haven't responded to standard care, the strongest results we see are with shockwave therapy and LiteCure laser, paired with targeted physical therapy for the calf and foot. Plantar fascia release surgery is a last-resort option for a small percentage of stubborn cases.

Yes - and frankly, if you have diabetes, a podiatrist should be a standing part of your care team. Small foot problems can escalate quickly with diabetes, so ongoing monitoring matters. Our Perth Amboy, NJ podiatry team provides diabetic foot evaluations, ulcer prevention, routine nail and skin care, and wound treatment for diabetic patients.

No. You can schedule directly with our office. If you already have imaging, bloodwork, or records from another provider, bring them along - it makes your first visit more efficient - but none of that is required to book.

Latest News in Perth Amboy, NJ

Perth AmboySayreville

The Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) varsity softball team has a home non-conference game vs. Perth Amboy (NJ) on Friday, May 8 @ 4:15p.Perth Amboy @ Sayreville Softball Game InfoThe Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) varsity softball team has a home non-conference game vs. Perth Amboy (NJ) on Friday, May 8 @ 4:15p.Rankings & RecordsHead-to-HeadCommon Opponents SchoolCommon Opp. Rec.SchoolCommon ...

The Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) varsity softball team has a home non-conference game vs. Perth Amboy (NJ) on Friday, May 8 @ 4:15p.

Perth Amboy @ Sayreville Softball Game Info

The Sayreville (Parlin, NJ) varsity softball team has a home non-conference game vs. Perth Amboy (NJ) on Friday, May 8 @ 4:15p.

Rankings & Records

Head-to-Head

Common Opponents

SchoolCommon Opp. Rec.SchoolCommon Opp. Rec.
Perth Amboy0-0Sayreville0-0
DateAwayHomeResultDateAwayHomeResult
3/23/26ColoniaPerth Amboy4/4/26SayrevilleColonia
4/25/26ColoniaSayreville
4/2/26Perth AmboyNorth Brunswick3/20/26SayrevilleNorth Brunswick
4/21/26North BrunswickPerth Amboy
4/6/26Perth AmboyEdison5/11/26EdisonSayreville
4/25/26EdisonPerth Amboy
4/11/26Perth AmboyEast Brunswick Vo-Tech4/27/26SayrevilleEast Brunswick Vo-Tech
4/18/26Perth AmboyMiddlesex County Vo-Tech5/4/26SayrevilleMiddlesex County Vo-Tech
4/20/26WoodbridgePerth Amboy3/31/26SayrevilleWoodbridge
5/9/26WoodbridgePerth Amboy
4/25/26Perth AmboyEdison3/27/26EdisonSayreville
4/28/26SpotswoodPerth Amboy4/7/26SayrevilleSpotswood
5/2/26SpotswoodSayreville
5/11/26Monroe TownshipPerth Amboy5/5/26Monroe TownshipSayreville
5/16/26Perth AmboyEast Brunswick4/2/26East BrunswickSayreville

Record Breakdown

0-0Overall0-0
0-0League0-0
0-0Non-League0-0
0-0Head to Head0-0
0-0Common Opponent0-0
0-0Home0-0
0-0Away0-0
0-0Neutral0-0
0-0Playoff0-0
0-0In-State0-0
0-0Out-of-State0-0

Victory! Court Vacates Bogus Blight Designation of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Properties

IJ is a public interest law firm. We represent clients free of charge in cutting-edge litigation defending vital constitutional rights. You can join us by supporting our work here: ij.org/supportPerth Amboy, N.J.—Today, Judge Benjamin Bucca Jr. vacated a blight designation by Perth Amboy, New Jersey, against properties owned by Honey Meerzon and Luis Romero. Blight designations are often used to justify taking property using eminent domain, usually to indicate properties in disrepair that the go...

IJ is a public interest law firm. We represent clients free of charge in cutting-edge litigation defending vital constitutional rights. You can join us by supporting our work here: ij.org/support

Perth Amboy, N.J.—Today, Judge Benjamin Bucca Jr. vacated a blight designation by Perth Amboy, New Jersey, against properties owned by Honey Meerzon and Luis Romero. Blight designations are often used to justify taking property using eminent domain, usually to indicate properties in disrepair that the government wants to seize for redevelopment. But, as today’s ruling shows, their properties weren’t blighted at all. Honey and Luis teamed up with the Institute for Justice (IJ) to challenge the bogus blight designation.

“Today’s ruling means the government can’t take away your livelihood just because they want to give it to someone else,” said Honey.

Honey and Luis come from different backgrounds but have many things in common. Their parents both fled oppressive government regimes in search of a better life for their children. They both worked hard over the years to build successful businesses, and they both hope to leave a legacy for future generations. Luis and Honey own properties right next to each other in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Honey owns a rental property that houses four families, and Luis runs a successful tire and auto repair shop. Perth Amboy wanted to take the two properties for no other reason than it wanted different businesses instead.

“Today’s ruling means that the Court saw this ‘blight’ determination for what it was: a city’s naked attempt to take private property from hard-working people for no reason other than it would prefer something else in its place,” said IJ Attorney Bobbi Taylor. “New Jersey law does not allow them to do so.”

Perth Amboy claimed these properties were blighted to justify taking them through eminent domain. But, in New Jersey the government must come forward with substantial, credible evidence of conditions like “dilapidation,” “obsolescence,” “overcrowding,” or “faulty arrangement or design.” But there was no evidence that Honey and Luis’ properties met these criteria.

As Judge Bucca said in his order, “[Perth Amboy] failed to provide substantial, credible evidence to support the designation under any applicable statutory criteria, instead relying on speculative assertions, generalized concerns, and incomplete or unreliable evidence.”

Honey and Luis’s case is just the latest instance of local governments abusing their eminent domain power by twisting the definition of blight. IJ is also currently defending property and business owners fighting bogus blight designations in Mississippi, and Missouri, and homeowners in Georgia who are being threatened with eminent domain for a private railway.

“Government officials are always eager to seize people’s hard-earned property in order to give it to somebody they like better,” said IJ Deputy Director of Litigation Robert McNamara. “Fortunately, as today’s ruling illustrates, IJ always stands ready to stop them.”

Matt Powers Reporting and Communications Manager mpowers@ij.org

Sayreville rallies by Perth Amboy in GMCT 1st round first round for Wojcik’s 200th

The two greatest scorers in Sayreville boys basketball history once again pooled their impressive resources to help the Bombers achieve two important milestones in one game.Seniors Sam Jones and Chidi Chukwurah combined for 41 points and were at their collective best in the second half to rally seventh-seeded Sayreville past scrappy 10th-seeded Perth Amboy in the Greater Middlesex Tournament first round and present head coach John Wojcik with his 200th career victory, 59-53, Thursday in Sayreville.Jones netted a game-high 23 po...

The two greatest scorers in Sayreville boys basketball history once again pooled their impressive resources to help the Bombers achieve two important milestones in one game.

Seniors Sam Jones and Chidi Chukwurah combined for 41 points and were at their collective best in the second half to rally seventh-seeded Sayreville past scrappy 10th-seeded Perth Amboy in the Greater Middlesex Tournament first round and present head coach John Wojcik with his 200th career victory, 59-53, Thursday in Sayreville.

Jones netted a game-high 23 points, Chukwurah contributed 19 and senior Ziyan Jones (no relation to Sam) chipped in with 14 to steer the Bombers (15-9) back from a 27-20 halftime deficit and send them into the quarterfinals Saturday against second-seeded Piscataway.

The Chiefs ended Sayreville’s GMCT bid last year, 73-62, in the semifinal round, and then Piscataway lost to Colonia in the final.

Sam Jones is Sayreville’s all-time scoring leader with 1,752 points and Chukwurah is right behind at 1,681. Each entered the season aiming for the old record of 1,546 points established by 1974 graduate Steve Makwinski.

Perth Amboy (21-5), which entered with a five-game winning streak, was led by Yandel Susana and Bryham Paulino with 15 points apiece and fellow senior Ricardo Reyes with 13.

Wojcik is now 200-173 in his 16th season with Sayreville. His team last season finished 23-5 and reached the Central, Group 4 quarterfinals.

2/12 - 7:00 PM Boys BasketballFinal
Perth Amboy53
Sayreville59

Perth Amboy (21-5) led 19-9 after the first quarter when Sayreville (15-9) cut the lead down by halftime to 27-20.

In the third quarter, Sayreville used a 20-7 to jump ahead of Perth Amboy, 40-34. Each team scored 19 points in the fourth quarter as Sayreville held on to win.

Chidi Chukwurah scored 19 points for Sayreville. Ziyan Jones had 14 points.

Yandel Susana and Bryham Paulino each scored 15 points for Perth Amboy. Ricardo Reyes had 13 points.

Sayreville will face second-seeded Piscataway in the quarterfinal round on Saturday. Piscataway took down 18th-seeded North Plainfield 95-40 in its first round matchup.

10 most expensive homes sold in Perth Amboy area, Jan. 26-Feb. 8

A single-family home in Perth Amboy that sold for $735,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Perth Amboy area in the past week.Over the past week, a total of 11 residential real estate sales were registered in the area, with an average price of $516,364, or $333 per square foot.The prices in the list below include real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Jan. 26 even if the property sold earlier.10. $375K, single-family home at 490 McKeon StreetA sale h...

A single-family home in Perth Amboy that sold for $735,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Perth Amboy area in the past week.

Over the past week, a total of 11 residential real estate sales were registered in the area, with an average price of $516,364, or $333 per square foot.

The prices in the list below include real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Jan. 26 even if the property sold earlier.

10. $375K, single-family home at 490 McKeon Street

A sale has been finalized for the single-family home at 490 McKeon Street in Perth Amboy. The price was $375,000. The house was built in 1919. The deal was closed on Jan. 16.

9. $410K, single-family home at 136 1st Street

A 1,508-square-foot single-family residence at 136 1st Street in Perth Amboy has been sold. The total purchase price was $410,000, $272 per square foot. The house was built in 1890. The transaction was completed on Jan. 5.

8. $420K, single-family home at 318 High Street

The single-family house at 318 High Street in Perth Amboy has new owners. The price was $420,000. The home was built in 1969 and has a living area of 1,400 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $300. The deal was finalized on Jan. 7.

7. $424K, single-family home at 794 Stephen Ave.

A 1,391-square-foot single-family house at 794 Stephen Ave. in Perth Amboy has been sold. The total purchase price was $424,000, $305 per square foot. The home was built in 1957. The transaction was completed on Jan. 9.

6. $560K, single-family home at 646 Franklin Drive

The sale of the single-family home at 646 Franklin Drive in Perth Amboy has been finalized. The price was $560,000. The house was built in 1969 and has a living area of 1,350 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $415. The deal was closed on Jan. 8.

5. $575K, single-family home at 159 Market Street

The single-family residence at 159 Market Street in Perth Amboy has new owners. The price was $575,000. The house was built in 1901 and has a living area of 2,490 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $231. The deal was finalized on Jan. 15.

4. $620K, single-family home at 588 Charles Street

The sale of the single-family home at 588 Charles Street in Perth Amboy has been finalized. The price was $620,000. The home was built in 1929 and has a living area of 1,930 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $321. The transaction was completed on Jan. 16.

3. $635K, single-family home at 376 Barclay Street

A 1,701-square-foot single-family residence at 376 Barclay Street in Perth Amboy has been sold. The total purchase price was $635,000, $373 per square foot. The home was built in 1929. The deal was finalized on Jan. 16.

2. $656K, single-family home at 397 Rector Street

A sale has been finalized for the single-family house at 397 Rector Street in Perth Amboy. The price was $656,000. The house was built in 1909 and the living area totals 1,600 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $410. The deal was closed on Jan. 13.

1. $735K, single-family home at 448 Baker Place

A 2,312-square-foot single-family residence at 448 Baker Place in Perth Amboy has been sold. The total purchase price was $735,000, $318 per square foot. The house was built in 1961. The deal was closed on Jan. 5.

Wrestling without fear, this N.J. team continues stunning turnaround

Head coach Roberto Morales admitted he hid his expectations from his Perth Amboy wrestling team. 2/11 - 7:00 PM Wrestling Final Linden 30 Perth Amboy 45 He had his reasons. The biggest: his senior class was 12-42 in their first three seasons.So Morales lowered his goals -- at least those he shared with his team.“I told them we won six matches (last season) so let’s try...

Head coach Roberto Morales admitted he hid his expectations from his Perth Amboy wrestling team.

2/11 - 7:00 PM WrestlingFinal
Linden30
Perth Amboy45

He had his reasons. The biggest: his senior class was 12-42 in their first three seasons.

So Morales lowered his goals -- at least those he shared with his team.

“I told them we won six matches (last season) so let’s try and win seven,” he said. “We haven’t sent a kid to the regions since 2022, so let’s try and push somebody through.”

Morales, who has been coaching wrestling in the Perth Amboy district for 30 years, was sandbagging.

“I didn’t tell them we could have 14 wins or contend for the division title,” Morales said.

“Our seniors had two wins, four wins and then six wins,” Morales said. “I remember seeing them as freshmen and thinking if they can just stick together ...”

Well they did.

With a little help from some first-time starters and improved returners, Perth Amboy won its 14th dual meet on Wednesday night, defeating Linden, 45-30.

Now 14-3, Perth Amboy has won five-straight dual meets. It wrestles its final regular-season dual Friday night at North Plainfield.

“This is a special group,” Morales said. “They’re a mixed bag. They have a little bit of everything. We start three kids who didn’t wrestle at all last year. They put a little life in the program.”

In the win over Linden, Perth Amboy won nine bouts, including key victories by Ricardo Henriquez, who had a pin at 175 pounds, and Branden Rodriguez, who followed with a technical fall at 190 after Linden closed to within 28-24 with four bouts to go.

“This absolutely was a match we would have lost last year,” Morales said. “Our kids are in great shape. We have good senior leadership.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve beaten Linden -- at least since I’ve been head coach.”

It’s been a year where Perth Amboy wrestles with confidence and without fear.

Wrestling without its regular 138-pounder, Morales won the toss and made a move, which would change the match.

He sent Abdiel Perez out at 132 and bumped Kevin Alba Hernandez up to 138.

“When I told Abdiel he was going out he was saying ‘but coach I haven’t won a match.’ I told him I had confidence in him.”

Perez won by major decision.

Hernandez, a senior, followed with a first-period pin.

Perth Amboy also won the next three bouts at 144, 150 and 157 and opened up a 28-18 lead.

“The move worked out,” Morales said. “That got us rolling.

“In the last few years, we’ve used 25 or 30 different kids in the lineup. But this year, we had pretty much the same lineup. It makes a difference.”

Perth Amboy has earned a spot in the IBEW Local 102/NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 5 Tournament. The closest the Panthers have come to a winning season since 2010 were a pair of 12-12 seasons in 2013 and 2017.

When it wrestles at top-seeded Jackson Township next Monday, Perth Amboy will be making its fourth sectional appearance. It has one tournament victory -- that came in 2016 when the Panthers defeated Ridge, 43-27.

“Look at Ridge now,” Morales said.

Being big underdogs against the 15-2 Jaguars, who are ranked No. 14 in the state by NJ.com, doesn’t matter to Morales.

“Making the sectionals is a big deal, man,” Morales said. “Consider where we’ve come from. When you make the sectionals it means you are doing something right.

“I don’t expect us to come out and shock the world or anything,” he added. “Our kids will be ready to wrestle. They’ll give a good effort. We will win some (bouts).”

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

Service Areas

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Perth Amboy, NJ