Ricky & Nicky Cabanillas NJ - Wrestling Is Family
Wrestling Brings Everyone Together
By Ricky Cabanillas
3X New Jersey High School State finalist, 2018 champion (145 lbs.). 2X Beast of the East finalist, 2017 champion (145). Freak Show champion in 2015, 2016, and 2018.
It’s been almost five years since the article about my twin, Nicky, and me titled “New Jersey’s Twin Towers,” was published on February 7, 2019, in WIN Magazine’s RMN Outwest column written by Bill X. Barron, whom I have known over the years as RMN Events’ Head Official.
In the article, I mentioned attending Brown University to pursue a degree in Computer Software. However, only one of those aspirations came to fruition. I did attend and graduate from Brown University but earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics instead.
Throughout my time at Brown, I continued to wrestle. For most of the time, I was in the starting lineup at 149 lbs. I served as the team captain, accumulated 50+ wins, became a conference place-winner, and was a two-time David H. Lehman Franklin & Marshall Open champion.
I also earned Academic All-Ivy and NWCA Scholar All-American honors. Upon graduating, I accepted a full-time analyst position within the Treasury & Chief Investment Office at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
As for wrestling, I haven’t strapped on my shoes or stepped on a mat since March 2023. When my last season ended, and the realization that my wrestling career had ended had hit me, I didn’t know how to feel exactly. I thought to myself, “What am I going to do?”
My whole life up to this point was wrestling; it was all I knew. Weeks and even months after it ended, I continued to think about the “what-ifs.” What if I did this differently, or what if I did that differently?
Even to this day, I think about that. However, I always snap out of that mindset and tell myself that I did the best I could. I pushed myself to be the best, and I know, without a doubt, it was all worth it in the end.
Being away from the sport has helped me realize that there is so much more to life than just wrestling. I’m able to enjoy my free time and spend more time with family and friends.
All the time, I get asked the question: “If I could go back in time, would I do it again?” The answer to that is, of course, I would! Wrestling has given me the mental and physical advantages to take on anything life throws my way.
In my original article, I stated, “Wrestling brings everyone together like a whole family; it also brings my family closer.” Five years later, I still believe that.
I hope one day I’m able to have a family of my own and instill the lessons wrestling has taught me in my son or daughter. I will never forget how much this sport changed my life for the better!
From the original article in WIN Magazine (2-7-23): “The Cabanillas brothers are an example of true student-athletes. Whether on the wrestling mat or in the classroom, they give everything they have. They are a great example for our younger wrestlers to look up to and model themselves after. It has been an honor to have them on our team. – Coach Keith Karson, DePaul Catholic High School
The Man I Am Today
By Nicky Cabanillas
2-time New Jersey High School State placer at 126 lbs. (5th in 2018 and 2019)
Beast of the East place-winner in 2018 (8th). Freak Show champion in 2016 (both won it that year).
Time has definitely flown by since the article written about me titled “New Jersey’s Twin Towers” (WIN 2-7-23) was published. I can remember it like it was yesterday; I was still in high school and unsure what the future had in store. I’m proud to say a lot has happened, and I am happy with the position I am in today.
As the article mentioned, I did attend Brown University. I graduated in May 2023, but instead of studying mechanical design, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in business economics. Upon graduating, I pursued a career as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, though I am currently looking for other opportunities.
As for wrestling, I continued to wrestle throughout my college years, mostly wrestling at the 125-133-pound weight class. Although I didn’t have many matches, I became an EIWA place-winner and obtained All-Ivy and NWCA Scholar All-American honors multiple times.
Growing up, my brother and I wrestled all throughout the East Coast. We did tournaments in NJ, PA, DE, and NY but never really ventured out of those states until our middle school years. When it finally came time for us to expand our wrestling to bigger states, we decided to give the RMN Freak Show a chance in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Attending that RMN tournament was our first time visiting Las Vegas and even the West, so we did not know what to expect. When we landed in Nevada, we were amazed at how hot it was and how everything in the West was different from the East.
Not only was the terrain different, but the wrestling style was also unique. West Coast wrestlers utilize a lot of funk in their wrestling style, while East Coast wrestling relies more upon the basics. At first, that made wrestling quite difficult for Ricky and me.
Had we remained in the East, we would have never encountered the Western wrestling style; it was a new look against outstanding competition. Overall, the Freak Show was a fantastic tournament. Ricky and I went back year after year to compete!
My year-round wrestling career ended in March 2023; thus, adjusting to everyday life has been challenging. My father was a dedicated powerlifter in his early years; I follow in his footsteps, and he mentors me. I plan to compete in a competition this upcoming spring.
In the WIN article, I mentioned that DePaul Catholic High School will always have a special place in my heart. I made it a priority to make it back there to help the guys. Therefore, I pursued an assistant coaching position with them. Now I devote much time to helping the wrestlers improve and making them better students overall.
It has definitely been an incredible journey, one that I would not want to change. The challenges I encountered and experienced through wrestling have shaped me into the man I am today. I will be forever grateful for that!