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Wright Hits the Mat to Help Charities in Suffern

Posted: Mar 10th 2007 By: CMBurnham

As hundreds of pro wrestling fans filed into their seats at Suffern High School's gymnasium yesterday, Scott Wright was preparing on the second floor.

Standing in the training room alongside giants, some of whom tip the scales at more than 250 pounds, the well-dressed Wright looked out of place. In fact, he looked the part of his day job - an eighth-grade history teacher at Suffern Middle School.

But on this night, his students will know him by a title other than "Mr. Wright." Last night, he took the mat as his East Coast Professional Wrestling alter ego - "Scotty Charisma."

Six years ago, former Nanuet football player and wrestler James Maritato introduced Wright to the sport. It has turned into appearances in front of packed houses for World Wrestling Entertainment as well as other gigs for smaller organizations such as the ECPW.

"I've had a great ride," Wright said. "Whenever the WWE comes to the area in the Northeast, they have been calling me. I work for them part-time and have a great job during the day."

Over the past five years, Wright and his compatriots in the ECPW have raised more than $50,000, which has gone to benefit the Suffern Football Touchdown Club as well as local charities, this year's being Camp Venture.

Last night, as has been the case in years past, was a success as fans packed the gymnasium. Wright, who is also a football coach at the middle school, said that giving back to the community has been the best thing that has come out of his wrestling career.

"In all the things I've done, being with the WWE and being on TV, what I am most proud of is the fact that in five years of running this show (is the)... charities. To me, that is my No. 1 accomplishment in wrestling."

Wright and Maritato, who made his mark in the WWE under the names "Nunzio" and "Little Guido" as part of a tag-team group known as the Full Blooded Italians (FBI), were not the only locals wrestling on the card.

Former Suffern football player and 1998 graduate Kevin Clark showed his talent under the name "Kevin Apollo". In the match preceding Clark's, Paul Fuchs of Sloatsburg who goes by the name "Paul E. Normus" also made the card.

Clark said that it is great getting to give back to the team where he once played and the community where he lives.

"I had a lot of great memories here at Suffern and a lot of great memories on the football team, so this means a lot," Clark said. "Not every school has the opportunity to have an event like this, and not every person has an opportunity to give back to the school where they came from."

Part of what makes this event so successful is the fact that people get to sit up close at a relatively low cost. Last night's event brought out fans of all ages and made for a very loud gymnasium.

Suffern resident Matt Koenen regularly watches the WWE but this was his first "house" show. He said that being in this kind of smaller enviroment was fun.

"I watch all the bigger shows but it is cool to see one so close," Koenen. "I've never got to be this close to the ring. I'm surprised that an event like this is so close by."