For most families, summer means vacations, beaches, and barbecues. For Joe and Carissa Galante, it means wrestling mats, long days, and the joyful chaos of hundreds of athletes learning, sweating, and improving together.
As the Head Wrestling Coach at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Joe has spent years building one of the top Division III programs in the nation. Now, the Galantes are expanding their passion for the sport as Resilite’s independent sales representatives for New Jersey and Delaware.
“When Tina and Steve Povalac decided to step away, it was an honor to be asked to carry on what they built,” Joe says. “They’re incredible people, respected by everyone in the wrestling community. Our goal is to continue their legacy with the same care, integrity, and passion they poured into it.”
Operating under the umbrella of their family business, Galante’s Mat Co., Joe and Carissa aim to serve coaches, teams, and wrestlers with the same dedication and energy that made the Povalacs so trusted.
A Legacy of Trust — and Family
Resilite has been part of Joe’s story for as long as he can remember. He grew up wrestling on Resilite mats, and today, TCNJ continues that tradition, using a mix of Classic, Flex, and NCAA models in its training facilities.
“Resilite has always been a brand I’ve believed in,” Joe says. “The quality, safety, and craftsmanship are unmatched. When you’ve spent your life coaching and competing, you know the difference a good mat can make.”
For Joe and Carissa, the partnership with Resilite feels like the perfect fit. Both come from small, family-business backgrounds, so joining forces with another family-owned, USA-made company was more than a business decision—it was personal.
“It just made sense,” Carissa shares. “Resilite stands for the same things we value—hard work, family, and doing things the right way. That’s exactly how we want to represent the brand in our region.”
Built on Heart, Hard Work, and Home
Carissa and Joe Galante with their three sons.
Between coaching at TCNJ, running one of the most attended high school wrestling camps in New Jersey, and raising three young sons, the Galantes know a thing or two about balance and teamwork.
“Wrestling teaches toughness, perseverance, and heart,” Joe says. “We see it in our athletes, and we try to live it as a family. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and having fun doing it—with family in your corner every step of the way.”
That mindset carries directly into Galante’s Mat Co. Their focus is simple: great mats, real passion, and service with a slam. Whether it’s helping a new program find the right setup or supporting a long-standing club, Joe and Carissa bring a coach’s perspective and a family’s dedication to every customer they serve.
Carrying the Torch Forward
For the Galantes, this new venture is more than a business opportunity—it’s a chance to build on a legacy and give back to the sport that shaped their lives.
“We’re proud to represent Resilite and to continue what Tina and Steve started,” Joe says. “Wrestling has given our family so much—now we get to give something back.”
With heart, hustle, and a little bit of mat dust in their veins, Galante’s Mat Co. is ready to take the next step—proving once again that when family and purpose come together, the results are always built to last.
