Saved by friends from cardiac arrest, Howell teen wrestler starts his greatest comeback

HOWELL - J.J. Machnik, captain of Howell High School wrestling team, has racked up 75 wins since 2021, but his toughest grapple came less than two weeks before his 19th birthday, when he went into cardiac arrest while training with his friends prior to a wrestling tournament.

When Machnik came over to Marlana Hodgins' house the morning of May 10 to work out with her son Trevor and their friend Giovanni Scafidi, who all came up through the Howell Predator Wrestling Club with him, they expected their main concern that day would be winning, not J.J.'s survival.

"I heard him collapse off the treadmill and I heard Gio yell his name, and I knew J.J. had a heart condition," Hodgins said.

Machnik was diagnosed five years ago with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which makes it hard for the heart to pump blood. It often goes undiagnosed; most people with the condition have no symptoms and experience no significant problems. For some, it can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or abnormal heart rhythms, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Life-saving CPR

Hodgins called 911 while Trevor, 14, and Scafidi, 19, were taking care of Machnik.

"Trevor and I sprang into action when we had noticed his breathing stopped we immediately initiated CPR, a skill we had learned," Scafidi wrote afterward.

Their rapid response ultimately saved their friend’s life. Scafidi said their "teamwork played a crucial role" and that the traumatic experience taught him "the significance of staying calm under pressure and being prepared for unexpected situations."

Trevor Hodgins said "when I got to the basement, I saw J.J. laying on the floor and Gio and I moved him off the treadmill onto the floor."

"My mom kept asking if he was breathing to tell 911, and when we noticed his breathing stopped, I said we need to start CPR," Trevor said. "I started with chest compressions and told Gio when to give two breaths. We got through a few rounds before the first police officer came down. I never really thought that I would have to use the CPR training that my dad taught me and my siblings but thankfully I was here and able to use it for J.J."

Machnik "coded" numerous times, including en route to the hospital, where they were able to stabilize his heart upon arrival. He has since been taken to Morristown Medical Center where his heart specialists are located. Currently he is in the cardiac care unit, where he has been monitored since coming out of a 48-hour medically induced coma.

"(J.J.) is an amazing kid. He lights up the room when he comes in, just a great kid always willing to help and wants to give back to his community," Hodgins said.

Hodgins started a GoFundMe for Machnik, where so far donors have raised over $58,000 to help J.J.'s family with medical expenses.

J.J.'s mother Laura Machnik told the Asbury Park Press that he was able to walk on May 17, his 19th birthday. She said "he is getting there; he has got a long road" but admitted "at this point it doesn't matter (because) he is alive."

"Everything would've stopped right there if Marlana, Gio and Trevor didn't do what they did," Laura Machnik said. "I would've gotten there and they would've said your son is dead."

J.J. was first diagnosed with his heart condition in 2019 because an EKG was a pediatric requirement when he turned 14. From there, Machnik took her son to cardiologists before researching and finding a specialist. Since then, J.J. had been cleared for sports after every annual appointment and never had any incidents like the one on May 10.

As a result of his cardiac arrest, J.J.'s brain had stopped. His mother said if it wasn't for the overwhelming love and support from the community, she doesn't know how she would have gotten through the first 48 hours.

"They told us even if he didn't show signs of life in 48 to 72 hours, if he doesn't show brain activity, then he is considered not alive. OK, thanks, he is alive," Machnik said. "As long as I get him out the door with me when we leave, it is a good day."

Now "he has to just focus on one thing at a time."

'It was a beautiful moment'

J.J. is now in the post-traumatic amnesia stage, which is what happens after being in a coma.

"Therapy is going to help, but he has long-term memory," Machnik said. "It is all part of coming back. He is all there. He can tell you math stuff and he remembers everything about his mama, that's for sure. He can recognize voices; it is all there. Going forward is just getting him stronger.

"He gets better hour to hour and day by day. We asked the Hodgins family to come to see him because he wanted them to visit. They came and he welcomed each of them with open arms and expressed to Marlana and Trevor how thankful he was for what they did for him and ultimately saving his life. It was a beautiful moment for all," Machnik said.

Howell High School Principal Jeremy Braverman asked all the kids to wear blue (J.J.'s favorite color) for him one day. His best friend took pictures throughout the day and made a video of it for J.J., which was posted on the "We are Howell" Instagram page and on the Howell class of 2024 Instagram page.

"It is truly amazing how they all came together for him," Machnik said.

Pete Reilly, a coach with both Howell Predator Wrestling and the Howell Rebels, said J.J. "is one of those kids the younger guys always want to emulate and look up to."

"His years on the Howell Predator Wrestling club, there were always young kids looking up to him. He’s a tremendous leader. The younger guys would aspire to be like him. He’d give them pep talks before the matches and if they lost he’d be the first guy there, arm over their shoulder letting them know it’s going to be OK. The outpouring support for him is a true testament to who he is as a person," Reilly said.

John Gagliano, who has been the wrestling coach at his alma mater Howell High School for over two decades with over 500 wins in his coaching career, said Machnik "is a great kid, a lot of fun, and a great leader."

"Since I have been coaching at Howell 27 years, obviously we have captains every year. I only had a handful of two-year captains, he is one of them," Gagliano said. "That says a lot about (J.J.) that the coaches chose him as a junior and senior to be a captain.

"In the room, out of the room, his work ethic is something I want kids to see. I am just so proud of him and everything he has accomplished," Gagliano said.

Machnik's family asked him what he wished for on his birthday and his response was "health." His mother said he could have had season tickets to the Giants or Mets, but she raised her kids to "love the little things."

Charles Daye is the metro reporter for Asbury Park and Neptune, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. @CharlesDayeAPP Contact him: CDaye@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Howell teen wrestler starts his comeback after cardiac arrest