Blaze Shade, a senior, was even more blunt when describing his working relationship with brother Bryce Shade, a junior.
"It gets really intense," he said. "We'll get to the point where we're ready to fist-fight by the end of practice."
For their entire wrestling careers, the brothers' relationship in practice has equaled success out of it.
Bryce, at 145 pounds, is 22-8 this season. Last year, he won a Region 8 title. Blaze (170), a district champion, is 26-3 for the 17-4 Chargers, one of the top programs in South Jersey.
And as passionately as they fight during practice, they will be in each other's corner against other opponents.
"When Bryce has a big match, I'll be so into it, so pumped up, that I don't even have to warm up for my match," Blaze Shade said. "It's a great thrill for us to watch each other succeed. And that's why we push each other so hard."
Both brothers have legitimate aspirations to place in states this year.
"You can't ask for more out of them," Cottone said. "On a good day, either one of them can beat anybody. They work so hard in the room, and they execute on the mat.
"And anything we need, as a team, they'll deliver. They'll move up in weight. They'll get bonus points. It's just great to have guys like that on the team."
And it all goes back to those fights in practice.
The two have been wrestling each other since both took the mat as young children - Bryce started wrestling when he was four; Blaze, when he was eight.
"We've been going to the same clubs and practices since we were little kids," Bryce Shade said. "And always being together and pushing each other makes the biggest difference.
"Some kids start wrestling when they're really young. Some start when they're in high school.
"But it really doesn't matter when you start. It's about the work and dedication that you put into it."
