Bruins battle in host tournament

Senior Isiah Taylor’s victory at 189 pounds was the biggest highlight for Baldwin in the Bruins Cup wrestling tournament, won by Suffolk powerhouse Longwood on Dec. 11.

Taylor, who took a 5-2 decision over Freeport’s Gerson Lara in the final, is someone Baldwin coach Mike Robinson is hoping will continue to be a factor all season long after he helped the football team reach the playoffs.

“We’ve been a young team for the past couple of years and don’t have too many seniors,” Robinson said. “Isiah is a special kid and a talented athlete. He has goals in mind and he looks focused.”

The Bruins placed sixth in the nine-team tournament with 115 points. Longwood, which had eight individual champs among the 15 weight classes, amassed 400 points. Long Beach was second with 278 and Freeport finished third with 212. 

“It’s always beneficial to face top competition,” Robinson said. “Longwood is ranked first in the state and Long Beach is the defending Nassau champs.”

Robinson said he’s counting on a strong junior class and some up-and-coming sophomores to lead the way this winter. One junior off to a tremendous start is captain Dylan Cohen, who finished runner-up at 140 pounds in the Bruins Cup a week after winning the Battle at the Beach tournament in Long Beach.

“Finishing All-County is at the lower end of Dylan’s goals,” Robinson said of Cohen, who topped Dan Pragdat of Clarkstown South, 5-2, in the Long Beach tourney final. “He’s in a tough weight class but he’s a definite contender to go far. He’s come out of the gate with two good performances.”

Quincy Parrish reached the 96-pound final at the Bruins Cup, while sophomore Quinn Knauer (125) and Victor Robinson (130) picked up third place.

Knauer, who was a Qualifying Tournament champion last season but dropped a tough opening bout at counties, is also off to an impressive start. He took second at the Battle at the Beach. “He’s one of many kids who worked hard during the offseason,” Robinson said. “He’s already in his third year and it’ll be exciting to see how far he can go.”

Junior Austin Valenti, who placed fourth at the Bruins Cup at 119, won a match at last season’s county tournament and was one of Baldwin’s most successful wrestlers. He’ll be one of the key lightweights along with sophomore Sal Trigona (103) and junior Kenny Yeh (112), who has twice achieved All-Conference status.

Other experienced returnees include junior 152-pounder George Abreu, who just missed qualifying for the county tournament, junior John Robinson, who was sixth at 160 at the Battle at the Beach, and senior Kyle Clarke (285), an alternate at counties a season ago.

The Bruins are part of Conference 1B along with East Meadow, Farmingdale, Hempstead, Hicksville and Oceanside. “The playoff format changed this year,” Robinson said. “The top three teams in our conference get in, and that’s a goal of ours.”