Local wrestlers ready to rumble

Wrestlers throughout the Bellmore-Merrick district took to the mats with heavy hearts this season in memory of beloved Mepham coach Rich Anderson, who passed away over the summer following a battle with cancer.

Sean Arresto, who worked alongside Anderson for 11 years, learned a lot from his colleague and close friend and has a young team to work with. “We all miss Rich a lot,” Arresto said.

Of the 46 kids in Mepham’s program, only two are seniors. Jeremy Perkoff (132 pounds) opened the season with an exciting victory in the MacArthur Tournament and followed up with a third-place finish at the Sprig Gardner hosted by Kennedy and Mepham. Anthony Zuzzolo enters his fourth season and is expected “Jeremy’s been to the county tournament multiple times and so far it’s the best he’s looked in years,” Arresto said of Perkoff, who defeated Syosset’s Mark Mansa, a county finalist last winter, in the finals at MacArthur.

Sophomore Kyle Althenn recorded more than 20 wins last season and earned All-County honors with a fifth-place finish at 106 pounds. He’ll compete at 126 in this year’s county tourney. Sophomore Jack Molloy, second at MacArthur at 120, was a qualifying tournament champ last season. Junior Albert Zepeda (145) has shown great improvement, Arresto said, while Greg Gibbons (99) and Matt Hegi (182) are leading a large group of talented freshmen.

Kennedy, which finished 12th out of 40 schools in the county tournament, opened the new campaign in style with a third-place finish in the 11-team Sprig. The Cougars had one Sprig champion, junior Jack Krug (170) and four other finalists.

Krug is a three-time county tourney qualifier who coach Brian DeGaetano said is poised for a breakout and has the tools to become All-County. Senior Jack Jones and junior Brandon Mercado are returning All-County placewinners. Jones was fourth at 182 and runner-up in the Sprig. “Jack’s one of the best kids to ever walk the halls at Kennedy,” DeGaetano said. “We’re hoping he can qualify for states.”   

Mercado, who flew under the radar last winter and peaked at the right time to finish fifth in the county, lost a hard-fought 3-2 decision to East Meadow’s Matt Mustakis in the 106-pound final in the Sprig. Senior Eric Brach, who was All-County in the 2014-15 season, placed second in the Sprig at 120. Junior Boaz Smart (220) and senior Gurkamal Dadra (Sprig finalist at 285) give the Cougars a pair of quality heavyweights.

Calhoun, which coach Tom Schiavo said is built well for tournaments, enjoyed success in both the Hank Paris and Sprig events in December.

Junior Matt DeFelice, a year-round wrestler, captured the title at the Hank Paris Tournament hosted by Plainedge and followed up with a strong runner-up performance in the Sprig. DeFelice qualified for the county tournament last season and is looking to return and make more noise, Schiavo said.

Another junior for the Colts, heavyweight Dean Paolillo, is off to a big start. “He’s a three-sport athlete and really benefitting from last year’s experience on the mat,” Schiavo said. Paolillo was victorious in the Sprig when he got by Kennedy’s Dadra in the title bout, and also took the Plainedge event.

Others expected to make their presence felt for Calhoun this winter include seniors Dylan Jainchill (126 pounds, second at Plainedge and fourth in Sprig), Peter Roberto (99, third in both tournaments) and Liam Reilly (fourth in both tournaments), and sophomore Jake Marine.