Kennedy's talent on mat shining

The most important part of the Nassau County wrestling season is just around the corner, and Kennedy is hoping to continue what has been a second consecutive record-setting campaign on the mats.

The Cougars enter this weekend’s countywide Dual Meet tournament with a 19-2 mark overall, including a perfect 6-0 in Conference II-B. That unblemished mark made it consecutive conference crowns for Kennedy for the first time since 1975. And with one more win, the program would eclipse the 20-win mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. “We’ve only had two losing seasons since 1966,” coach Brian DeGaetano said. “Everyone takes pride in the fact that we’ve always been a good program and they want to make it better.”

What may rank as Kennedy’s biggest performance so far this season was last Saturday’s 4-0 mark at the Rich Zakar Duals at Newfield High School, because it came on the heels of a 38-25 loss to Seaford in a non-league matchup the night before. “As a coaching staff you are concerned,” DeGaetano said. “To go to a tough tournament the next day [after a loss] you don’t know what to expect.”

In knocking off Sayville (40-35), host Newfield (57-21), Mt. Sinai (45-21) and Lindenhurst (46-27), were again led by the duo of junior Robert Person at 120 pounds and senior John Luxmore at 182 pounds. Person, an All-County champion last season, has lost just once as a junior, as has Luxmore, who’s only defeat came against the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class from Suffolk County, King Park’s Andrew Ventura.