Mepham, Kennedy thrive in qualifiers

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Mepham followed a 10-win regular season with a strong performance at an eight-team Nassau wrestling qualifier tournament hosted by Syosset last Friday and Saturday.

The Pirates had six finalists, including four champions, and will send a contingency of 12 to the county Division I championships this weekend at LIU Post. Half of their qualifiers captured win-and-in, lose-and-out final bouts, which added another level of excitement, coach Sean Arresto said.

“I think the new format is great,” Arresto said, referring to the qualifiers switching from six sites to five and taking place over two days instead of one. “We did really well and we’re looking forward to counties.”

Junior Matt Hegi’s come-from-behind overtime victory against Farmingdale’s Nick Franco in the 195-pound final was Mepham’s highlight, Arresto said. Hegi trailed Franco for the second time this season. The first time, he won by pin. Last Saturday, he rallied from three points down in the final 20 seconds and then used a takedown in OT for a 9-7 decision. Hegi improved to 29-2 and could see Franco again in the county finals should both advance.

Matt’s twin brother, Ryan, took the 220-pound qualifier title and has 24 wins. He beat Tyler Krom-Power of Hicksville in the final, 14-3. “Ryan’s such a strong kid and he wrestled smart,” Arresto said.

Senior John Koenig took home the title at 182 and has a record of 23-5, including a 15-match winning streak, while freshman Miguel Rivera capped his win at 285 with an overtime pin against Hicksville’s Harkamal Singh in the finals.

One of Mepham’s runners-up, senior Kyle Althenn, is undefeated on the season (19-0) but recently returned from a long absence due to an ankle injury. Soreness led him to a medical forfeit of the 138-pound final, but he’s still ranked No. 1 in the county in the weight class. “As long as his body cooperates, he’ll be tough to beat,” Arresto said.

Senior Jack Molloy (132) was a qualifier finalist and scored a huge semifinal win over Garden City’s Joe Foxon, 10-9, on a late takedown.

Kennedy hosted one of the qualifiers, which included Calhoun. The Cougars, who battled through adversity during the regular season including a scary car accident involving five members of the team, performed well last weekend and will have at least 10 county qualifiers.

“It’s been a season of injuries and inexperience, but we’ll be that much better next year,” Kennedy coach Brian DeGaetano said.

Sophomore Dan DeFillipo prevailed in the 152-pound bracket, winning four matches including a wild 15-12 triumph over Lynbrook’s Jordan Camilo in the finals. Seniors Greg Brach (120) and Matt Jones (182) also reached the finals. For Brach, it’ll be his fourth appearance in the county tournament.

Freshman James Valente (106) took fourth at 106 after splitting time at the JV and varsity levels throughout the campaign. Sophomore A.J. Pizzirusso, the only one of the five injured in the accident to return to action, placed fifth at 113 to punch his ticket to the county stage. Senior Chris Polanco (30 wins) is hoping for a wild-card invite after a dislocated shoulder kept him to sixth in the qualifier.

Calhoun was led in the qualifier by senior Jake Marine’s title at 145. Senior Tobias Harrington was runner-up at 170, and senior Finn Campbell took fifth at 182.