EM Jets send 10 to county championships

The East Meadow High School Varsity wrestling team sent 10 athletes to compete in the 2019 Nassau County Championships at Long Island University Post. The team had four qualifying champions, including Stephen Calderaro, who took fourth place.

At 170 pounds, Calderaro avenged a loss and beating a seeded and ranked wrestler to get to the third place match. Many of the team’s young wrestlers also got experience by getting deep into the tournament.

Jets wrestling is all about inclusivity

One wrestler stood out during an East Meadow High School Varsity match recently, as highlighted in a post on Facebook by Joe Harley. “I would like to share a little story about how proud I am that my son is part of team that shows great sportsmanship and above all compassion for those that have less than them,” the post reads.

The athlete, Dylan Paladino, was wrestling at a match against Plainview JFK High School when the opposing coach asked if anyone from the team would be willing to face off against one of his athletes who has autism.

Paladino didn’t hesitate to step up and, the post reads, “made that young man feel like a champion.”

—Brian Stieglitz