Long Beach rolls in qualifier

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A week after capturing a third straight Nassau dual meet team title, Long Beach continued its dominance on the wrestling mats last Saturday with a lights-out performance at the county qualifier tournament.

The Marines crowned 11 qualifier champions in the six-team event in their own backyard and will have a county-high 24 participants at this weekend’s Division I championships at Hofstra. Long Beach is looking to repeat after ending Wantagh’s five-year reign last winter.

“Our goal is to repeat but it’s going to take another big effort,” coach Ray Adams said. “We’re excited.”

Among Long Beach’s championship performances in the qualifier was a pair of freshmen. Max Maquet pinned Baldwin’s Abraiham Mitchell in the 113-pound final, while Amir Hodge knocked off each of the top three seeds at 120 en route to the title.

“It was definitely a good day,” Adams said. “It’s always exciting for the kids to wrestle in front of the home fans, and I think it gives us an advantage. Seeing some of the younger kids step up and win was so exciting.”

Hodge defeated Bethpage’s Christopher Chang, the No. 2 seed, in the quarterfinals with a pin in 1:03, and pulled out an 8-6 decision over Bethpage’s Edenliso Rivas in the semifinals. In the finals, it took Hodge just 26 seconds to pin Lynbrook’s Justin Weinberger, the top seed.

“Amir faced some really tough competition late in the season, and even though he didn’t win, he battled,” Adams said. “Those matches without a doubt prepared him.”

Sophomore Dylan Martinsen, who earned All-County honors last season, rolled to the qualifier title at 126 pounds and earned the Most Pins, Least Time award in the process. “He’s one of our toughest guys,” Adams said.

Junior Jacori Teemer, in search of a fourth straight county and state championships, was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after beating Lynbrook’s Matt Swanson, 8-4, in the 132-pound finals. Long Beach senior Matt Maquet was third in the same weight class.

After seniors Bryant Dingle (138) and John Colletti (145) settled for hard-fought runner-up finishes, the Marines ripped off six straight wins including undefeated junior Elijah Rodriguez (195) improving to 31-0 with a pin of Bethpage’s Alex Ludweig in 11 seconds.

Senior Tyrese Byron upended classmate Brian Sandmeier in the finals at 152, senior Charlie Spada worked past classmate Greg Wildstein in the finals at 160, and senior Joe Giorlando nipped classmate Brandon DeVivio in the finals at 170. “Those kids are all workout partners, so those matches were more of a chess match,” Adams said. 

Senior Tyreek Bromley reached 30 wins on the season with a pin of Lynbrook’s Justin Harvin in the finals at 182. And in one of the most exciting matches of the day, senior Mark Rivera squeaked out a 5-4 decision over Baldwin’s Jon Debique in the finals at 220.

“We have eight guys ranked either first or second in the county tournament,” Adams said. “We just want everybody to wrestle up to their capabilities.”