Oceanside wrestlers cap successful season

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Junior Quinn O’Rourke’s run to the 106-pound final led Oceanside to its best team finish in the Nassau County wrestling championships since 1999. The Sailors finished 15th out of 42 schools and also had senior Kash Calderon earn All-County honors by finishing fourth at 126.

“Quinn got to the finals and we had four others advance to the second day,” Oceanside coach Julio Flores said. “It was really great.”

O’Rourke was unseeded in the county tournament, held at Hofstra on Feb. 13 and 15, despite reaching the finals of the qualifier the previous week. He went 4-1 on the big stage, losing only to defending state champion Jacori Teemer of Long Beach in the title bout.

“We thought Quinn was in a good spot when the bracket came out,” Flores said. “He still had to go through three of the top six seeds to make the finals, and he did. He had a great tournament.”

O’Rourke pinned his first-round opponent, Brandon Liu of Port Washington, in 3:06 to get the jitters out, Flores said. He then beat Marc Bain of Division, the No. 6 seed, 10-2 in the second round. In the quarterfinals, O’Rourke upset third-seeded James Langan of Wantagh in convincing fashion, 10-3.

“Quinn was very impressive on the first day of the tournament,” Flores said.

In the semifinals, O’Rourke (33-6) went up against second-seeded Angelo Petrakis of Massapequa. “Petrakis beat Quinn once last season and once earlier this season,” Flores said. “We knew it was going to be a close battle.”

O’Rourke scored on an escape in the second period and held on for a 1-0 victory. “Quinn rode him out in the third period and that was it,” Flores said. “It was sweet revenge for him.”

Teemer pinned O’Rourke in 3:46 in the finals. “Jacori’s just a phenomenal wrestler,” Flores said. “There’s no hanging your head when you lose to a state champ. Quinn gave his all.”

Calderon was in a highly competitive weight class and was stopped in the quarterfinals by eventual champion Sam Goldman of Port Washington. Calderon got a first-round bye and beat MacArthur’s Anthony Gatt, 6-5, in the second round. He won three decisions on the second day of the tournament, including a 3-2 triumph over Andrew Ashmawi of Massapequa in the All-County round.

“Kash had a tough first day, but he was outstanding on the second day,” Flores said. “It’s the first time Oceanside has had two All-County wrestlers since Matt Trotta won it all and Kris Knab took fifth in 2000.”