Positive steps for Oceanside

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Oceanside’s wrestling team had high hopes for its Jan. 6 match against East Meadow. But, at the conclusion of the contest, the Sailors left the gymnasium with a disappointing 45-point loss to the Jets. 

The defeat was the third straight for Oceanside, and the team’s season seemed to be quickly slipping away from them. But the Sailors did not panic. They instead, got angry. 

“That loss was devastating to the team. They beat us bad and our guys got really upset,” Oceanside coach Julio Flores said. “Our players came back the day after that loss, and you could see their work ethic had changed.”

The Sailors have responded to their loss to East Meadow, with three consecutive wins. First came a 62-14 blowout win over rival Baldwin. 

Then on Jan. 13, the club battled its way to a 36-33 victory over Port Washington. “They’re a pretty good team and we had a few guys that were hurt,” Flores said. “We had to forfeit two weight classes, but we still ended up beating them.”

Last Friday, the Sailors continued to roll, with a 56-11 victory over Hicksville on the school’s alumni night. The team has seen a major change in momentum in recent days, including a successful outing at the Syosset “Battle for the Belt” tournament.

“We had Quinn O’Rourke win the tournament, and a bunch of guys take third, fourth and fifth,” Flores said. “That was huge for them, and they’ve been fired up ever since.”

O’Rourke is just one of the members in the midst of a strong season for Oceanside. Also performing well of late has been Mike Fishman, who according to his coach has settled on a weight that he has been able to flourish at. 

“He initially was trying to cut too much weight, but we’re gonna leave him at 120 pounds,” Flores said. “Now he’s looking very strong.”

Dan Fishman, John Cannella, Rob Espinal, Brian Kiesche and C.J. Kearney have also proven to be important wrestlers for the Sailors this season, and a major reason for the team’s turnaround.

One of the biggest surprises for the club this winter has been 182-pound Roman Aguirre. The first-year wrestler was initially put on the team due to a lack of other options in the weight class, but has since emerged as one of Oceanside’s most crucial participants. “The kid has come up huge for us,” Flores said. “He has gotten us so many big wins in the varsity lineup.”

Earlier in the month, the Sailors season seemed to be on the verge of falling apart. Now the club is riding high, and Flores hopes to see his guys accomplish big things the rest of the way.

“We got the playoffs coming up, and I think we can do well there. And I’d like to see at least six guys be all-county this year,” he said. “But, that’s all easier said than done, and we still got work to do. If they want it, they got to work hard and make it happen.”