High School Sports

MacArthur wrestling looking to contend

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Longtime Nassau County wrestling powerhouse MacArthur High School has taken some injury blows early this season, but head coach Rob Paletta hopes the Generals can peak when it matters most.

“This year is going to be more about how we finish than how we start,” said Paletta, whose team finished second in the Nassau County duals last year and achieved the program’s fourth individual state champion in Steven Schneider at 170 pounds. “Hopefully we will be in contention in the end.”

A big obstacle MacArthur will need to overcome to stay a championship contender this winter is filling the void lost by 220-pound sophomore Ryan O’Shea, who is out for the season with a stress fracture and not having a replacement in that weight class. The Generals also have injuries to seniors Mike Brown (138) and Jake Thompson (113), but both are expected to be back by January.

“We’re not as strong as we’d like to be now due to some injuries,” said Paletta, who took over as MacArthur’s head coach for the 2009-10 season after previously coaching at Island Trees. 

Brown and Thompson alongside Anthony Gatt (132) are serving as senior leaders for the many underclassmen on the roster. Brown was fourth in the counties last year and Gatt earned All-League honors.

“These guys have been there before so their leadership is great,” said Paletta of his seniors.

A key junior returning this season is Travis Cooksey (126), who has earned All-County honors the last two years. He is also a two-time New York State runner-up and fell in overtime on last year’s finals stage. “We’re looking for him to have a big year,” said Paletta of Cooksey.

Also back after an All-County year is junior Jeremy Hughes. He finished fourth in the county as a sophomore and is slated to wrestle at either 160 or 170.

Juniors who earned All-League accolades as sophomores include Nick Goodleman (99) and Sal Deluca (170). Paletta hopes both can take that next step and be on All-County stage this February.

The Generals will be facing some stiff competition in upcoming tournaments including the MacArthur Tourney on Dec. 29 that will feature Garden City, Chaminade, Brentwood and Islip

MacArthur’s league schedule includes a Jan. 21 road match at county title contender Long Beach. There is also a home non-league match on Jan. 24 against Hewlett, which is also expected to be among the county’s top teams.

“Our schedule is very unforgiving,” said Paletta. “It will prepare them well.”

MacArthur fell in last year’s county dual finals to neighborhood rival Wantagh, 43-28, and then placed third in the team standings at the individual county finals at Hofstra. This year’s Nassau County individual finals are scheduled for Feb. 13 and 15 at Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex, with the New York State Championships on Feb. 27-28 in Albany.