Seaford aims for conference title

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The Seaford wrestling team stepped up strong during its annual Patrick J. Butler Duals last Saturday and now has eyes set on a Conference 4B title. 

The Vikings won four of five matches in the tourney held annually in memory of former Seaford wrestler Patrick Butler, who was killed in a car accident as a sophomore in 2004 just hours after his team won a county title. Seniors Jack Lasher and Kevin Digney were named co-MVPs with wins in all five of their bouts. 

“It is always a big day for Seaford wrestling,” head coach Dave Takseraas said of the Butler tournament. “Patrick was someone who wrestled with so much passion for us.”

Seaford entered this season with eyes on winning a conference title after just falling short last year when Island Trees edged the Vikings in the regular season finale. The Vikings have captured a county championship 10 of the last 12 years and will be challenged again by Island Trees and league newcomer Locust Valley. Seaford went 3-1 in non-league matches with wins against Garden City, Hewlett and Bellmore-JFK.

“It was a team effort in all three wins,” Takseraas said.  

The Vikings are led by senior tri-captains Frank Lauretti (220 pounds), Digney (195) and Lasher (152), who all were also standouts on the football field in the fall. Lasher won 15 of his first 16 matches and Digney was undefeated before falling to Plainedge’s Ryan Coder on Jan. 5. Lauretti, who started the season late due to an injury suffered in Seaford’s Nassau County Conference IV football title game loss to Locust Valley, is providing valuable leadership on and off the mats with his fellow captains.

“They have been outstanding role models for our younger guys,” Takseraas said of his three captains. “They are leading the way.”

Junior Louie Weissberg has also keyed Seaford’s early season success at 145 pounds in his third season on varsity picking up a pin in the Vikings’ 45-26 over Carle Place in its conference opener. John Cantwell has stepped up as a junior at 113 pounds with Takseraas calling him “one of the hardest working guys on the team.” Jake Palmer is also making waves in his junior season and captured the Valley Stream North Tournament at 126.

“He is having a breakout season,” Takseraas said of Palmer. “He is trying to make a name for himself.”

Sophomore Tyler Volpi has shined at 138 pounds after wrestling at 126 as a freshman. Freshman Joe Blasi went undefeated on varsity as an eighth grader at 99 pounds and is hitting the mats strong at 99 pounds this winter. Other key contributors include Larry Wing (160), Andrew Schutzman (120), Jake Benderman (132) and Tom Galinski (132).

Seaford will host conference rival Island Trees on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. for its 22nd annual Bob Gerbino Night in honor of the late Viking coach, who founded the school’s wrestling program in 1956 and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008. The Nassau County individual wrestling championships are scheduled for Feb. 13-14 at Hofstra University’s Mack Sports Complex.