Wantagh rips through qualifier

Posted

Wantagh’s wrestling team will be well represented at the Nassau County Division I individual championships this weekend.

Twenty seven Warriors earned spots for the big-stage event at Hofstra during a qualifying event held on Super Bowl Sunday at Plainedge High School. Wantagh qualified the most of any team in Nassau, edging out Long Beach’s 26.

“It’s unbelievable considering we put 30 in there and only three didn’t qualify,” said fifth-year Wantagh head coach Paul Gillespie, who has coached for over three decades and previously led the Long Beach program to 17 county titles. “That’s the best I have ever had as a coach.”

Wantagh’s record-setting day included eight qualifying champions. The winners included Josiah Encarnacion (99 pounds), Joe Moore (106), Justin Vines (113) Michael Killard (120), Joe Conklin (145), Andrew Zagorski (152), Andrew Eget (160) and Patrick Smith (285).

Gillespie sees Encarnacion, Vines and Killard as having legitimate chances at taking home county titles at Hofstra. Vines placed second in the counties last year as a freshman and earned a wildcard to the New York State Championships. Killard finished fifth in the counties as a freshman at 99 pounds.

Wantagh’s successful showing in the qualifiers came a week after placing third in the Nassau dual meet championships following a 36-30 semifinal loss to Massapequa. The Warriors advanced to the semis with a commanding 57-15 quarterfinal victory against neighborhood rival MacArthur. Wantagh also fell in the dual meet semis last year before sending 19 wrestlers to the counties and finishing first in total points.

“We still have an outside shot at winning the counties,” Gillespie said. “Considering all our injuries this season, we’re doing pretty well.”

The Warriors have been shorthanded in many matches due to injuries and lost sophomore Gavin Casey (197) for the season after he placed fifth in the counties last year. Despite the adversity, Wantagh came in fourth place during the prestigious Union-Endicott Duals on Jan. 9. Gillespie said challenging schedule that included dual meet setbacks to Seaford and Sachem East has prepared his wrestlers well for their big February matches.

“You learn a lot by losing,” said Gillespie, who was named National Coach of the Year in 2013 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “You have to be able to come back from failure.”

The Nassau County individual finals are slated for Saturday and Sunday at Hofstra starting at 9:30 a.m. both days. The New York State Championships will take place on Feb. 26 at the Times Union Center in Albany. 

Wantagh edged out Long Beach by eight points for last year’s county tournament team title. Gillespie said with so many qualifiers, the county championship will be within reach and could once again come down to the Warriors and his former program. Massapequa, which placed in third in last year’s county finals, is also expected to be in contention.

“We have a good bunch of wrestlers,” said Gillespie. “It’s going to be a battle.”