Wantagh excels in qualifier

Wantagh’s three-year reign as Nassau County duel meet champions came to an end in late January, but many Warriors wrestlers qualified to compete for individual titles on the big stage at Hofstra.

Nineteen Wantagh grapplers thrived in the qualifier hosted by East Meadow last Saturday and will participate in the Nassau County championships at Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex this weekend. The Warriors entered the season with a young squad that featured only three seniors, 12 juniors, 11 sophomores and 18 freshmen.

“I’m delighted because there is a lot of young kids going there this year,” said Wantagh head coach Paul Gillespie, who is in his fourth year leading the program after previously coaching Long Beach to 17 titles. “I’ve never had a young team do so well.”

Six Warriors won their championship qualifier matches to earn seeds at the county finals including freshmen Justin Vines (101 pounds), James Langan (108) and Gavin Casey (195.) Also winning at the qualifier were seniors Kyle Quinn (113), Blaise Kavanagh (145) and junior Nick Rogers (160). Kavanagh tallied four pins all in under a minute.

Five Warriors placed second in the qualifiers including Michael Killard (101), Charles Maier (108), Jonathan Loew (113), George Alpert (126) and Joe Conklin (132).  Also qualifying for the county finals were seventh grader Bill Russo (101), Kyle Schairer (120), Andrew Zagorski (145), Andrew Eget (152), Colm Magner (160), Nick Coppola (182), Larry Baker (220) and Pat Smith (285.)

Five qualifying matches featured Wantagh wrestlers competing against each other for the right to advance. Gillespie said in these instances, he and his coaching staff do not coach during the match in fairness to both kids. “We usually just sit back and watch,” said Gillespie of when he has two of his wrestlers battling on the mats.

Quinn is ranked No. 1 in the county at 113, while Vines and Loew are ranked second in their respective weights. Kavanagh entered the qualifier ranked fourth but could rise based on his performance.

Wantagh’s quest at a fourth straight duel meet county championship was dashed with a semifinal loss to Farmingdale on Jan. 31, but Coach Gillespie was pleased with his wrestlers competed that day and throughout the regular season. Gillespie said he hoped up to eight wrestlers can place in the individual county championships and the Warriors can be atop the team standings like they were last year.

“This season has gone great,” said Gillespie. “They really expanded my expectations for how good they were going to be.”

The Nassau County individual finals are scheduled for Friday and Sunday at Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex starting at 9 a.m. both days. Gillespie said with the Nassau and Suffolk County finals taking place side by side on Sunday evening beginning at 6 p.m., it makes for an exciting atmosphere that the wrestlers enjoy. They will be vying for a chance to qualify for the New York State Championships on Feb. 27-28 at the Times Union Center in Albany.