Wantagh trio on the mat for Post

A trio of former Wantagh High School wrestlers are now making their mark at the college level. Rich Grillo, Matt Langan and Vinny Turano comprise one-seventh of LIU Post’s wrestling squad, which is only in its second year of existence.

Turano and Grillo are both 2013 Wantagh graduates who attended Nassau Community College for a year. They wrestled at Nassau before transferring when Post re-established its program after a 26-year absence. Langan graduated from Wantagh in 2014, making all three original members of the new squad.

The trio proudly wear the green and gold for the Division II Pioneers after successful high school careers. Turano wrestled for Wantagh for six years, including five on the varsity team, and was the county champion in his senior year in the 132-pound weight class, with a third-place finish at the state level. He now wrestles at 141.

“I feel a lot more comfortable in my weight class,” Turano said, citing his offseason conditioning. “I just feel really good this year.”

Langan was on Wantagh’s varsity squad for three years and was county champion in 2014 at 145 pounds. That year, he learned that Post was bringing back its wrestling program, and wanted to go to school close to home, so it was the logical choice. “This was perfect for me,” he said. “It’s great. I’m really close with most people on the team. I’ve made a lot of new friends.”

He is now wrestling in the 149-pound weight class. His family often comes to his matches, and he also goes to watch his brother, James, wrestle for Wantagh. Langan said he works with his brother on technique and how to make weight. “I think I could definitely be helpful to him,” he said, “because I’ve been through it.”

Grillo spent four years on Wantagh’s varsity squad and was state champion in 2012 and 2013, a two-time All-Conference wrestler, and was conference finalist his senior year. At Wantagh, he wrestled at 160 and 170, and is now in the 184 weight class.