Wantagh wrestlers eye title return

Following two seasons of younger rosters, Wantagh wrestling is loaded with experience this winter and primed for a title run.

Despite having an underclassmen-dominated team last season, Wantagh placed third in the Nassau County dual meet championships and proceeded to qualify a record 27 wrestlers for the individual finals at Hofstra. Sixth-year head coach Paul Gillespie believes he has a squad this season that can regain the county dual meet title and make some noise on the state level.

“We have a lot of experience back and worked hard in the offseason,” said Gillespie, a legendary coach who won 17 county titles with Long Beach prior to Wantagh. “We’re going to have a good shot at winning the title.”

Wantagh’s senior leadership features five captains including Michael Killard (126 pounds), Nick Coppola (182), Jonathan Loew (160), Larry Baker (220) and Justin Vines (132). Vines captured an individual county title at 113 pounds while Killard and Coppola reached the finals. Wantagh placed third in team scores during the individual finals and Gillespie is hoping to finish at the top of the standings this February.

Seniors Pat Smith and Kyle Schairer bring additional senior leadership to the Warriors. Smith earned a fifth place finish at 285 pounds in county championships with a pin of Jericho’s Alex Guidice.

Junior Charles Maier is back after finishing third in the 113-pound county bracket as a sophomore. Juniors Gavin Casey and Tommy Rohan are also expected to play a large role in Wantagh’s championship quest after helping the Wantagh football team capture a Long Island title this fall.

Younger contributors complement Wantagh’s upperclassmen leaders including freshman Josiah Encarnacion and his sophomore brother Christian who made strides on varsity a year ago. The brothers both recorded pins during a 75-6 win against Chaminade on Dec. 7. Josiah Encarnacion captured a 99-pound title at qualifiers for the Nassau County individual championships during his eighth grade season.

“They are both very tough kids,” Gillespie said of the Encarnacions. “They work very hard.”

Wantagh’s roster features another talented brother duo in sophomore twins Joe and Bobby Moore. Joe Moore won the 106-pound finals in the county qualifiers last year and Bobby has shown progress early in the new season.  

Gillespie is excited about what he sees early on from eighth grader Aiden Araoz. The middle school student placed third during the Grapple at the Garden at Madison Square Garden where the Warriors finished ahead of defending state champion Long Beach.

Long Beach snapped Wantagh’s five-year streak last year of placing at the top of the scoreboard in the individual county championships at Hofstra and Gillespie expects the Marines to once again be the top competitor. The Warriors are also looking to recapture the dual meet crown they won three years in a row from 2012-14. Gillespie hopes a grueling early season tournament schedule against the state’s top programs will prepare his wrestlers for the championship matches.

“The early season tournaments prepare you for the end of the season,” he said. “It’s how you finish the season that matters.”