Wantagh wrestling back on top

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Despite having one of the youngest rosters in Wantagh wrestling history, the Warriors continued their recent tradition of being on top of the scoreboard at the Nassau County individual championships.

Wantagh placed nine wrestlers at the county tournament on Feb. 15 at Hofstra University’s Mack Sports Complex and finished with the most points in the event for the fifth straight year. The Warriors piled up 191 points, beating out Long Beach (183) and Massapequa (173.5) for the crown.

“It was a very hard-fought victory,” said fourth-year Wantagh head coach Paul Gillespie, who previously led the Long Beach program to 17 county titles. “With all the hard work we put in, it is great to see it pay off.”

Senior Kyle Quinn captured the county title at 113 pounds two years after earning the championship at 106. Quinn, who also won state title as a sophomore, defeated Mepham’s Joel Zambrano in the championship bout before a packed crowd at Hofstra.

“He has a real good shot to win another state title,” Gillespie said of Quinn. “He is certainly among the best ever at Wantagh.”

Joining Quinn at the New York State Wrestling Championships in Albany on Feb. 27-28 will be freshman Justin Vines, who finished second at 99 pounds. Vines earned a wildcard to the states and will compete in the 101-pound weight class on the big stage at Albany’s Pepsi Center.

Earning third place finishes at Hofstra were seniors Blaise Kavanagh (145 pounds) and Nick Rogers (160) along with sophomore Mike Killard (99). Gavin Casey (195) and James Langan (106) both finished in fifth place. Placing sixth were Charles Maier (106) and Jonathan Loew (113.)

Wantagh’s championship performance on the Hofstra mats came two weeks after its streak of three straight county dual meet titles were snapped by Long Beach on Jan. 31. Gillespie said his three senior captains, Quinn, Kavanagh and Rogers, used the disappointing dual meet performance as extra motivation to thrive in the individual counties.

“We really came back and proved we are the best team in the county,” he said. “Our seniors really came through.”

Wantagh entered the season with among the youngest teams Gillespie has coached in his lengthy career with just three seniors, 12 juniors, 11 sophomores and 18 freshmen. Gillespie said the young team reminds him of a squad he coached at Long Beach in 1991 and that the future is even brighter for Wantagh wrestling. 

The legendary coach said he expects the Warriors to be right at the top with Long Beach and Massapequa competing for championships in the coming years and credits his assistant coach, Ray Handley, who heads the Wantagh Grapplers youth program, as major reason for the recent success on the mats.

“I’m excited about the future,” he said. “There is a great wrestling foundation here in Wantagh.”