Mixed early results for Lynbrook

Though abbreviated, Lynbrook’s spring wrestling season was nonetheless seen as a statement.
Finishing third at 4-2-1 in Nassau Conference 3B, the Owls flustered foes expecting to face some semblance of the squad that went 7-12 in 2019-20.
Signs this winter are as yet mixed as to whether the Owls will springboard off spring, or struggle to keep their high pace. Lynbrook has started off 0-2 in Conference 3B dual meets, while also presenting consistently as a top-tier tournament team – nabbing third and fourth place finishes at the Knights Classic at Uniondale (Nov. 27) and the Frank Giampaolo South Side (Dec. 18) tournaments, respectively.
“We’re in a tough conference, and we don’t have a lot of kids,” Lynbrook coach Rich Renz said. “But we’ve got more technical wrestlers than last season. In that respect we’re better. I think we’ll keep doing well in tournaments. We look like that kind of team.”
Recent cases in point, Lynbrook junior Ralph Caputo was the Giampaolo heavyweight champ (285 pounds), while sophomore teammate Dylan Vanegas – ranked fifth in Nassau at 132 by the Long Island Wrestling Association – won the tournament’s consolation title in the 138-pound class. Caputo – whose only loss this season came at the Knights Classic, where he went 4-1 to claim fifth place – is 4-0 in dual meets with three pins. Vanegas, who Renz said could drop back to 132, has won all four of his dual meet matches by fall.

“Ralph has really improved from last year,” Renz said of the Owls co-captain. “He’s become very good when he’s down on the mat, scores a lot of points from there. Dylan’s a hard-working, technical wrestler. He wants to win so bad that he goes out and wrestles really hard.”
Owls senior Andrew Director has shown little rust from sitting out the spring, going 4-1 in dual meets (three pins) at 215, with a fifth-place 3-1 finish at Knights, while fellow co-captain Sean Healy (junior) is 3-1 in duals and was a finalist at Knights where he went 3-1 at 132. “Andrew’s greatest asset is his allaround body strength,” Renz said. “Sean’s a smart, technical wrestler. He trains a lot in the offseason, and you see the results.”
Lynbrook could see a lift if pieces fall into place as planned. Senior co-captain Tyler Ippolito (1-4 duals) flashed some of his former All-Conference form in a 7-0 dual-meet win at 189 over Nitrius Brown of Central Islip Dec. 12. Junior Jesse Jean – undefeated in spring (2-0) – is 0-1 after entering the season in progress, while freshmen Zachary Tinyes (102), Ryan Benson (110), Jason Zisel (118), Elias Vanegas (145), and Emmet O’Grady (145) look to realize near-term returns on early varsity dues-paying.
“Tyler can help us with his all-around athleticism,” Renz said. “Jesse’s a strong kid who’ll be helping us, for sure. Our ninth-graders are still very young, very raw, but tough. They’ll be very good, very soon. We’ve got lots of potential.”
Lynbrook resumes dual meets Jan. 5 hosting 3B rival Roosevelt.