When Kennedy wrestling coach Brian DeGaetano addressed his boys before the season, he told them to prepare for defeat. His intention was to use a tough schedule to season a young lineup for future successes, which left him all the more flat-footed when the Cougars approached the Nassau County Division 1 dual meet championships with a 16-0 record.
“I thought next year, we would be having the success we're having this year,” DeGaetano said. “But it turned out that the kids have worked and gone above and beyond in the offseason, so this year was the breakout year for us. It's exciting, and on the whole team, we're only losing two seniors from the starting lineup next year. We’re going to be very strong again.”
After a slightly unexpected run of brilliance, DeGaetano’s words finally rang true when Kennedy fell to Manhasset 46-22 in the D-1 quarterfinals Jan. 22. It had the sharpening effect the coach always expected it would, and the Cougars are now 22-2 and rolling into this Saturday’s county qualifier tournament. Last Saturday, they capped off a three-meet run to win the South Side Duals.
“The loss was good. It just came at the wrong time,” DeGaetano said. “I thought we would have lost earlier, but we didn't. It stung, and the kids were really upset about it, but they came back to practice Monday.”
Though he might have a gap or two from meet to meet, DeGaetano said the key to success has been a tight lineup. The coach has a top option at nearly every weight, which often allows him to craft a lineup in line with the Cougars’ preparation. He also noted their competitive tenacity.
“These guys really love to compete and they love to wrestle the best kids,” DeGaetano said.
Kennedy’s three All-County wrestlers all returned with strong 2025-26 campaigns. Sophomore Jason Brodack boasts a 23-12 record at 118 pounds, while junior Harlan Chugerman, a state qualifier last year, stands at 28-6 at 150. Peter Mikedis, another sophomore standout for the Cougars at 165, is currently 33-2 and steamrolling his way through Section VIII.
Between Chugerman and Mikedis, Wyatt Saldarelli is 18-8 at 157 pounds.
Brodack and Mikedis are not the only up-and-coming forces in the Kennedy lineup, as youth was largely responsible for DeGaetano’s tempered expectations at the start. So many wrestlers have far exceeded those early projections, including freshman Tak Rodger, who’s currently 24-11 at 126 pounds. Sophomores Alex Sivin (103) and Christian Bribitzer (110) are currently 26-10 and 22-10, respectively.
Junior Hendrick Capo, the reigning league champion at 144 pounds, is handling business against with a 30-6 record, while fellow junior Jared Eisenberg commands even more presence at 138 with a 36-3 record. The Bachisin brothers, Miles and Ryder, keep the Cougars strong at higher weights, earning 39 combined victories at 175 and 165.
For such a young core of talent to succeed so early, it becomes tempting to consider the possibilities far down the road. For those involved, however, the next meet is all.
