Dramatic win for Hewlett wrestlers

It’s like it came out of a movie.

Simon Greebel’s 6-3 victory over Krishna Sewkumar, the No. 1 wrestler in all of Nassau County in the 106-pound division, lifted the Hewlett wrestling team to a dramatic 39-37 win over Long Beach at the Wantagh Duels last Saturday.

The win demonstrated what a force the Bulldogs can be in Conference 3A this season, and it came at the perfect time -- in the final match of the tournament. Long Beach also happens to be the school that current Hewlett coach Stephen Jones attended and once coached. Hollywood ending or not, Jones and his Bulldogs aren’t ready for the closing credits to start rolling yet. They know they still have a lot left to accomplish.

The upset helped the Bulldogs to improve to 3-3, and they’ve been without Owen Bachelder, who was fifth in the county as a seventh-grader, since the early part of the month. Troy Smith (152 pounds), Rob Rosenberg (132), Lester Enriquez (285), Hadner Sanchez (182) and Matt Kaminer (220) also had key wins in their weight classes, all of them pinning their opponents. But it was Greebel’s clutch win that put the bow on things. Seven Bulldogs won their individual matches, setting up the exciting conclusion. It’s been that way all season, Jones said. 

“We have a very tough schedule, going against the very best in both Suffolk and Nassau,” he said. “But the team has been stepping up.”

Earlier in the tournament at Wantagh, Smith had pinned Daniel McDevitt, No. 2 in the county, and Greebel had beaten Kyle Foglieta. Nevertheless, Wantagh won, 55-18. The score didn’t reflect how competitive the Bulldogs were against a top team. Hewlett also faced Brooklyn Tech, falling 42-27 despite wins from Greebel, Weinberg, Revivo, Rosenberg, Smith and Steve Salerno. 

The core has been consistent. In Hewlett’s 51-31 win over Kellenberg, Greebel, Rosenberg, Smith, Kaminer and Enriquez were all victorious, and Aaron Weinberg took a 6-0 decision in the 120-pound class. In the Bulldogs’ 54-34 win over Lynbrook on Dec. 10, Greebel, Weinberg, Rosenberg and Smith led the way, and Anthony Iannacci earned a victory in the 145-pound division. Oran Revivo won the match of the day, winning the 126. 

Rosenberg’s victory was the highlight of Hewlett’s 56-28 defeat to Sachem North, though Greebel, Smith and Sanchez were also winners. 

Hewlett is set to begin conference matches on Dec. 20, when it hosts Roslyn. The Bulldogs will also host Wantagh on Jan. 4, then travel to Plainedge (Jan. 6), Oceanside (Jan. 9), South Side (Jan. 11) and Division (Jan. 3).