Seaford will send a half dozen wrestlers to the New York State Championships after a successful run in the counties.
The Vikings qualified six for states with two wrestlers capturing county titles, two runner-up finishes and another two earning wildcards after winning third place consolation matches. Seaford finished the Nassau County Division II Championships held at Cold Spring Harbor High School on Feb. 12 just four points behind Cold Spring Harbor with 268.
“The most we previously had going to states is three so to six going is pretty awesome,” said ninth-year Seaford wrestling head coach Dave Takseraas. “We’re excited.”
Junior Jack Godoy captured his first county title with a 10-0 major decision win against Carle Place’s Jack Parise in the 118-pound finals to cap off a dominating tournament performance in which he never gave up a point. Godoy, who finished second as a freshman at 99 pounds two years ago, pinned Jefry Pacheco of Island Trees in the semifinals.
Sophomore Louis Cannata also reached the top of the podium with an 11-5 victory over Michael Centrella of Cold Spring Harbor in the 132-pound finals. Takseraas said Cannata has made major strides in his first full high school wrestling season after a truncated freshman campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic where there were no postseason tournaments.
Diaz makes history
Seaford sophomore Ashley Diaz became the first female wrestler in Long Island history to place in the individual county championships with a fifth place finish at 118 pounds. Diaz recorded three wins in the counties capped off by a pin of Wheatley’s Joe Manzano in the fifth place match.
Also reaching the podium for Seaford were Anthony Paradiso (third, 102), Christopher Curry (third, 132), Max Kasparian (fourth, 102), Michael Cantwell (fourth, 189), Karl Leudesdorff (fourth, 215), Max Addiego (fifth, 160), Matt Martorana (sixth, 160) and Luke Bloom (sixth, heavyweight.)