Wantagh grapplers seek repeat

The Wantagh wrestling program has a tough act to follow after a banner 2021-22 season.

The program produced four individual county champions and qualified six to compete on the big stage at the New York State Championships in Albany’s MVP Arena. The Warriors also shined on a team level capturing the Nassau County dual meet title before placing second in the New York State duals to Minisink Valley.

“I have a lot of confidence in this team as the majority of the guys are back from last year,” said 12th-year Wantagh head coach Paul Gillespie. ”We can win counties again and just need to make sure everybody is ready and the kids are working very hard to do it.” 

Twin brothers Anthony Clem and Joseph Clem both return as juniors after reaching the New York State Championships. Joe Clem won a county title at 118 pounds and is competing at 132 early in the 2022/23 season. Anthony Clem placed third at 110 last season and is shining early as a junior at 126.

Senior Ryan Arbeit (138) is also back after winning a county title at 126 last winter and will look to cap his high school career with another championship before he competes on the college level at Hofstra University. Fellow senior Noah Corwin also won a county crown at 172 pounds and will look for a repeat trip to the top of the podium. 

Thomas Bonasera (152) will look to earn a county crown during his senior season after placing third at 132 as a junior to earn a trip upstate. Junior Jesse Vanorden (152) also has championship potential after an All-County sophomore campaign where he placed fifth at 145. 

“Those six guys could get to the county finals and possibly win it,” said Gillespie of his veteran grapplers. “We have a very big team this year with close to 50 guys and they are very good role models that guide and lead the team.” 

Gillespie also has high hopes for newcomers to the podium like Darren Santucci 102), Michael Damico (160), Dean Roumbos (189) and Daniel Pettinato (215).

Wantagh entered the Christmas holiday at 8-0 and will next compete in the Clarke High School duals on Dec. 28-29 before home matches against Bethpage on Jan. 3 and Valley Stream South on Jan. 5. The team will also take part in the annual Patrick J. Butler Duals at Seaford on Jan. 8. 

The Warriors will then return to Clarke on Jan. 21 and seek to defend the team’s title at the county duals. Gillespie expects stiff competition for the dual championship and the right to head to states from Plainedge, MacArthur and Long Beach to gain a spot at the state dual championships. 

The individual Nassau County championships will return to Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex for the first time since 2018 on Feb. 11-12. Wantagh wrestlers who place high at counties will earn a trip to the New York State Championships in Albany on Feb. 24-25.