Shane Meenaghan of Chaminade.

Ben Rogers

of Wantagh.

Sayville's Cody Lopresti.

Anthony Clem (Wantagh)

Miguel Lozano - Connetquot

Wantagh's Ryan Arbeit.

Sayville's Yirdaw Rivera.

Massapequa's Anthony Conetta works for a takedown.

Calhoun's Ray Adams.

Craig Jablonski of Shoreham Wading River.

Connetquot Head Coach - Bill Santoro - now in his 44th season.

Massapequa's Carlos Arango 

Hewlett's Ariel Waldman.

2021-2022

LONG ISLAND WRESTLING PREVIEW

By Jim and Tony Nordland

www.thematslap.org


     The top teams on LI appear to be perennial Nassau powers: Massapequa and Wantagh, along with Suffolk stalwart Brentwood. The next tier has Miller Place, Long Beach, League II dual champion Connetquot, MacArthur, Patchogue-Medford, Islip and Commack.


     The Chiefs (11-0) are paced by state bronze medalists Carlos Arango (102) and Anthony Conetta (145), the Ciolino brothers: Jake (145) and Luke at 160, along with Matt Reehil at 110. The Warriors (15-0) are coached by Hall-of-Famers: Paul Gillespie (486 dual meet victories) and Reggie Jones, Jr. They have a strong lightweight contingent with Ben Burkhardt (102), the Clem twins; Anthony (110), county finalist Joseph (118), county placer Ryan Arbeit (132), along with tough Thomas Bonasera at 138. Bolstering the upper weights is returning Nassau champion and state placer Ben Rogers in the 160-pound class. The Indians (9-0) are coached by veterans Ralph Napolitano and able assistant Jerry Goodfellow, they point to League I medalists Jason Euceda (102) and Jason Kwaak (110), along with all-county Kyle Walker (126), brother Devin at 132 and junior Elmer Cruz at 285.

 

     Miller Place (12-0) has a well-balanced dual squad and look to potential county champions: Suffolk placer Justin Klein (145) and Anthony Bartolotto at 172. Other standouts are Michael Giugliano (126) and Nicholas Neyland at 285. Islip (12-1) has Jack Whitehouse (102) and a strong middleweight corp of Zach Miller (138), Matt Hole-Lopez (145) and Tom Andria at 160. Long Beach (10-0) will be in the hunt and points to seniors; Mason Franklin (102), Wyatt Parker (126), Yehuda Bitton (160), along with junior Jack Valentin at 138. Connetquot (10-0) has all-county Christian Paredes at 145, along two-time league placer lightweight Miguel Lozano. Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Santoro has been at the helm for 44 seasons and the TBirds also have 2020 league champion Devin Shapiro (152) and John Feramola at 285. 


     MacArthur won the 2020 Nassau County Tournament and has state placer Killian Foy (132/138) and highly-touted senior James Clarkson (215). The Generals also look to Paul Lichter (138/145), and Sean Napoli at 160. Rounding out the top teams are league I power Patchogue-Medford and Commack. Pat-Med has senior James Tomlinson (189) and Christopher Massett (145). Commack and coach Mike Guercio has possible county champion with junior Ryan Eckerle (126), along with Nick Barber (102) and  John Darrell at 285.


​MAT NOTES:

     Hauppauge won the 2020 Suffolk County Tournament under the tutelage of veteran coach Chris Messina. The Eagles have county champion and state bronze medalist Mikey Manta at 102 and county finalist Frankie Volpe (145), the Eagles also have Luke Clackett at 126 pounds and will have a solid line-up.


     Section XI also boasts returning county winners; Brayden Fahrbach (118) of Mt. Sinai, two-time state placer Max Gallagher (122 career wins), now a junior from Bayport-Blue Point at 126, Nick Lamorte (132) of Rocky Point, Jack Sparacio (138) of Mattituck and SWR's Craig Jablonski at either 145 or 152 pounds.


     Other Suffolk standouts are state placers; Christian Lievano (WM) at 118, Vincent Zaccardi (KP) at 126 and former Suffolk champ, Sachem East's Jared Weinhaus (16-0) at 138. The Flaming Arrows also have the Tietjen brothers; Mikey (102) and all-county John (110), along with Jack Pickersgill (152). Lindehurst has a trio of top returnees; Ryan Sims (160), all-county Jake Travato (189) and Jairo Caceres at 215. Sachem North points to JT Mankowich (126), Eric Weatherbee (172) and Vincent Engel at 189. Longwood, always a League I contender  has Hunter Fink (145) and Jabali Zoia (189). Huntington has Lucas Cirlincione (102) and potential champion with Robert Smith at 215. Sayville has two possible champions with tough Yirdaw Rivera (138) and gridiron star and county bronze medalist  unbeaten Max Murtha, now in the 172-pound class, along with the Golden Flashes teammates; freshman Leo Mongiello (118), Braden Ainslie (160) and the Lopresti twins Kenneth (172) and Cody at 189. Others to watch are all-county matmen; Wyatt Gentzel (Bellport), Justin Shayew (EI), both at 118, Jaiden Green (215) of Bellport and top-rated Cole Blatter (Comsewogue) at 285 pounds.


     Nassau's green-cladded squad features state finalist sophomore Joseph Manfredi (Herricks) at 110 pounds and the Hewlett nucleus of  Ariel Waldman (126) a 2020 county runner-up, along with county placer Kirk Smith (118), Josh Gendlin (160) and county bronze medalist Jacob Maiorano at 215. Other returning all-county prospects include; Kyle Moore (Levittown Division) and tough Thomas Wagner (South Side), both could be in the 132-pound bracket, CSH's state placer Jackson Polo (145), along with football standout Travis Shaver (172) of Plainedge. Also to watch on the Section Eight mats will be Shane Dobbins (Plainedge) at 102, Calhoun teammates Ray Adams (118), Jordan Burr (160) and Andrew Foy (189), sophomore Shane Moore (Division) at 132, Matthew Castillo (Port Wash) at 138, Aaron Cho (145) of Herricks, along with the Manhasset trio of Will Russell (102), county placer Jack Roscko (152) and Niko Tsoumpatiortis at 189 pounds.

      In the CHSAA look for Chaminade, Kellenberg and St. Anthony's to vie for the championship. The Flyers return tournament champion and state placer Shane Meenaghan at 118 and the Friars have highly-regarded  Andrew Bardak at 215 pounds.​

Max Gallagher - Bayport-Blue-Point

2021 - 2022

​LONG ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING PREVIEW​