by Jim and Tony Nordland

Anthony Clem (41-5) of Wantagh

Rocky Point's Nick LaMorte (33-3)

Matthew Marlow (37-1, 78-8 career a junior out of Northport HS, finished 4th at the NHSCA Nationals.

2022 - 2023

​LONG ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING PREVIEW​

Long Beach HS freshman Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez (37-2)

Chaminade 2020 state placer Shane Meenaghan

​     Long Island wrestling returns four state champions and two finalists, along with a group of talented state place-winners. That group will vie for state titles as they embark on the upcoming season. State champions that return are blue-chipper Max Gallagher (36-0, 148-10 career) of Bayport Blue-Point HS at 132 pounds. Gallagher finished 5th at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, ND, and is a verbal commit to UPenn, he projects as a solid 133-pound collegian.  Suffolk’s other state king is Matthew Marlow (37-1, 78-8), a junior out of Northport HS at either 126 or 132 pounds. Nassau County returns two state champions, unbeaten junior Joseph Manfredi (51-0, 142-6) of Herricks HS at 126 pounds, he will be tough to beat and Long Beach HS freshman Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez (37-2) will move up to the 110-pound class, he added a bronze medal at the NHSCA Nationals to his impressive resume at Virginia Beach, VA.

     State finalists that return and seek redemption will be junior Brayden Fahrbach (39-2, 140-18) of Mt. Sinai at 132/138 pounds. East Islip has junior Sebastian Regis (26-1, 50-10), a gridiron standout, who is top-ranked in the state in the 285-pound class.

     Long Island also boasts a myriad of state place-winners that will be in the hunt for state titles this season. Bronze medalists to watch are: sophomore Jason Kwaak (39-2) of Brentwood at 118, Wantagh’s JosephClem (43-1) at either 126 or 132 pounds, Frank Volpe (42-3) at 152 of Hauppauge and Manhasset’s EricCarlson (40-3) at 189 or 215 pounds. Fourth place finishers include; twin brother Anthony Clem (41-5) of Wantagh at 118, both are only juniors, Ray Adams (33-6) of Calhoun at 126/132 and Rocky Point’s NickLaMorte (33-3) in the 138-pound bracket.

     Other returning Division I All-State matmen are Comsewogue sophomore Mason Mangialino (37-1) at 110, Sean Campbell (35-4) of Copiague at 118, Chaminade 2020 placer Shane Meenaghan (126/132), junior Zach Miller (40-8) at 145 of Islip and Joseph Mattei (43-5) at 160/172 of Herricks.

     Division II state bronze medalists include the Clarke tandem of Jack Forte (34-5) at 172 and JustinSoriano (36-2) at 189, along with BBP’s Kyle Barber (25-10) who finished in 6th place, now at 145 pounds.

     Other top prospects to watch for the green-cladded Nassau team are reigning county champions; Wantagh teammates, Ryan Arbeit (41-6) at 132 and Noah Corwin (34-6) at 172, along with OSW winner Kwasi Bonsu (35-3) at 189 of Baldwin.  County finalists that return are Angel Banegas (118) of Uniondale, Ariel Waldman (132) of Hewlett and Manhasset’s Paul Lichter at 152 pounds. Bronze medalists that will vie for county titles are the Plainedge tandem of Shane Dobbins (110) and Luke Nieto (132), both are highly touted and potential champions. Others are Thomas Bonasera (138) of Wantagh and Jacob Brockey (145) of Syosset, along with MacArthur teammates, Jonathan Fox (118) and Benjamin Velasquez at 189 pounds.

     Suffolk stalwarts include county runners-up; sophomore Connor Sheridan (110) of Hauppauge and Bellport’s Jaiden Green at 215 pounds. Bronze medalists that will make some noise are Brentwood junior Jason Euceda (110) and Miller Place teammates; junior Michael Giugliano (132) and Robert Cunningham at 172 pounds.

     Others earning all-county accolades were Aidan Donahue (Rocky Point) at 110, WM’s Jace Yannuciello (132), Ken Leverich (SW) at 138, along with Pat-Med’s Christopher Massett (152) and Islip’s Juan Pantaleon at 28 pounds.

     Sayville won their first-ever county championship last season and return all-county grapplers Robert Walker (110) and Cody LoPresti (189), along with League VI champions Leo Mongiello (132), Ken LoPresti (160) and David Christiansen at 215 pounds.

     Long Island returns a stable of Division Two county champions, the Nassau group has William Grassini (110) of Clarke, Raymond McNulty (118) of CSH, Seaford teammates Jack Godoy (126) and Louis Canneta (138), along with LV’s Evan Shriberg (132) and North Shore’s John Zabielski-Ramos at 285 pounds.

     The Suffolk contingent has a trio from team champion John Glenn, Tommy Aiello (110), Anthony Mirando (126) and Melkin Alfano-Chavez (285). Port Jeff returns Frank Elia (118) and Willy Rodriguez at 285.

MAT NOTES:

     The top teams on Long Island appear to be Suffolk dual meet champion Brentwood, Nassau dual and tournament winner Wantagh, East Islip, Long Beach, Sayville, Connetquot, Islip, MacArthur, Patchogue-Medford, Hauppauge, John Glenn, Manhasset, Hewlett and Massapequa HS.  

      The CHSAA points to rivals - Chaminade and St. Anthony's, as the teams to beat, both boast solid squads.

       Congratulations to current Long Island head coaches on their recent National Wrestling Hall of Fame induction. Brentwood's Ralph Napolitano (29 years) and Long Beach's Ray Adams (25 years). Both are beloved teachers in their school districts and the epitome of a wrestling coach. Once again both mat of their mat squads will be in the hunt for their respective county team titles.

       Inducted in both NYS and the National Hall of Fame the venerable Peter Venier will be honored at the Connetquot HS Alumni Night on December 21st at 6:00 PM. The T-Birds, defending League III champions, will host Ward Melville on the special tribute night in recognition of Venier. Venier, a former 1956 LI Champion and two-time National Photographer the Year with 44 years of service to the sport has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season.

      Suffolk County has won 26 sectional team titles and Nassau County has 10. Suffolk has crowned 207 state champions and Nassau County has 137 individual winners. Those three sections will add to their totals for the 60th edition of the NYSPHSAA Championships on February 24th-25th, 2023, at the MVP Arena in Albany.​

Brayden Fahrbach (39-2, 140-18) of Mt. Sinai

Ray Adams (33-6) of Calhoun

 Frank Volpe (42-3) at 152 of Hauppauge. He earned a 6th place finish at the NHSCA Nationals.

Joseph Manfredi (51-0, 142-6) of Herricks HS

Jason Kwaak (39-2) of Brentwood

Defending state champion Max Gallagher (36-0, 148-10 career) of Bayport Blue-Point HS. Gallagher recently finished 5th at 126 pounds in the prestigious Super 32 Tournament in Greensboro, NC.

Wantagh’s Joseph Clem (43-1). Clem was a NHSCA finalist who dropped a close decision to Isaiah Quintero (California).

Comsewogue sophomore Mason Mangialino (37-1)

Sean Campbell (35-4) of Copiague