“I wrestled him at the Eastern States Tournament and knew he was a tough kid,” Person said. “He beat me 11-9, but I was coming off a sickness and didn’t have a great week of practice.”

Person felt right at home in the rematch at Hofstra, where he won a county championship as a sophomore, finished second as a junior, and third as a freshman. “I like competing in front of a big crowd. I feed off it,” he said. “I know what it feels like to finish second and I didn’t want to feel that way again.”

Cougars coach Brian DeGaetano said
Person is the most talented wrestler he’s had in the program. “Rob’s the best I’ve coached,” he said. “His passion for the sport is incredible. He’s got a tremendous work ethic and wrestles year-round. He lost to Cataldo earlier in the season, but he was relentless tonight.”

Person takes a 37-2 record upstate. “The atmosphere at states is unlike anything else,” he explained. “It feels great to be going back.”

Kennedy senior Richard Luxmore reached the All-County podium by finishing fourth at 138 pounds. He won four times, and both of his losses were by one point to Wantagh’s Nick Vines.