Historic showing for Oceanside wrestling

The Oceanside wrestlers achieved one milestone last weekend at the Nassau County duel meet championships, making the quarterfinals for the first time in its history – a top 8 finish. 
Now the goal is to perform another first and gain five – maybe even six – All-County honors at Nassau’s individual championships at Hofstra Feb. 10 and 11.
If that occurs, it will overshadow the disappointment of losing the conference title to unbeaten Farmingdale despite the Sailors’ 4-1 record. Farmingdale finished 5-0 and beat an Oceanside squad that was missing three starters. 
“I thought we’d win the conference but it doesn’t always work that way,’’ Oceanside coach Brian Schoenfelder said.
The quarterfinal finish still was a blessing.  

“It’s big,’’ senior Joe Rivezzo said. “The past two years have been a stepping stones. This year we’re finally making names for ourselves getting Top 8. And next year I think we’ll be an amazing team. We have such young talent. We’re doing amazing.’’
At 215 pounds, Rivezzo, won’t be around next year but is trying to put the cherry on tap to his own amazing season. He has posted an overall record of 33-3. He prevailed against Farmingdale and last weekend in the county team quarterfinals versus Plainedge. 
“A kid like him comes around once every six years,” Schoenfelder said. “You could always get another kid in the middle weights but Ben, with his size, stature and strength, you don’t get many 215 pounders as strong and athletic.’’
Yet Rivezzo hasn’t earned an All-County honor, though four of his teammates did so in 2023. “I’d say I’m happy but not satisfied with what I’ve done,’’ Rivezzo said. “Personally, I’m doing well but can be doing much better. I’m extremely motivated (to earn All-County). I wake up in morning and work. I’m here to work and trying to be first. That’s my goal.’’ 
A defensive end, Rivezzo is also on the football team and those skills translate well. “I try to be relentless,’’ he said. “Whether there’s 7 seconds left on the clock I’m still there to score.’’
Meanwhile, Jake Strianese, Chace Morris and junior Jared Marine will try to repeat as All-County wrestlers. 
And then there’s senior 135-pounder Daniel Gilmore, whom the coach cites as making the most strides in his last year for the Sailors. 
“He improved a lot,’’ Schoenfelder said. “His matches made me very nervous. He’d score a lot of points and give up a lot of points. He‘s doing a lot better. He’s just wrestling better with more of a winning formula.’’
Other All-County possibilities include 138 pounder Jesse Bittenbender and 170-pound assassin Santino Palmisano .
 “He’s so dangerous,’’ Schoenfelder said of Palmisano. “He could pin anybody. He’s so explosive and never out of any match as long as there’s time on the clock. He’s not the most talented wrester on our team but so unorthodox he catches people.’’
The hope is to exceed last year’s county point total of 84 points and post the highest amount in Oceanside history. If it happens, the record will be in danger of being broken next season.