Rockville Centre wrestler wins second state title

Watson School fourth grader Kyle Mosher has come a long way since he started wrestling four years ago. Kyle took up the sport in the footsteps of his older brother Craig, a varsity wrestler at Kellenberg Memorial High School, who often passes along what he learns to his younger brother.

The 9-year-old wrestler recently competed at the 2011 New York State Wrestling Championships in Bayshore. Kyle won the state championship at 65 lbs. — his second state title in three years. Before competing in the state wrestling championship, Kyle wrestled in the Nassau County competition for sectional qualifier, and he finished first.

No points were scored against Kyle in the sectional qualifier, where he won each match by a pin or technical fall. In the state championship, he worked his way to the finals, winning each match by a pin or technical fall, and having no points scored against him.  In the state finals, he defeated the top-seeded wrestler 15 – 4 to win the title.

Bill Linkner, a long time Rockville Centre resident who now lives in Hilton Head, S.C., made the trip up to watch his grandson compete. It was Bill’s 72nd birthday. After winning the finals, Kyle wished his grandfather a happy birthday, and as a former high school wrestling coach for Valley Stream South High School and a devoted fan of the sport, he couldn’t have enjoyed a better birthday gift.  

Kyle and his family said they would like to thank his coaches from the Long Beach Gladiators, Rockville Centre Cyclones and Wantagh Warriors, who have trained Kyle over the years.