Wantagh captures team title

Wantagh wrestling has reemerged at the top of the podium after a one-year absence.

The Warriors captured a team title for the sixth time in seven years at the Nassau County individual wrestling championships at Hofstra on Feb. 12. Wantagh edged out defending champion Long Beach by 15.5 points to avenge a narrow loss to the Marines in the Nassau County dual meet championships last month.

Finishing at the top of the scoreboard was fresh on the minds of Wantagh wrestler Jonathan Loew when he competed in the 160-pound finals against Long Beach’s Charlie Spada for the 10th bout of the Sunday night championships in a packed Mack Sports Complex. The unbeaten Loew defeated Spada 10-0 and got aggressive toward the end of the match seeking a pin to earn the Warriors bonus points.

“We have been talking about getting a team title all year,” Loew said moments after his victory. “I worked hard to try and put up points.”

Loew was among three Wantagh wrestlers crowned county champions along with Josiah Encarnacion and Justin Vines, who both defeated teammates for their respective titles. Encarnacion defeated Wantagh’s Bobby Moore 6-2 for the 99-pound title to open evening. Junior Justin Vines won the 126-pound crown with a pin of Michael Killard 4:29 into the Wantagh vs. Wantagh bout.

“It’s a lot different than wrestling someone from another team because you aren’t going out to try and kill him but you have to get that instinct in your head,” said Vines of facing a teammate for the title. “Mike is a great wrestler and I wrestle with him every day.”

Vines said capturing an individual title at 113 pounds last year at Hofstra helped prepare him well for a Sunday’s high stakes match. He excelled at a higher weight class this winter and was the top seed entering the championships.

“Winning last year really prepared me for this year,” said Vines, who as a freshman placed second in the counties at 99 pounds. “I knew I was I was expecting, I knew what I doing and I knew what I had to go out there and win.”

Wantagh junior Gavin Casey also shined on the Hofstra stage reaching the 285-pound finals where he was edged by MacArthur’s Ryan O’Shea 3-2 in overtime. Aiden Araoz  (106), James Langan (160) and Nick Coppola (182) achieved third place finishes with wins in the consolation finals.  Also earning All-County honors were Charles Maier (122) and Tommy Rohan (147), who placed fourth, along with Matt Rodgers (140) and Kyle Schairer, who won fifth place matches.

Josiah Encarnacion, Vines and Loew all qualified for the New York State Championships in Albany as county champions. Killard also won at an at-large selection to compete on the big state at the Times Union Center.

Vines finished fourth on the state stage last year and is hoping to stand on a higher podium this time around.

“The goal is to win it,” Vines said. “I just have to keep grinding.”