Thursday, March 27, 2025
After losing by the slimmest of margins in consecutive Nassau County Division 1 wrestling finals to Long Beach’s Ethan Andreula, the third time proved to be a charm for MacArthur’s Vincent Orandello.
Orandello, a 108-pound junior, earned a coveted county championship Sunday evening at Hofstra University with a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Andreula, a freshman who two years ago took a 1-0 finals matchup between the two, and last winter edged Orandello 3-2.
“This is the best feeling in the world,” said Orandello, who improved to 2-5 lifetime against Andreula. “I was due. I started wrestling as a second grader who wanted to have fun and this is a dream come true.”
Both Orandello and Andreula advanced to the state championships Feb. 28 and March 1 at MVP Arena in Albany. It’ll be their third straight appearances.
“State champ is my next goal,” said Orandello, the top seed in the county tournament who allowed only five points against him in five matches and takes a record of 29-1 to Albany.
“That was a fun one,” MacArthur coach Mike Marrero said after the title match. “We knew it was going to be a tough fight both kids are so talented. Vinny lost some brutal matches to Andreula in recent years, but he believed in himself and stayed aggressive all three periods. He made it happen and we’re so proud of him.”
Orandello was one of three MacArthur finalists and one of two county champions. Senior Jonathan Fox captured the 145-pound crown with a technical fall (18-2) victory over Baldwin’s Frantz Byron, while senior Michael Waters (170) fell just short, 6-5 in the closing seconds to Glen Cove’s Giorgio Valenzuela.
Seeded fourth, Fox pinned his way to the semifinals. After receiving a first-round bye, he pinned Farmingdale’s David Facciulo in 1:39 in the second round and followed with a pin of Garden City’s Gabe Cohen in 4:38 in the quarterfinals. The semis saw Fox work past Joseph Brooks of Massapequa, 4-1.
“Jonathan is such a gamer,” Marrero said of Fox. “He competes hard. He was nicked up a bit this season but battled through adversity and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Fox defeated Byron earlier in the season at the MacArthur Tournament but said familiarity didn’t play much of a factor in the county finals.
“It feels amazing,” Fox said. “My parents (Steve and Mary) played a big role in helping me get to this point and I’m thankful for their support as well as the support of my teammates.”
The Generals, who saw Jack Healy (fourth at 160) and Alex McBroom (sixth at 160) earn All-County, had as many fans in the stands at Hofstra’s packed Mack Sports Complex as any school. A group of students each had one letter of Orandello’s first name painted on their chest to spell out V-i-n-c-e-n-t-!”
“That was pretty cool,” Orandello said. “Hearing everyone cheer for me gave me a little extra boost.”
