Lynbrook wrestlers take down drugs

The Lynbrook High School varsity wrestling team recently took part in a Wrestling Takes Down Drugs event, in which they competed against the Oceanside varsity team and signed a pledge not to do drugs.

The Owls donned Wrestling Takes Down Drugs T-shirts and signed their pledge, which was posted in a hallway at the high school.

“The Friends of Long Island Wrestling kicked off the Wrestling Takes Down Drugs Program last year, and we feel that it’s already making a big difference,” said Hilary Becker, who runs the Lynbrook Titans Wrestling program, which most varsity wrestlers competed in when they were younger to hone their craft. “Having the wrestlers sign the pledge, and then posting the pledge inside the high school for all of their peers to see is a big way of sending this important message and getting the word out to the entire student body.”

Becker added that wrestlers are commonly viewed as the leaders in their schools. Coach Richard Renz said the event “was an extremely positive and successful event for the Lynbrook School District and the entire Lynbrook community,” and that he looked forward to future festivities.

At the outset of the WTDD program, coordinators contacted Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, who is a former LHS wrestler. Ryder spoke to the wrestlers at the start of the event, and Becker cited the commissioner as an example of how wrestling can build character and integrity. He added that the program strives to keep teenagers drug free into their adult lives.

“Putting all of these young students on notice as to the dangers of drug addiction is proving to be a brilliant way of spreading the awareness of this terrible disease to those who are most exposed and vulnerable to it,” Becker said.