Thursday, October 1, 2026
The list of Long Beach High School wrestling legends runs deep and Dunia Sibomana gets to write one final chapter as not only one of the Marines’ all-time greats but also its most unique star.
In 2014, Sibomana was left clinging to life after a group of wild chimpanzees attacked him and two family members as they played near Virunga National Park in the Congo, in his native Central Africa. His brother and cousin were killed, but Dunia, then 6, survived, though he was left with life-altering facial injuries.
Since he arrived in the United States 10 years ago, he’s undergone nearly 20 surgeries and become an honor student and a Division I wrestling talent who’s headed to the University of North Carolina on a full athletic scholarship.
Sibomana is a two-time New York State champion, winning titles as an eighth-grader and junior, four-time All-State, and a prohibitive favorite to capture a fifth consecutive Nassau County championship. He entered January with a career record of 174-16 and is expected to be in the 120-pound bracket come February.
“It went too fast,” he said of his high school wrestling career. “It’s my senior year and I want to end on the highest note possible and have fun. I’m excited for the next chapter in North Carolina, but I’ve still got plenty of work to do here.”
If he can win another county title, Sibomana would join a select group with five that includes Long Beach grads P.J. Gillespie and Jacori Teemer. The latter won five state championships as well.
“Dunia is primed to cap off a great career with another great season,” Long Beach coach Ray Adams said. “He’ll go down as one of the best in Nassau County wrestling history.”
The Marines return two other county champions. Senior Brody Franklin captured the 131-pound crown last winter and sophomore Ethan Andreula won back-to-back titles as a seventh- and eighth-grader before placing runner-up last season at 108. Andreula (110 this season) is three-time All-State, while Franklin (132) is looking for his first and has two years of state tournament experience.
“Never an easy road to the state title there’s so many variables,” Adams said. “These guys put in all the work it takes to be successful on the biggest stage. They wrestle year-round against some of the best competition in the country.”
The rest of Long Beach’s lineup is deep, giving Adams optimism it can be in the mix for the county dual meet title and team title at the county tournament once again. He believes Massapequa is the favorite on paper, with Farmingdale and Bellmore-JFK also in the conversation.
Junior Casey Powers was third in the county last season and a state qualifier. He’s at 103 and brings county title aspirations. Powers and Sibomana won weight class titles at the Battle at the Beach Tournament Dec. 6 as the Marines won the 15-team event. “He’s ready to take the next step,” Adams explained.
Seniors Matt Diamond and Jordan Andreula, as well as juniors Josiah Gibson and Gavyn Vinente are key pieces to the Marines’ puzzle.
