Thursday, October 1, 2026
One year after making its return to Long Beach for the first time in a dozen summers, the Reggie Jones & Paul Gillespie East Coast Beach Wrestling Tournament proved a big hit once against last Saturday with 190 participants grappling on the sand on a picture-perfect day for almost anything.
“It was an incredible vibe,” said Ray Adams, longtime Long Beach varsity wrestling coach who was unable to attend the 2024 tournament due to vacation plans but was at the 2012 version and many others held at Edwards Boulevard Beach. “I remember being on the front page of USA Today one year. It’s always been a great event and it’s awesome to have it back. This year we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. Everyone had a great time.”
Former Long Beach wrestler (1997-99) and longtime assistant coach under Adams, Miguel Rodriguez, the tournament’s head organizer, was part of the action this time and tussled for two matches, winning both. “It was an experience,” he joked. “I’ve done a few many years ago but haven’t competed in the beach tournament in over a decade.”
In addition to legendary coaches Jones and Gillespie, the tournament was dedicated to late Long Beach wrestlers and graduates Lazar LaPenna, Joshua Encarnacion, Michael Berube and Gerrin Hagen. Each of the four wrestling rings were named in their honor. Also recognized was Ed Hadler, a former Baldwin wrestler and referee who recently beat cancer, Rodriguez noted.
While there was no shortage of high school varsity and JV, and middle school-aged competitors, Adams noted the ages of wrestlers ranged from kindergartners through 60-year old Bud Linkner. Many former and current Long Beach high school wrestlers, including Miguelo’s sons Elijah and Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez, Mason and Brody Franklin, Jack Valentin, Gergory Milone, Casey Powers and Ethan Andreula.
Linkner, who was in town from Colorado for his nephew’s wedding, is a 1983 South Side graduate and the son of legendary Valley Stream South wrestling coach Bill Linkner. Bill, 84, was in Bud’s corner during what was his first beach wrestling match in 20 years.
“It was really cool,” Bud said. “Everyone was super friendly and it was great to see people of all ages competing.”
Jimmy Mustakis Jr., a 2007 East Meadow graduate who served 10 years in the United States Navy, competed in a handful of beach tournaments including the inaugural Long Beach event two decades ago. He made the journey from New Jersey with his 11-year-old son Thomas, who starred and earned one of the Most Outstanding Wrestler awards.
“It’s always special to go back to Long Island when I get a chance,” Jimmy said. “I’ve got strong ties to Long Beach and Miguel Rodriguez is like family to me. The wrestling community there is like no other.”
Each match consisted one of three-minute period and began in the neutral position — both wrestlers stood opposite one another in the center of the ring and waited for the referee’s whistle to start grappling. That was also the case for any restart, Rodriguez said. The first wrestler to score three points advanced. In the event of a tie at the end of three minutes, the wrestler who scored the last point was declared the winner.
“Most matches didn’t last the full three minutes, but two of the best matches of the day in my mind went the distance,” Adams said. “Jack Valentin won a great match, 3-2, over Shareef McMillian of Wantagh, and Casey Powers beat Jordan Hill of Wantagh, 3-1.”
The goal moving forward is to take the tournament up a notch on the beach wrestling stage.
“This event brings the entire wrestling community together in the heart of summer,” Adams said. “What’s better than wrestling and then washing the sand off in the ocean and then going someplace to eat on the boardwalk?”
