Thursday, October 1, 2026
Ever since sophomore Peter Mikedis got to the varsity level as a seventh- grade wrestler at Kennedy High School, he’s continued to get better every season, said coach Brian DeGaetano.
After beating third-seeded Henry Jervis of Manhasset by a pin at the 5:24 mark in the Nassau County Division I 165-pound title match Sunday evening at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, Mikedis punched his ticket to the state tournament for the second season in a row.
“It’s amazing,” said Mikedis, Kennedy’s first county champion since 2013. “It’s like an insane rush of dopamine. My adrenaline went from the bottom to the top.”
Mikedis entered the county tournament as the weight classes' No. 1 seed. He faced off against Jervis in the Nassau County dual meet playoffs in the quarterfinals, winning 7-1. Though he’s been to states before, this was his first county title.
“It was an excellent performance,” DeGaetano said. “The kid [Jervis] wrestled him really tough. Peter really wrestled a flawless match. The strategy going in was to get that first takedown, looking for turns and getting on the bottom. Peter got out right away and got back to his feet. He took him down and then put him right through his back.”
Mikedis proved why he earned the top seed by allowing just four points all weekend and scoring 45 points over the course of all four matches. In the second round, he beat Evan Vazquez of Plainedge, 15-0 tech fall. In the quarterfinals, he beat Jericho’s Brad Rosenberg, 20-2 tech fall.
In the semis, Mikedis pinned No. 4-seed Mathew Casey of Bethpage in 2:36, to advance to the county finals for a second consecutive season. A year ago, Mikedis was county runner-up at 152 pounds and won one match at states, but history has shown he’s gotten better each season.
“He’s [Mikedis] one of the best all-around wrestlers I’ve ever had and I’ve been here for 32 years,” DeGaetano said. “He has all the tools to be a state champion.”
Mikedis stands at 40-2 this season and 141-28 overall. DeGaetano believes he can make a run in Albany at the state tournament Feb. 27-28 based on the trajectory of his career, he said.
“I really believe he could beat most guys in the state,” DeGaetano said. “We expect him to place high. He’s taken big steps in his technique and his strength and conditioning. This year, we’re thinking he’s going to place high.”
Said Mikedis: “My goal this time is to go to the state finals.”
In addition to Mikedis, four other Cougars earned All-County (top six.) Junior Hendrick Capo was runner-up to Oceanside’s Chace Morris at 144 pounds. Junior Jared Eisenberg took third at 138, and junior Harlan Chugerman was third at 150. Sophomore Jason Brodack finished sixth at 118.
