Thursday, October 1, 2026
The medals matched the moment — and the moment matched history.
Five Oceanside wrestlers stood tall Feb. 15 at Hofstra University as All-County finishers at the Nassau County Division I wrestling championships, tying the program record set a season ago. This time, however, the Sailors also crowned a champion.
Chace Morris captured the 144-pound county title, avenging last season’s runner-up finish and leading a group that also included sophomore finalist Luis Estevez (103), third-place finishers Max Gutman (175) and Joshua Moshkovich (285), and fifth-place Richard Calvo (215.)
The top-seeded Morris powered through his side of the bracket by opening with a technical fall victory over Massapequa’s Danny Schiereck, followed by a quick 25-second pin of Sewanhaka’s Gus Solorio to reach the semifinals. Another technical fall win over another Johnny DiGiorgio sent him back to the championship match.
In the final against second-seeded Hendrick Capo of Kennedy — a wrestler he never faced before — Morris built an early lead with multiple takedowns before wrestling conservatively late to secure a 13-4 major decision victory and the county crown.
“Coming up short last season at counties motivated me even more,” Morris said. “I really wanted this bad. I wrestled everyone in the bracket before, but not [Capo]. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but I stayed focused and kept a cool head. All of the hard work I put in paid off.”
Oceanside coach Brian Schoenfelder said Morris’s mat IQ was also a big factor. “He just wrestled really smart,” he said. “The third period was kind of just making sure nothing crazy happened to secure the title.”
The coach believes the junior is ready for the next level as he returns to the New York State championships this weekend in Albany.
“It’s a tough tournament, but I really think he should place this year,” Schoenfelder said. “I believe he’s a top-six wrestler in the state.”
Joining Morris at states is Estevez, who pinned his way through the opening rounds and then survived a tense 3-2 semifinal victory over Long Beach’s Casey Powers, controlling the third period to advance.
In the championship match, he fell to Division’s Ayden Delgado after giving up early points and struggling to escape bottom position.
“To get in the county finals as a sophomore is an accomplishment in itself,” Schoenfelder said of Estevez. “He’s in a very good place.”
Gutman had two major-decision victories before falling to Farmingdale’s Jovens Theodate in the semis. But he rebounded with another major-decision win and outlasted South Side’s Frank Dibenedetto 3-2 to take third place.
Moshkovich had a similar journey at heavyweight — winning additional wrestle-backs after already clinching All-County honors.
Calvo fought through injuries all season and finished his varsity career with a 4-3 decision over Gabriel Taveras of Clarke to place fifth.
“Richard, he had a torn ACL, torn meniscus, he has a bad shoulder, all types of injuries,” Schoenfelder said. “So, to see him come back and deal with the injuries and then get on the podium must be very satisfying.”
