Thursday, October 1, 2026
Ranked No. 8 in Nassau Division 1 wrestling to start the season, Hewlett returns to the mats boasting a host of All-Conference honorees, including best-in-class, rising sophomore Carlos Salazar – Division 1’s reigning county champion at 116 pounds.
A two-time state tournament qualifier, Salazar – who went 27-3 overall and finished eighth at Albany as a freshman – heads a Hewlett squad that sees coach Nick Khory step to the helm after 10 years’ service as a Bulldogs assistant coach under Stephen Jones.
Junior Jesse McMahon (29-9 overall) and senior Cristopher Maiorano (13-5) – last season’s runner-up at 108 pounds and consolation finals winner at 285, respectively, at the Nassau Division 1 qualifier – figure to resume roles as Bulldogs anchors, alongside senior Idin Rahmanzada (25-14), as Hewlett (17-5 overall), a force last winter in dual meets, hopes to hold its ground after graduating three county champions.
“We’ve lost some very good seniors, but I don’t see us dropping off a lot this year,” said Khory, whose team last season placed second at the King of the Mat (as host) and Mid-Hudson (Arlington) tournaments in December, and was runner-up in February’s Division 1 county qualifier.
"We have young guys like Carlos and Jesse who are striding towards the podium,” Khory added. “Carlos is already a county champion; he’s been making strides for a while. Hopefully, in the future, he’ll become our first state champion.”
While Salazar – ranked No. 1 preseason at 124 pounds – moves up a weight class, McMahon starts the season at 116, the weight at which he won last year’s Battle at the Harbor tournament (Cold Spring Harbor) final.
“As a wrestler, Jesse McMahon has something you just can’t teach,” Khory said. “He’s very explosive on his feet, and he finishes shots or throws in a way that just looks good.”
Maiorano – runner-up at 285 at last season’s Battle at the Beach tournament at Long Beach – returns as Nassau’s No.3-ranked heavyweight, with Rahmanzada (ranked No. 4) set to wrestle again at 138, the weight class in which he finished second last season at Mid-Hudson.
“Cristopher should wind up on the podium at the end of the year, he’s very talented,” Khory said. “Idin’s very strong. He might face guys who are faster or more technical, but with his great upper body strength he can just throw kids and get a lot of points.”
Hewlett, which enters Nassau Conference 3A, won its first nine dual meets last season and finished first in duals at Battle at the Harbor. Taking over the reins, Khory said his program agenda boils down to Hewlett staying the course. His coaching approach, he said, will be geared toward simplicity.
“Good things will happen if you just wrestle those six minutes," Khory said. “You don't worry about the ref, you don't worry about your opponent. As long as you go out there with a positive mindset and good energy, good things come. These boys understand that.”
Added Khory: “If we do those things, I think we should wind up pretty similar to last year. Maybe even a step or two closer to the top spot.”
