Thursday, October 1, 2026
Five standouts led a big performance from Long Beach at the Nassau Division I wrestling championships last Sunday at Hofstra University, including five-time county champion Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez and repeat county champ Brody Franklin.
Franklin was nothing short of dominant in the 132-pound bracket. He was seeded fourth based on points accumulated during the regular season, but still the one to beat on paper and proved unbeatable. He capped a perfect weekend with a convincing 21-6 technical fall victory in 3:27 over Wantagh’s Jonathan Cutrone in Sunday evening’s title match.
“This one hit different than last season,” said Franklin, who last winter won the Nassau D-I 131-pound crown. “I wanted it just as much as the first one. When I saw my seed, it motivated me that much more,” he added.
Franklin jumped on Cutrone with several takedowns in the opening period and never looked back.
“Brody’s been wrestling extremely well all season,” Marines coach Ray Adams said. “We told him if he brings it, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. He has a lot of experience and his technique is on point. He’s a savvy wrestler.”
Franklin’s road to the finals included a 12-5 decision over Clarke’s William Grassini, the top seed, in the semifinals, an 18-2 technical fall win over Manhasset’s Lucas Bordieri in the quarterfinals, and a pin of Lynbrook’s Elias Vandoros in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
“The semifinal was my toughest match,” Franklin said. “I’m good friends with Grassini and he’s a very strong wrestler.”
Sibomana-Rodriguez got Sunday’s finals started by grinding out a 1-0 decision over Manhasset’s Will Russell in the 118-pound title bout, becoming just the third-ever five-time county champion in Nassau history, joining Long Beach 2018 graduate Jacori Teemer and Syosset 2017 grad Vito Arujau.
The Marines had a third finalist, sophomore Ethan Andreula, a two-time county champion who fell just short in the last match of the night, 1-0 to Massapequa’s Jon Tutku at 105 pounds. Andreula was sharp in reaching the finals with convincing wins by technical fall, pin and major decision over Mepham’s Joshua Geyer, Jericho’s Christian Garcia, and Uniondale’s Joshua Pierre-Paul, respectively.
Sibomana-Rodriguez, Franklin and Andreula will all represent Long Beach at the New York State tournament Feb. 27-28 at Albany’s Times Union Arena. It’s Sibomana-Rodriguez fifth trip upstate, Andreula’s fourth and Franklin’s third. Sibomana-Rodriguez has been All-State (top eight) in each of the past four seasons. Andreula is three-time All-State.
“All three of our guys are in the conversation to make big runs,” Adams said. “If they wrestle to the best of their ability, they can all come out on top.”
Long Beach, which reached the dual meet team championship match falling narrowly to Massapequa, also had a pair of additional All-County performances.
Junior Casey Powers took third at 103, and senior Matthew Diamond finished sixth at 138. Powers, All-County and a state qualifier last season, won four of five matches. Diamond, who fell one win shy of All-County a year ago, went 4-3 to reach the podium in his final campaign.
