Thursday, October 1, 2026
MacArthur wrestling battled through injuries and a grueling dual-meet schedule last year to still finish among the top teams in Nassau County.
Seventh-year coach Rob Paletta hopes the Generals will once again be marching in crunch time in the 2015-16 campaign and improve on a fifth–place showing in last February’s individual championships. The Generals return four All-County wrestlers and Paletta sees progress from other grapplers capable of shining on the big stage.
“We’re a team that is getting better every week,” said Paletta, who was a standout wrestler at MacArthur in the early 90s.
Among the returning wrestlers who earned All-County accolades last February during in the individual championships at Hofstra is senior Travis Cooksey (138 pounds). Cooksey earned All-County honors for the third time in his three-year varsity career with a fifth-place finish.
Senior Jeremy Hughes is another returning senior leader for the Generals who reached the county finals last year. Hughes’ strong showing at Hofstra earned him a wildcard spot in the New York State Championships held at the Times Union Center in Albany. He got his senior season off to a strong start with a first-place finish at 170 in the MacArthur Holiday Tournament on Dec. 5.
Senior Sal DeLuca is also back following a fifth-place finish in the counties at 182. DeLuca was crowned a champion in Sayville High School’s annual Gray-Fitzgerald Tournament on Dec. 12.
Sophomore Christian Dougherty shined as a freshman placing sixth in the counties at 120 pounds. Dougherty was rated third in the Long Island Wrestling Association preseason rankings.
Paletta expects senior Nick Goodelman to be in contention for All-County accolades. Goodelman placed first in the MacArthur Holiday Tournament at 113 and was ranked sixth by LIWA in the preseason poll.
Ryan O’Shea is pushing hard for All-County honors following a successful senior season on the football field where he led the Generals to the Nassau County Class B title. O’Shea was ranked fourth at 220 in the LIWA poll released on Dec. 18.
O’Shea’s twin brother, Dan, is one of nine General wrestlers to be ranked by LIWA as of Dec. 18 coming in at sixth at 170. Eighth grader Nick Dougherty ranked sixth at 99 and sophomore Liam McAllister was fourth at 106 in the late December poll.
“We have key senior wrestlers showing some great leadership and some great young guys,” said Paletta.
MacArthur finished second in the Terry Haise Duals at Freeport High School on Dec. 19, which Paletta hopes provides a confidence boost heading into a challenging January schedule. The Generals will take part in the prestigious Union-Endicott duals on Jan. 9-10 and host county favorite Long Beach on Jan. 20 as part of the busy month. The county dual meet championships are slated for Jan. 29-30 at Clarke High School and the individual counties will take place at Hofstra on Feb. 13-14.
“Our schedule is built to earn your way and become a better wrestler as the season goes on,” said Paletta. “We’re looking to be the best team in Nassau County.”
