Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream North’s wrestling team literally pinned down its first-ever finish atop the Ralph Jansson Holiday Tournament in its 30 years history, besting a field of 14 in its host event on Dec. 19.
The Spartans crowned four individual champions, with each recording a pin in the finals, and had six others place in the top four of their respective weight classes on the way to accumulating 194.5 points. Manhasset finished second with 175.5, while Seaford was third with 140.
“It was very exciting,” VSN coach Tom Maddock said. “After the semifinals, we trailed Manhasset by four points and I called the kids into the locker room and told them they had a chance to accomplish a first.
“They all really wrestled tough,” he added. “It wasn’t just the four champions. The points we scored in the wrestlebacks were just as important.”
Freshman Joe Gisonda (120 pounds), senior Jordan Gonzalez (145), junior Nick Romano (152) and senior Jamil Viaud (285) led the way for North by capturing titles, while sophomore Hermanuel Saint-Elin was runner-up to Viaud.
Of the winners, Maddock said Romano was the biggest surprise. In his first varsity season, Romano was competing one or two weight classes above where he’ll be for the bulk of the season and pinned each of his three opponents. He beat Sherwin Jerrick of Sewanhaka West in the finals in 2 minutes and 49 seconds. “Nick used one big move and it worked every time,” Maddock said.
Gisonda, who placed second in the county qualifier tournament last season, scored a third-period pin over Nicholas Tannuzzo of Manhasset at the 4:56 mark. “Joe made weight at the last minute,” Maddock said. “He found the energy he needed. He had two pins and one win by tech fall. Once he gets on top, he’s tough.”
Gonzalez, who earlier in the season placed third in the Bethpage Tournament, was nothing short of dominant in the Jansson with a 15-2 win by decision to go along with three pins. Like Gisonda, Gonzalez faced a Manhasset opponent in the finals. He topped James Ficano in 3:22. “I thought Jordan was tremendous all day,” Maddock said.
In the heavyweight bracket, Viaud and Saint-Elin worked their way into the finals by defeating Jigme Dorjee of Martin Luther King and Jairo Amaya of Lawrence, respectively, in the semis. Viuad took the title with a pin in 3:14. “Jamil is tall and strong, and he does everything at a high rate of speed,” Maddock noted. “He missed last season with a knee injury, so we’ll look to get him as much action as possible.”
Sophomore Theo Savitt came up big for the Spartans despite settling for third place at 126. After dropping his opening match to eventual champ FIRST Palmer of Seaford, Savitt battled back to win four straight. Senior Oneil Anderson (220) followed up his title at Bethpage with three pins and a third-place finish in the Jansson.
“I’m hoping the tournament win will snowball into something bigger,” said Maddock, whose team faces Lynbrook, Clarke, Mineola, North Shore and Valley Stream South in Conference 4A.
