NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONS

LONG ISLAND WRESTLING HISTORY

Nassau and Suffolk were separated into two sections in the 1957-58 season and all winners in their respective county meet were designated county champions. Prior to that, wrestlers from schools in Nassau and Suffolk competed in the same tournament with the winner crowned Long Island champion. This Long Island tournament was first held in 1933 at Great High School and was called the Great Neck Invitational. This tournament was held from 1933-1937 except for 1935. In 1938 Mepham High school held its first tournament- the Mepham Invitational and every team on Long Island and Queens was invited to it. In 1941 The Mepham Invitational became the official Section VIII Tournament. Long Island was one section of NYSPHSAA until 1957-58 when Suffolk County became Section XI. Mepham, under legdendary coach Frank "Sprig" Gardner, won the Mepham Invitational every year from 1938-1955. (Gardner's record as coach at Mepham was 254-5-1.) The first state intersectional tournament was held in 1962-63. The first Suffolk County tournament was held in 1934. The tournament was held for 9 years from 1934-1942. It wasn't held from 1943-1948 due to gas rationing during WW II. The tournament was restarted in 1949 and for 6 years (1949-1954) was called The Eastern Long Island Championships. In 1955 the tournament's name was changed to the Suffolk County High School Wrestling Championships.

LONG ISLAND STATE CHAMPIONS

1962-63 -- Nassau: 98 pounds -- Pete Henning (Wantagh), 106 -- John Harris (Hempstead), 130 -- Ralph Sammis (Mineola), 141 -- Andy Taylor (Freeport), 168 -- Tom Schlendorf (Calhoun). Suffolk: 115 -- Ron Grasso (Bay Shore), 123 -- Pete Vanderlofske (Smithtown), 148 -- George Butt (Amityville).

1963-64 -- Nassau: 106 -- John Harris (Hempstead), 115 -- Bill DeSario (Mepham), 123 -- Hector Rivera (Berner), 130 -- Elliot Tepper (Berner), 136 -- Tom Henry (Freeport), 148 -- Tom Gleason (Mepham), 157 -- Henry Conley (Valley Stream Central), 168 -- Matthew Vanderhall (Uniondale), 183 -- Jack Paz (Mepham), Hwy -- Ed Cosgrove (Herricks). Suffolk: 98 -- Ken Melchior (Lindenhurst).

1964-65 -- Nassau: 123 -- John Walters (Calhoun), 136 -- Mike Fitzgerald (Mepham). Suffolk: 106 -- Ken Melchior (Lindenhurst).

1965-66 -- Nassau: 106 -- Peter Sleeper (South Side), 115 -- Don Fay (Island Trees), 123 -- Alan Stock (Mepham), 130 -- Art Rutzen (Herricks), 141 -- Fred Locast (Valley Stream North), Unlimited -- Glen Hamberg (Valley Stream North). Suffolk: None.

1966-67 -- Nassau: 106 -- Bill Beach (Calhoun), 136 -- Alan Stock (Mepham), 183 -- Nate Jordan (Port Washington), Unlimited -- Joe Slinowski (Carle Place). Suffolk: None.

1967-68 -- Nassau: 106 -- Bob Pina (Freeport), 136 -- Brian Schmidt (East Meadow). Suffolk: Todd Morgan (Amityville), Carl Adams (Brentwood), Ron Moss (Amityville).

1968-69 -- Nassau: 98 -- Tom Campanelli (Wantagh), 141 -- John Henning (Wantagh). Suffolk: Steve Weiss (Lindenhurst), Joe Russo (West Islip), Bill Proios (Port Jefferson).

1969-70 -- Nassau: 98 -- Tom Lang (Calhoun), 145 -- John Cuomo (East Meadow), 165 -- Russ Poore (East Meadow). Suffolk: Jack Spates (Smithtown), Sal Lanuto (Whitman).

1970-71 -- Nassau: 98 -- Matt Smith (Calhoun), 132 -- John Golden (Island Trees), 155 -- Dick Molbury (Carey). Suffolk: Ivan Gonzales (Brentwood), Dave Larrache (Brentwood), Bob Antonacci (Brentwood).

1971-72 -- Nassau: 98 -- Richard Applebaum (Lawrence), 132 -- Steve Hunte (Bellmore JFK). Suffolk: Lenny Intreglia (West Babylon).

1972-73 -- Nassau: 112 -- Jim Earl (Valley Stream Central), 126 -- Craig O'Grady (MacArthur), 138 -- Steve Hunte (Bellmore JFK). Suffolk: Lou Giani Jr. (Huntington), Charles Gadson (Huntington), Paul Bagnoli (Lindenhurst).

1973-74 -- Nassau: 112 -- Rich Earl (Valley Stream Central), 132 -- Rich Lubell (Bellmore JFK). Suffolk: Jeff Thomas (Huntington).

1974-75 -- Nassau: None. Suffolk: Joe Lidowski (West Babylon).

1975-76 -- Nassau: 98 -- Bob DeStefanis (Locust Valley), 105 -- Bob Bury (Calhoun), 132 -- Jim Slattery (Island Trees), 145 -- Lew Spiegel (Mepham), Hwy -- Steve Insalaco (Farmingdale). Suffolk: 177 -- Joe Lidowski (West Babylon).

1976-77 -- Nassau: 105 -- Bob DeStefanis (Locust Valley), 112 -- Bob Bury (Calhoun), 145 -- Paul Meyers (Baldwin), 155 -- Dom Macchia (Island Trees). Suffolk: 98 -- Paul Widerman (Huntington).

1977-78 -- Nassau: 98 -- Al DeStefanis (Locust Valley), 112 -- Mike Macchia (Island Trees), 119 -- Bob Bury (Calhoun). Suffolk: Mike Giustizia (Whitman), Mike Thomas (Huntington).

1978-79 -- Nassau: 98 -- Carl DeStefanis (Locust Valley), 105 -- Al DeStefanis (Locust Valley), 119 -- Mike Macchia (Island Trees), 132 -- Dean Dergarabedian (Baldwin). Suffolk: 91 -- Mike Murnane (Bayport), 126 -- Joe Petrucci (Brentwood Ross), 155 -- Mike Falcon (Sachem), 177 -- Mike Porcelli (Bay Shore), 215 -- Jim Ettari (Brentwood Sonderling).

1979-80 -- Nassau: 98 -- Al Placio (Long Beach), 105 -- Carl DeStefanis (Locust Valley), 112 -- Joe Rabin (Elmont), 250 -- Ron Heller (Farmningdale). Suffolk: 119 -- John Iannuzzi (Brentwood Sonderling), 138 -- Bill Gaffney (Huntington), 167 -- Mike Falcon (Sachem).

1980-81 -- Nassau: 105 -- Al Palacio (Long Beach). Suffolk: 119 -- Dan Hopkins (Commack South), 126 -- Pete Mankowich (Commack North), 138 -- John Arceri (Ward Melville).

1981-82 -- Nassau: 112 -- Al Palacio (Long Beach) 250 -- Steve Whalen (Massapequa). Suffolk: 98 -- Kiernan Mock (Huntington), 119 -- Bill Starke (Sachem), 138 -- Glenn Lanham (Lindenhurst).

1982-83 -- Nassau: 91 -- Rich Pidgeon (Locust Valley), 98 -- Dennis Mejias (Mepham), 126 -- Mike Arena (Mepham). Suffolk: 132 -- Pete Yozzo (Sayville), 167 -- Rob Hubbard (Bay Shore), 177 -- Dan Mayo (Sachem), Hwy -- Ted Gregory (East Islip).

1983-84 -- Nassau: 138 -- Mike Arena (Mepham). Suffolk: 91 -- Ricky Brzozinski (West Islip), 98 -- Gene McNeil (Huntington), 132 -- Joe Plante (Brentwood).

1984-85 -- Nassau: 112 -- Rich Pidgeon (Locust Valley), 138 -- Michael Bevilacqua (Berner), Gerry Armengau (Division). Suffolk: 126 -- Ray Downey (Deer Park), 132 -- Mark Billups (Huntington), 145 -- Steve Shone (Bayport).

1985-86 -- Nassau: None. Suffolk: 119 -- Gene McNeil (Huntington), 126 -- Rick Brzozinski (West Islip), 132 -- Nick Garone (Patchogue-Medford), 145 -- Joe Herrmann (Connetquot), 167 -- Drew Jackson (Huntington). Catholic: Hwy -- Bob Murphy (Chaminade).

1986-87 -- Nassau: 119 -- Rich Santana (Long Beach), Hwy -- Scotty Graham (Long Beach). Suffolk: 98 -- Terry Haise (Babylon), 167 -- Wayne Wilson (Sachem).

1987-88 -- Nassau: None. Suffolk: 119 -- Lance Banfi (Sachem), 138 -- Jamie St. John (Port Jefferson), 177 -- Adam Mariano (Comsewogue).

1988-89 -- Nassau: 112 -- Tom Sinacore (Bethpage). Suffolk: 145 -- Jamie St. John (Port Jefferson), 177 -- Adam Mariano (Comsewogue), 250 -- Bill Friburger (Floyd).

1989-90 -- Nassau: 98 -- Keith Vitagliano (Plainedge). Suffolk: None.

1990-91 -- Nassau: None. Suffolk: Heavy Weight -- Nick Hall (Longwood).

1991-92 -- Nassau: 126 -- Louis DiMaria (Herricks). Suffolk: 91 -- Brian Fischenich (Huntington), 98 -- John Carvalheira (Sachem), 105 -- Keith Matias (Centereach), 138 -- Duane Thompson (Longwood), 145 -- John Lange (Longwood), 155 -- Jason Kraft (Sachem), 177 -- Kerry McCoy (Longwood), 250 -- Jason Cohen (West Islip).

1992-93 -- Nassau: 155 -- Aldy Teran (Long Beach). Suffolk: 91 -- Tom Longobardi (Islip). 119 -- Liston Brown (Copiague). 145 -- John Lange (Longwood).

1993-94 -- Nassau: None. Suffolk: 112 -- Rason Phifer (Longwood). 119 -- Jim Amira (Huntington). 155 -- John Lange (Longwood). 177 -- Tom Minogue (Patchogue-Medford). Team Scores -- Suffolk won the title with 204' points.

1994-95 -- Nassau: None. Suffolk: 105 -- Angelo Zegarelli (Deer Park) 112 -- Rason Phifer (Longwood).

1995-1996 -- Nassau: 215 -- Morlon Greenwood (Freeport); Suffolk: 132 -- Ryan Bernholz (Mt. Sinai), 250 -- Thomas Marrero (Wyandanch).

1996-1997 -- Nassau: 160 -- Kevin Haggerty (Long Beach), 220 -- Kevin Shippos (Baldwin); Suffolk: 119 -- Jesse Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River), 275 -- Thomas Marrero (Wyandanch).

1997-1998 -- Nassau: 152 -- Noel Thompson (Freeport); Suffolk: 125 -- Michael Messina (Hauppauge), 135 -- Jesse Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River), 189 -- Dawid Rechul (Huntington).

1998-1999 -- Nassau: 189 -- Tom Katsigiorgis (Massapequa); Suffolk: 130 -- Michael Messina (Hauppauge), 135 -- Ryan Maurer (William Floyd), 145 -- Jesse Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River).

1999-2000 -- Nassau: 189 - Matt Daddino (Sewanhaka District); Suffolk: 145 -- Jesse Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River), 140 -- Ryan Maurer (Floyd); 96 -- Rob Vaccaro (East Islip); 103 -- Patrick Flynn (Huntington), 135 -- Mike Torriero (Rocky Point), 160 -- Jack Piana (Huntington), 215 -- Dan Sable (Longwood).

2000-01 -- Nassau: none; Suffolk: 103 -- Rob Vaccaro (East Islip), 130 -- Dan Roberts (Bellport), 140 -- Uthman Jackson (Amityville), 152 -- Mike Patrovich (Islip).

2001-02 -- Nassau: 140 -- James Strouse (MacArthur), 171 -- Greg Lawrence (Calhoun), 189 -- Chris Weidman (Baldwin); Suffolk: 96 -- Tim Finnerty (Brentwood), 112 -- Pat Flynn (Huntington), 125 -- Steve Palacios (Huntington), 145 -- Stephon Sair (Huntington), 152 -- Jose Viera (Central Islip).

2002-03 -- Nassau: 189 -- Mike LaBella (Massapequa), 215 -- Gian Villante (MacArthur); Suffolk: 125 -- Steve Hromada (Half Hollow Hills East).

2003-04 -- Nassau/Division 1: 215 -- Tom Daddino (Sewankaka District); Suffolk/Division 1: 112 -- Kenny Torres (Brentwood), 130 -- Shawn Riley (Huntington), 152 -- Alton Lucas (West Babylon). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

2004-05 -- Nassau/Division 1: None; Suffolk/Division 2: 96 -- John Oschmann (Hauppauge), 119 -- Thomas Magnani (Islip), 140 -- Chris Wade (Islip), 152 -- Ryan Patrovich (Islip), 160 -- Alton Lucas (West Babylon). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

2005-06 -- Nassau/Division 1: 96 -- Paul Liquori (Wantagh), 140 -- Eduardo Delgado (Long Beach); Suffolk/Division 1: 112 -- Tyler Mashkow (Islip), 125 -- Corey Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River), 135 -- Dave Ingram (East Islip), 160 -- Ryan Patrovich (Islip), 215 -- Matt Ferber (Sachem East). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

2006-07 -- Nassau/Division 1: 112 -- Paul Liquori (Wantagh), 145 -- PJ Gillespie (Long Beach), 215 -- Maciej Jochym (Herricks); Suffolk/Division 1: 96 -- Steven Keith (Hauppauge), 135 -- Corey Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River), 152 -- Lance Wade (Islip). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

2007-08 -- Nassau/Division 1: 112 -- Nick Arajau (Syosset), 119 -- Steven Bonanno (Wantagh), 145 -- John Griesheimer (Wantagh); Suffolk/Division 1: 103 -- Ken Collado (Hauppauge). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

2008-09 -- Nassau/Division 1: 125 -- Nick Arajau (Syosset), 152 -- John Griesheimer (Wantagh); Suffolk/Division 1: 96 -- Mike Soria (Kings Park), 119 -- Steven Keith (Shoreham-Wading River), 130 -- Stephen Dutton (Rocky Point), 140 -- Andy Rodriguez (Central Islip), 215 -- Ernest James (Longwood). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

2009-10 -- Nassau/Division 1: 125 -- Nick Arajau (Syosset); Suffolk/Division 1: 96 -- Mark West (Hauppauge), 112 -- Nigel McNeil (Huntington), 119 -- Damon McQueen (Huntington), 130 -- Nick Meinsen (John Glenn), 140 -- Stephen Dutton (Rocky Point), 145 -- Andy Rodriguez (Central Islip), 160 -- Anthony Volpe (Rocky Point), 171 -- Billy Coggins (Rocky Point). Nassau/Division 2: None; Suffolk/Division 2: None.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

1933-1934: (NO Nassau, Suffolk ONLY): Stony Brook

1934-1935: Amityville

1935-1936: Amityville

1936-1937: Amityville

1938: Westhampton

1938-1939: Amityville

1939-1940: Amityville

1940-1941: Amityville

1941-1942: Amityville

1942-'43--1947-'48: NO tournaments held.

1948-1949: Bay Shore

1949-1950: Bay Shore

1950-1951: Amityville

1951-1952: Amityville

1952-1953: Bay Shore

1953-1954: Amityville

1954-1955: Amityville

1955-1956: Bay Shore

1956-1957: Bay Shore

Nassau - Suffolk

1957-58 Mepham - Amityville

1958-59 Mepham - Bay Shore

1959-60 Valley Stream Central - Bay Shore

1960-61 Valley Stream Central - Bay Shore

1961-62 Mepham - Amityville

1962-63 Mepham - Riverhead

1963-64 Mepham - Lindenhurst

1964-65 Mepham - Lindenhurst

1965-66 Mepham - Lindenhurst

1966-67 Calhoun - Lindenhurst

1967-68 Wantagh - Lindenhurst

1968-69 Bellmore Kennedy - Brentwood

1969-70 East Meadow - Brentwood

1970-71 Bellmore Kennedy - Brentwood

1971-72 Farmingdale - Brentwood

1972-73 Bellmore Kennedy - Brentwood

1973-74 Bellmore Kennedy - Brentwood Ross

1974-75 Mepham - Brentwood Ross

1975-76 Island Trees - Huntington

1976-77 (Tie) Island Trees, Massapequa - Brentwood Ross

1977-78 Mepham - Half Hollow Hills East

1978-79 Locust Valley - Sachem

1979-80 Mepham - Huntington

1980-81 Massapequa - Bay Shore

1981-82 Long Beach - Bay Shore

1982-83 Long Beach - Huntington

1983-84 Long Beach - Huntington

1984-85 (Tie) Locust Valley, Mepham - Huntington

1985-86 Baldwin - Sachem

1986-87 Long Beach - Sachem

1987-88 Long Beach - Shoreham-Wading River

1988-89 Long Beach - Sachem

1989-90 Long Beach - Longwood

1990-91 Long Beach - Longwood

1991-92 Long Beach - Sachem

1992-93 Massapequa - Longwood

1993-94 East Meadow - Patchogue-Medford

1994-95 Massapequa - Patchogue-Medford

1995-96 Massapequa - Mt. Sinai

1996-97 Massapequa - Longwood

1997-98 Massapequa - Huntington

1998-99 Massapequa - Hauppauge

1999-2000: Freeport - Huntington

2000-01: MacArthur - Huntington

2001-02: MacArthur - Floyd

2002-03: MacArthur - Amityville

2003-04: D1: MacArthur - Huntington; D2: Seaford - Eastport/South Manor

2004-05: D1: MacArthur - Islip; D2: Manhasset - Shoreham-Wading River

2005-06: D1: MacArthur - East Islip; D2: Manhasset - Mt. Sinai

2006-07: D1: East Meadow - Islip; D2: Manhasset - John Glenn

2007-08: D1: MacArthur - Brentwood; D2: Locust Valley - Babylon

2008-09: D1: Wantagh - John Glenn; D2: Locust Valley - Babylon

2009-10: D1: Long Beach - John Glenn; D2: Mineola - Bayport-Blue Point

Compiled by Andy Slawson - Newsday

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