Port Washington wrestling continues to make a strides this season.
The Port Viking grapplers are currently 6-3 with multiple place winners, finalists and tournament champions in every tournament so far this season. The team saw standout performances by Henry Burns, Sam Goldman, Michael Petty, Captain Tony Kim, Nick Dilucia, and Captain Chris Castillo. Given the work ethic by the coaches and wrestlers in and out of season, this success comes as no surprise.
A special congratulation goes out to the Viking qualifiers and place winners at the nationally renowned Grapple at the Garden Tournament. Kim, junior Nick Dilucia and sophomore Michael Petty all placed top 4-7 in one of the East Coasts prestigious tournaments at one of the world’s biggest stages: Madison Square Garden.
As if that wasn’t enough, their success came with an additional accomplishment; as spectators began to fill the stands on what would eventually be a packed MSG arena, 120-pound sophomore Michael Petty was in the process of securing a second period pin over a highly regarded opponent from Monsignor Farrell. In doing so, Petty earned the distinction of being the first high school wrestler ever in the history of Madison Square Garden to win a wrestling match. As Coach Anthony Schettino noted, that's the "first high school win ever, something that will never change."
The hard working Viking grapplers will be back in action at home on Wednesday, Jan. 16, for a league battle against Valley Stream Central at 5 p.m. and again on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m.
Schettino points out that the hard working young men and women in this program are asking for the town and communities support to help fill the stands. As mentioned by the team, he said, “we can only pack the stands with everyone's help – let’s work together to get it done.”
