Photo courtesy of East Islip School District
It was a tremendous year for East Islip High School varsity wrestling team including the Suffolk County Division I Dual Meet Championship, followed by the League V and Suffolk County championship titles and a remarkable performance at the state championships highlighted by a first-place victory by Sebastian Regis.
East Islip won the League V championship title for the second consecutive time – and the 10th in its rich program history – on Feb. 4, crowning eight individual champions and boasting a record-setting 20 place winners who earned All-League. East Islip earned 365 total team points at the tournament, held at Rocky Point High School, setting another school record for most points scored in league tournament history.
East Islip’s eight league champs were junior Dylan Aristides (30-6) at 118 pounds, senior Matt Walsh (24-10) at 126 pounds, sophomore Logan Alfalla (32-5) at 132 pounds, junior Anthony Avitabile (41-2) at 145 pounds, senior Stephan Coleman (41-5) at 160 pounds, senior James Sturek (39-4) at 189 pounds, senior DeAndre Perez (27-13) at 215 pounds and junior Sebastian Regis (43-1) at 285 pounds. League finalists included eighth grader Gryffin Alfalla (22-9) at 118 pounds, senior Justin Shayew (38-5), senior Chris Trahey (30-8) and junior Nick Groneman (25-7). Additionally, freshman Rocco DeStefano (36-7) placed fourth at 102 pounds, sophomore Anthony Leidtke-Merida placed fourth at 110 pounds, junior Justin Mazzuco placed fourth at 126 pounds, junior Sean O’Shea placed fourth at 138 pounds, senior Eric Rossi placed fourth at 152 pounds, senior Jason Vetrano placed third at 172 pounds, freshman Christian Horeis placed fourth at 189 pounds and senior Adrian Amaya placed third at 215 pounds.
All 20 place finishers at the league contest qualified for the Suffolk County Wrestling Championships, held Feb. 13-14 at Stony Brook University, with the team winning the county title and six wrestlers making the podium: Logan Alfalla (fourth place), Shayew (fifth), Avitable (third), Coleman (third), Sturek (second) and Regis (first).
Avitabile, Coleman, Sturek and Regis all qualified for the NYSPHSAA State Championships, held Feb. 24-25 at MVP Arena in Albany. The 51-1 Regis earned his 100th victory on route to claiming the title as 2023 Division 1 New York State champion at 285 pounds, beating Middletown’s Stephan Monchery in the finals.
“This has been one of the best seasons in East Islip history,” coach Michael Longobardi said. “We finally checked off the last box. I couldn’t have done it with a better group of wrestlers, coaches and parents. I have been truly blessed to coach this group and I am beyond proud of all of them.”
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