Bellmore-Merrick held its 46th annual Sprig Gardner Wrestling Tournament, a three-day event hosted by Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools, Dec. 8-10.
Fifteen teams across Long Island participated and the Kennedy Cougars pulled off an impressive tournament win, their sixth time in history.
“The entire team had a piece of the championship as every point was needed to win,” explained coach Brian DeGaetano, who is also a physical education teacher. “The tournament was very tight coming into day two on Saturday. The finals were where Kennedy pulled away from the pack crowing four champions.”
Tournament champions from Kennedy included:
- Jefferson Cruz, 102 pounds
- Peter Mikedis, 126 (he is the first seventh grader in the 46-year history to win the tournament)
- Josh Amiel, 215 pounds
- Brandon Goldstein, 285 pounds
Kennedy athletes were also coached by Dan Arkow, Anthony Dushaj and Peter Barros.
Coach Peter Marquez led Calhoun’s team.
Calhoun’s Ray Adams was named the 132-pound champion. He was also voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Coach Ken Richards led Mepham’s team.
Dylan Dunn was the 138-pound champion.
Coach Frank “Sprig” Gardner organized the first wrestling team in 1936 in an abandoned elementary school while Mepham was being built. He led the team to years long undefeated streaks. His wrestlers won 254 dual meets, lost 5 and drew 1. He ended his last season undefeated in 1958 and was honored as a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986.
To view coverage of the tournament’s final day, tune into Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting.