Kennedy boasts deep and youthful roster

As longtime coach of the storied Bellmore-JFK wrestling program, Brian DeGaetano has seen it all.
With his team out to a 6-1 start in his 30th year at the helm, the newly named National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee believes he is working with possibly his strongest team yet.
Seniors Brandon Goldstein (285) and JJ Pizzirusso (145) are returning after making All-County runs last season. So too is Gabriella Schechtman, Nassau’s top female competitor in the 138-pound weight class. Goldstein placed third in the county last winter and is currently ranked No. 2, while Pizzirusso claimed fifth at 132 and is ranked No. 2 at 138.
This Cougars roster is also the youngest DeGaetano has rolled out, featuring a crop of talented wrestlers who haven’t even hit their full potential yet.
Peter Mikedis made it all the way to the national stage a year ago after going 37-6. In 50 career matches, he’s already cultivated a well-established reputation while still only in the eighth grade. He’s ranked fourth in Nassau at 138 but has competed in higher weight classes in the early going. “He’s got super strength,” DeGaetano said. “He’s wrestling kids in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. It’s very impressive how strong he is and that he’s able to hang with these guys and win. He’s getting better every week, and he really works at it.”

Like Mikedis, many of those who make up Kennedy’s roster are showing promise as they begin their wrestling careers.
Freshmen Hendrick Capo (131), Jared Eisenberg (124) and Harlan Chugerman (116) help comprise an up-and-coming corps that’s hoping to someday take up the heavy mantle at Kennedy.
But for all of the immediate standouts that Kennedy has, there are many more who have long gone unheralded. After years of developing, only now are they receiving praise as they begin to make a real impact.
“The journey is the reward,” DeGaetano said. “We harp on that all the time. They got to pay dues. There is no instant gratification. Kids need to understand that.”
Max Frank (160) and Ian Estimable (190) are getting their first shots in the starting lineup as seniors and are holding their own.
“How do we maintain it? It’s guys like them,” DeGaetano said. “We always have our top guys every year, but it’s guys like them that fill in the lineup and make us a strong team. It’s because they have hung around.”
Kennedy itself has hung around for quite a while as well. The school has only missed the playoffs three times in its history.
Even with that illustrious pedigree, the glory of a championship hasn’t been easily attainable on the wrestling hotbed of Nassau County. Kennedy hasn’t won a county crown since before DeGaetano took over. However, he seems to believe another one isn’t that far ahead.
“ I think we’re two years away from possibly winning a county championship,” DeGaetano said. “We’re doing really well. A lot of things can happen. You got to hope the kids keep progressing.”
Kennedy opens the new year with matchups against Division and Glen Cove on Jan. 3 and 5, respectively.