South Side turns the page

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The Kyle Mosher era is officially over for the South Side/East Rockaway wrestling team as it enters the 2019-20 season, but his legacy is already rubbing off on his former teammates – both young and old.
As a six-year varsity grappler, Mosher graduated as one of the most decorated athletes in South Side history. He won the Nassau County title three times and captured the program’s first individual state championship in 53 years in February. He did not surrender a point in the entire two-day tournament at Albany’s Times Union Center.
Coach Mike Robinson credited Mosher for helping his teammates – no matter what the weight class – to become better wrestlers with his tutelage and winning mentality and now it’s time for this year’s team to reap the benefits.
“It’s their time to step up,” said Robinson. “It’s their time to become leaders and take over and try to keep it at that same level.”
The team has split to dual matches so far, edging Oceanside 45-42 on Dec. 4 before falling 48-30 to Baldwin two weeks later. The squad placed seventh at the Sprig Gardner Tournament in Bellmore on Dec. 14, which was a strong improvement from their 13th-place showing at the Battle of the Beach at Long Beach the previous week.

Senior Brendan McCarthy worked together with Mosher lots of times in practice last year being in similar weight classes and those lessons have paid off so far with a perfect 6-0 record to start the campaign, including the 160-pound title at the Sprig Gardner Tournament on Dec. 14. His growth has led Robinson to believe he could be in the mix for a county title next February.
“He will be a dark horse,” Robinson said. “He has the strength and ability to get there and be a county champion.”
Seniors Andrew Shulov (126) and William Abrams (138) are poised for strong finishes to their high school careers as well. Abrams advanced to the Sprig Gardner finals – Shulov placed third – and both are 2-0 in duel-match play.
On the younger side of the roster, sophomore Thomas Wagner, who Robinson dubbed “the next Mosher” last year, is already living up to his advanced building by winning all eight of his matches this season, including titles in the 99-pound class during his two tourney appearances.
“He’s got his strength up,” said Robinson. “[Last year], the other kids were outmuscling him. They can’t do that anymore. And with all his experience, he’s got some good scrambling.”
Eighth-grader Lucas Cortazar (106) is showing star potential by winning his two dual matches and finishing fifth at Sprig Gardner. Sophomore Ryan Alfano placed fifth at the Battle of the Beach and pinned Mike Ott of Oceanside in 50 seconds.
Robinson is hoping the team can make a playoff run this season, but his main goal is to qualify as many of his grapplers ready for the county tournament.
“We’re just looking to get better and get ourselves ready for when it counts in the end,” he said.