Abidin wins state title at 125

ALBANY - They are familiar foes. Seniors Anthony Abidin of Half Hollow Hills East and Alex Gomez of Brentwood know each other well. There is a mutual respect for one another. They wrestled each other twice this season, splitting the two bouts.

And both expected to meet for a third time on the biggest stage, for the state title last night at the Times Union Center.

So it came as no surprise when the two stared across the circle at one another before a crowd of 4,008 in the 125-pound championship. Abidin needed an overtime victory in the semifinal round to get there and Gomez pulled out a one-point semifinal win.

"This is where we thought we'd be," Brentwood coach Ralph Napolitano said. "They're the two best wrestlers at the weight in the state."

And the two put on a show.

Abidin (36-1) rode a first-period takedown and two escapes to earn a 4-2 win over Gomez (42-3) for the crown.

"He's a great kid and an outstanding wrestler and I have a lot of respect for him," said Abidin, who improved to 141-18. "It's always close between us."

Gomez beat Abidin, 4-3, earlier in the season and Abidin avenged his only loss of the season with a 3-2 win in the Suffolk semifinal round.

It's been a long road to the state title for Abidin. He placed in the Suffolk tournament as a ninth- and tenth-grader at Half Hollow Hills East before moving to Merrick and wrestling for Calhoun in his junior season.

"My parents got divorced and I went to live with my grandfather," Abidin said. "It wasn't easy."

Abidin finished second in the Nassau sectional tournament at 119 pounds.

"We were so happy when he moved back into the district," Half Hollow Hills East coach Bill Davey Jr. said. "He's the leader in our room and a driven kid."

Abidin credited a host of influences in his life for his success. He said workouts with former Hills East state champion Steve Hromada proved beneficial. And then there were his parents, Krista, a mixed martial artist and his father, Anthony, his strength coach.

"They all played a role in my development," Abidin said. "My parents got back together and that made me and my brother Michael very happy. It just seemed like everything was falling right into place in my life."

While Abidin soaked in all the glory of his accomplishment, a disappointed Gomez was surrounded by family and friends. The six-time county place winner took fifth in the state tournament last year at 119 pounds.

"The kid embodies everything that Brentwood wrestling is supposed to be and I'm so proud of his effort," Napolitano said. "He represents our school and our program so well. And he'll always be a champ to me."