Sachem North wrestling's Tommy Vecchio takes perfect season into Suffolk Division I semifinals
Thomas Vecchio of Sachem North defeated Matthew D`Amico of East Islip at 175 pounds via fall at the Suffolk Division I individual quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 in Stony Brook. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Leave No Doubt!
The words have never been clearer to Sachem North’s 175-pounder Tommy Vecchio.
The senior wrestler has left no doubt through his first 42 bouts this season. He pinned East Islip’s Matt D’Amico in 5:26 of the quarterfinal round of the Dr. Robert Fallot Suffolk County Division I wrestling championships Saturday in the Island Federal Arena at Stony Brook University.
Vecchio and D’Amico battled through two physical rounds as Vecchio opened a 6-1 second-period lead before turning in the pin. Vecchio has cruised to a 42-0 record, including 33 by pin, and hasn’t been scored on this season.
“My father always said, ‘Leave No Doubt’, and my son lives by that,” said Tony Vecchio, who serves as an assistant coach at Sachem North. “He’s been focused and we’ve taken the next step in his training by traveling all over the country to places like Fargo, Virginia Beach, Pennsylvania every weekend and Rhode Island to wrestle top level competitions. He’s improved technically, maintained his strength and conditioning this season and put up numbers on all his big lifts.”
Tommy Vecchio has had the kind of season wrestlers dream about. He’s undefeated, hasn’t been scored on, and he’s wrestled injury-free. The goal is obvious — championship or bust.
“We take it one point, one takedown, one period, one match at a time,” he said. “I lost in the true second-place match for the right to go upstate last year. All I wanted was another shot at a county and then a state title. I don’t pay attention to rankings. I trust the process and put the work in — and we’re seeing the results.”
His father, Tony, was the Suffolk Division I champion in 1995 and finished sixth in the state tournament. He went on to wrestle for Hofstra.
“I wouldn’t be here without him,” Tommy Vecchio said. “He’s been with me every step of the way. He makes sure I focus on what’s in front of me.”
Vecchio won the League III title as a junior and finished third in the county at 175 pounds.
“His progression has been really impressive,” Sachem North head coach Anthony Marino said. “He knows where he falls short and we’re adjusting, which is easier said than done. Tommy’s been amazing and thriving in so many different situations and adapted to every challenge. He’s worked extremely hard.”
In other quarterfinals, senior Adrian Ochoa of North Babylon earned his 100th career victory. He beat Lukas Ryan of Whitman, 10-7, at 144 pounds. Ochoa (38-2), who placed sixth in the Suffolk tournament two years in a row, will advance into the semifinal round against Joshua Thomas of Sachem North. Thomas edged Kingston John of Bellport, 4-1, in sudden victory to advance.
“Adrian is finally believing in himself,” North Babylon coach Paul Turano said. “His confidence level is where he needs to be. He’s always been an explosive wrestler and now he’s putting it all together.”
The 144-pound weight class is loaded from top to bottom. Top-seeded Matt McDermott of Smithtown East turned in two first-period pins in 56 and 58 seconds to advance to the semifinal round. McDermott was a state runner-up at 131 pounds last season.
At 132 pounds, top-seeded Rocco DeStefano of East Islip recorded two first period falls and now has 100 career pins — a rare individual feat.
The Suffolk Division I semifinals and finals are Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. at Stony Brook's Island Federal Arena.
In the team scoring, Bellport and Sayville are tied for the lead with 92 points and Sachem North sits third with 78.5 points. Bellport advanced four wrestlers into the semifinal round, led by defending state champion Camryn Howard at 157 pounds. Sayville has one semifinalist and Sachem North has four.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
