Long Island wrestlers to watch in 2018-19
Wantagh's Josiah Encarnacion, right, wrestles against Port Chester's Ivan Garcia in the quarterfinals of the 99-pound class (Division I) during the 2017 NYSPHSAA State Wrestling Championships held at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Credit: Adrian Kraus
Ryan Burgbacher, Patchogue-Medford, Sr. — Went 33-7 and was the Suffolk runner-up at 145 before earning a wild card berth to the state tournament.
Adam Busiello, Eastport-South Manor, Sr. — The 4-time state champion went 49-0 as a junior and won the state title at 126.
Sean Carter, North Babylon, Sr. — Went 41-8 on his way to the Suffolk title at 113 pounds and finished fourth in the state.
Corey Connolly, Rocky Point, Sr. — The Suffolk champion at 152 went 48-6 and finished fourth in the state.
Raymond Costa, Cold Spring Harbor, Sr. — Won the Nassau title at 132 pounds and finished sixth in the state after a 41-7 season.
Thomas Diresta, Kings Park, Jr. — Went 35-8 on the way to winning the Suffolk title at 99 pounds and finishing sixth in the state.
Jake Eckerle, Commack, Jr. — The Suffolk champion at 106 went 33-4
Josiah Encarnacion, Wantagh, Jr. — A two-time Nassau champion, he won the Nassau title at 106 last year and finished 51-4 on his way to a fourth-place finish in the state.
Sean Flick, St. Anthony’s, Soph. — Won the Catholic state title at 99 pounds as a freshman.
Dan Gibson, Port Washington, Soph. — The Nassau runner-up at 120 finished sixth in the state.
Christian Hansen, St. Anthony’s, Soph. — Won a Catholic state title at 132 pounds.
Chase Liardi, Massapequa, Soph. — The Nassau champ and state runner-up at 99 pounds went 45-4 as a freshman.
Dan Mauriello, Hauppauge, Jr. — The Suffolk champ at 145 went 35-5 last year.
Liam McIntyre, Westhampton, Sr. — Won the Suffolk title at 182 with a 40-3 record before finishing sixth in the state.
JD Moore, Division, Jr. — Went 40-5 on his way to a Nassa title at 160 and a fourth place finish in the state.
Kyle Mosher, South Side/East Rockaway, Sr. — Has won two Nassau titles, including last year at 145. Placed in the Nassau tournament five times and the state four times.
Mike O’Brien, Mt. Sinai, Jr. — Went 33-10 on his way to winning the Suffolk title at 120 pounds.
Xavier Pommells, Uniondale, Sr. — The Nassau champion at 113 went 31-7 as a junior.
Zach Redding, Eastport-South Manor, Jr. — One of two returning state champs, Redding also has a third place state finish as a freshman.
Matt Rogers, Wantagh, Jr. — Went 45-5 on his way to a Nassau title at 170 and fourth place finish in the state.
Mike Sabella, Mt. Sinai, Sr. — Took home the Suffolk title at 180 and went 32-6 on the season.
Lajess Sawyer, Center Moriches, Sr. — Went 32-8 while winning the Suffolk title at 170 and finishing fifth in the state.
Logan Sciotto, Rocky Point, Jr. — Went 56-6 and finished third in both Suffolk and the state at 113.
Joe Simons, Farmingdale, Sr. — Went 39-6 as he captured the Nassau title at 138 and finished fifth in the state.
Joey Slackman, Commack, Sr. — The runner-up at 285 in both Suffolk and in the state lost only twice while picking up 46 wins at 285.
Luke Smith, Hauppauge, Jr. — Finished as the runner-up in Suffolk at 99 before finishing third in the state after earning a wild card berth. Was 37-5 overall.
Jordan Soriano, Clarke, Fr. — Won the Nassau title at 106 as an eighth-grader before finishing sixth in the state.
Dequan Stewart, Roosevelt, Sr. — The Nassau champion at 285 went 34-7 overall.
Tom Szilagyi, St. Anthony’s, Jr. — Won a CHSAA state title at 113 pounds as a sophomore.
Jordan Titus, Center Moriches, Soph. — A two-time state runner-up, went 39-2 last season on his way to capturing his second Suffolk D-II title, this time at 106.
Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.
