Syosset wrestler Max Glambosky rallies to win 215-pound title by pin at Battle for the Belt tournament
Syosett’s Max Glambosky, right, competes again against Plainview Old Bethpage JFK’s Brenden Sciara in the 215-pound division of the Battle for the Belt wrestling tournament at Syosset High School on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Credit: Kathy M Helgeson
Despite a strong day, Syosset junior Max Glambosky didn’t look like he’d be leaving his home gymnasium with a championship belt in the 215-pound weight class.
Trailing 13-6 on points in the second period to Plainview-Old Bethpage’s Brenden Sciara, it appeared the top-seeded Glambosky was on the verge of defeat on Saturday.
Then he quite literally flipped the switch and gained position. Suddenly Glambosky found his way on top and earned the pin in 2:36 as the gymnasium erupted with cheers.
“I wanted to escape originally,” Glambosky said. “In wrestling you take what’s there. I saw the sit, turned in and he fell on his back, and I got the pin. Just taking what’s there.”
Glambosky was one of three Syosset wrestlers to win at the hosts Battle for the Belt wrestling tournament Saturday. Sophomore Louis Kennedy pinned Bethpage’s Brandon Bonelli in 3:43 at 132 pounds. At 285 pounds, seventh-seeded Harrison March pinned Westbury top seed Marc Hardy in 1:29.
“I’m always looking to score,” Kennedy said.
“I haven’t had the most success in my high school career up to this season, kind of getting bounced early,” March said. “The one thing I always wanted to do was win this belt at this tournament. I succeeded at my goal, and it feels pretty good.”
Kings Park enjoyed a similarly strong day with four first-place finishers. Erik Shapiro at 110 pounds, TJ Stazzone at 138, Jack Deraney at 144 and Gage McKigney at 190 all took home championship belts for the Kingsmen.
Deraney enjoyed a terrific day after beginning as the sixth seed, winning 6-2 decision against North Shore’s Diego Villacis. He said he entered the tournament wanting to make himself known, a goal he’s happy he accomplished.
“Jack Deraney, remember the name,” Deraney said. “I came from nothing to something, and I’m going to be everything. That’s what’s going to happen at the end of this year — county champ, state champ — Kings Park, baby.”
Both Deraney and Stazzone trailed 1-0 entering the third period before battling back to win. Stazzone emerged victorious against Syosset’s Matthew Lee via major decision, 14-2.
“We have one of the best conditioned rooms in the whole county,” Stazzone said. “I think that our guys can go out there and wrestle for 12 minutes … I really do want to thank the coaches for putting it on us like that.”
Northport won the team title with 187.5 points, followed by Syosset (174.5) and MacArthur (143). Tyler Naughton and Nicholas Marlow helped make that possible with first-place wins over North Shore’s Matthew Grossman and Bethpage’s Mafaz Altaf at 150 and 157 pounds, respectively.
MacArthur senior Vincent Orandello earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award along with his championship belt at 118 pounds. He pinned Port Jefferson’s Chase Davis in 1:17.
“It just reminds me that I am one of those top guys,” Orandello said. “That, come February and March, I’ll take what’s mine.”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
