Port Washington Wins Big in Nassau County Wrestling Tournament

The Nassau County Wrestling tournament at Hofstra University last weekend was “nothing short of amazing but definitely not a complete surprise,” said Port Washington Head Wrestling Coach Anthony Schettino.

As Schettino tells it, for “the first time ever,” the team put three wrestlers into the semifinals and two into the championship finals.

The result?

“Not having had a county champion in 40 years, we came out of the tournament with two Nassau County champions,” Schettino said.

Those champions are Sam Goldman and Elmer Mendez.

Goldman, at 126 pounds, beat three previous All-County wrestlers, including last year’s county champion wrestler Raeco Jackson of Westbury. Goldman will also be receiving the News12 Scholar Athlete Award on Feb. 24 for achievement in the classroom as well as on the mats, Schettino siad.

Elmer Mendez, at 220 pounds, defeated last year’s county finalist Hamza Ramza of Lawrence in the quarter finals before defeating two other “very tough” opponents to also become champion, Schettino said.

Port Washington also finished in the top 10 for the second time in the history of the program, having entered only six wrestlers.

To round out the tournament junior Teddy Tanenbaum also finished with All-County honors taking a hard fought 5th place, Schettino said.

The triumphs, Schettino said, are a “testament to the hard-work, time, sacrifice, and love these young men and our dedicated coaching staff put into this great sport.”

Courtesy photos of stadium, Sam Goldman, Elmer Mendez and Teddy Tanenbaum.

More on Patch:

• WATCH: Former Long Island Hairdresser Wins Publishers Clearing House $1M Prize
• Weekend Snow to Follow Dangerous Wind Chills
• Long Islander Makes Top 24 on ‘American Idol’
• Fire Destroys Greenport Home, 3 Suffer Minor Smoke Inhalation
• Man Struck by Car, Seriously Injured in Huntington Station
• Suit: Rockville Centre Surgeon Ridiculed Employee for Having Cancer
• Police: Trio Wanted in Five Towns CVS Robbery
• February 19- Suffolk Arrest Report
• Cops: Woman Struck, Killed by Car in East Rockaway
• DA: Westbury Seafood Firm Sold Over $100G in Fish, Shellfish Without License, Permit