Wantagh Boys Lacrosse Motivated For Another Shot at Championship

After falling just short of a Nassau County title last year, the boys lacrosse team brings back a slew of talent who hope to lead the Warriors back to Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium for another shot at a championship.

Wantagh finished last year 16-3 with the season ending 13-4 loss to Garden City in the Nassau County Class B title game, a defeat that still sticks in the minds of head coach Gary Reh’s team. “We’re trying to use [the Nassau County title game loss] as motivation this year that we got that close and we don’t want to take any steps backwards this year,” said Reh, who is in his fifth season as Wantagh boys lacrosse head coach. “We want try move forward and overcome that obstacle that we almost did last year.”

In order for Wantagh to make a return trip to the Nassau County title game it will need to do so without Brandon Mangan, who was the leading scorer in Nassau County last year and is now starring at attack for Yale. The Warriors do however bring back many senior college bound players including goalie Jake Gambitsky (Harvard), midfielders James Bonanno (Rutgers) and John Reicherter (Hofstra) as well as attackmen Ryan Walsh (Colgate) and Grady Weber (Navy). There are also two junior standouts who have already made commitements to play at the collegiate level in midfielders Brian Von Bargen (Hofstra) and Matt Balzano (UMass).

Coach Reh said the last time he recalls having a senior class at Wantagh with this much talent was 2001 when the Warriors captured the state title. “We have very high expectations this year,” said Reh, who prior to becoming Wantagh boys lacrosse five years ago was an assistant with the Warriors for 13 seasons.

Serving as captains for the 2011 Warriors season filled with high hopes of a similar state title run that the program experienced a decade ago are Walsh, Bonanno, Weber, Gambitsky and attackman John Ingrilli.

Some other players expected to be major contributors this season are Matt Balzano (midfield), Steve Beckwith (midfield), Sean Watson (midfield), Joe Giardina (defensive midfield) and Steven Callahan (defense).  A major facet of the sport of lacrosse is faceoffs and junior Michael FitzPatrick will be handling this key role in deciding some crucial possessions that cank make or break many games.

Wantagh (2-2) opened the 2011 season with a 9-8 loss to Suffolk County power Sayville but then rebounded with impressive non-league victories over Farmingdale and Cherry Creek, who are the defending Colorado state champions. The Warriors fell to Conference I opponent Massapequa at home 12-7 yesterday afternoon.

Wantagh is next in action for a non-league game at Hendrick Hudson Saturday starting at 11 a.m. Wantagh's Conference II opener is scheduled for April 8 at home against Mepham starting at 4:30 p.m.