The Glen Cove "Big Red" wrestling team had a solid playoff season wrestling into the Conference IV finals last week. The team was seeded high in the 14-team bracket and started with a first-round bye.

In the quarter finals the team wrestled Friends Academy. Senior Pete Loiodice got the "Big Red" started with a first period pin. Jay Lee followed up with a pin and freshman Cedric Steed won a close decision. After a loss, freshman Nick Montello scored a first period pin. Sophomore Mike Kavanaugh lost to a tough opponent, but Marcus Bianconi got the ball rolling again with a pin. Senior Jeff Oglesby and Junior Danny Marks finished off the scoring for Glen Cove.

In the semifinals the team faced Great Neck South. Seniors Pete Loiodice and Jay Lee won again, but the Rebels" went into the 145-pound matchup winning by a score of 25-7. The "Big Red" got rolling with wins from Nick Montello, Mike Kavanaugh, Marcus Bianconi, Brian Myers and Jeff Oglesby. The last match put the finishing touches on the win for Glen Cove.

In the finals Glen Cove faced its old rival Port Washington. Port was able to come back to win some close matches that they were losing in and come away with the championship. Throughout the tournament the team showed the determination needed to make the finals.

On Saturday, Feb. 9, the team went to East Meadow for the Nassau County Qualifying Tournament. Wrestlers need to place in the top four of this tournament to be eligible to wrestle at the county tournament next week. Wrestlers who made it to the county tournament have also earned All-Conference honors. Glen Cove had an outstanding day as eight wrestlers battled their way to the county tournament.

This is the third year in a row that Glen Cove has qualified eight wrestlers. Glen Cove qualified 60 wrestlers in the last seven years. The honor of All-Conference should not be considered automatic simply because the "Big Red" has had so many wrestlers achieve this goal. The wrestlers who make the counties are the cream of the crop from the over 2,000 wrestlers who start each season in Nassau County. Nassau County is one of the most competitive areas in New York State. Wrestling demands more from an athlete than any other sport. Often times athletes from the other sports see them doing their workouts, smile and say, "You guys are crazy! You mean you work that hard every day?" It is actually an accomplishment just to wrestle a full season. There is a great pride in the wrestling room in Glen Cove as there is in all of the wrestling rooms in Nassau County. It is an understanding among wrestlers that if you compete in this sport throughout your high school career or beyond, you never have to prove anything to anyone. You know that you are "tough as nails."

Freshmen Anthony Zavarro, Pete Charon and Nick Montello as well as sophomores Mike Kavanaugh and Max Schneider wrestled well but came up short. Jason Geller and Jason Lee both won matches but lost in the quarter finals. Brian Myers and Kenny Engel both came one match away from a trip to the counties.

Glen Cove had two young wrestlers take fourth place and earn a trip to the counties. Freshman Darrel Hopkins took fourth place in the 275 pound weight class. Darrel was not the youngest wrestler to make the counties for Glen Cove however. Brian Monahan became the first eighth-grader in Glen Cove history to qualify for the counties. This is an outstanding accomplishment as Brian weighs only 89 pounds and wrestles in the 98 pound weight class.

Senior captains Pete Loiodice and Marcus Bianconi both wrestled very well to take third place honors. Marcus showed incredible metal toughness as each of his three wins were by less than three points. Peter also wrestled well beating three tough opponents from East Meadow, Garden City and Island Trees all by decisions. Junior Danny Marks had a strong tournament taking third place in the 275 pound weight class. His only loss was to Mike Daulton from East Meadow. Daulton is a returning All-County wrestler.

Senior Jeff Oglesby wrestled his way to the finals of the 189 pound weight class to meet the rugged Dan Oppedisano from Garden City. The wrestlers had split the last two matches they competed in this year and were both ready for the rubber match. "Oggie" wrestled well but came up short. If the two see each other at the counties, it is now Jeff's turn for the win.

Senior captain Matt Hurwitz was the top seed in the tournament in the 215 pound weight class. All went according to plan but with the match scoreless in the finals Matt jammed his finger. It made it difficult to score on his opponent. With the real goal being the counties, next week, all thought it was better for Matt to take care of the injury and be ready for next week. Matt, of course, did not agree but discretion won out over valor and Matt will be primed to go next week.

Senior Captain Charles McCullough was getting ready for this tournament all year. Charles is currently ranked first in Nassau County in the 275 pound weight class. Mike Daulton from East Meadow is considered by many to be the second best wrestler in the weight class. Charles wrestled one of his best matches of the year scoring several times in the first period before pinning Daulton. Charles looks ready to go for the counties next week.

Congratulations to all of the "Big Red" wrestlers and good luck next week at the counties.