Mineola High School Varsity Wrestling Coach Dan Guido has pretty much seen it all in his years of leading Mustang Grapplers. He liked what he saw in the recently completed season. Mineola finished with an overall record of nine wins and seven losses. The Conference mark was three wins and two losses. Guido says the Mustangs just missed being league co-Champions. "The last league match was against undefeated Island Trees. The boys came up a little short, losing by a score of 33-28. During the match the boys lost three very close individual matches, one of them in overtime. If they had won any of these three matches, they would have defeated Island Trees and finished in a three-way tie for the league title.

Coach Guido really didn't know what to expect heading into the season. After all, he had lost four All-County wrestlers from the previous year. As the season moved along, Guido could see the improvement. The season concluded with Mineola hosting the Nassau County Qualifying Tournament for the second year in a row. The Mustangs ended the long day with one champion, six finalists and nine qualifiers for the County Championship Tournament. The coach said, "The boys did a great job. Junior Tom Grimaldi went on to earn All-County honors and finished fourth in the county tournament." Coach Guido listed his wrestlers and how they did this season. The following boys made All-Conference and qualified for the Nassau County championship Tournament.

Name		Grade		Weight	Record	Place
James Wan	Sr.	96	14-11	3rd
Steve Ricciardi	Sr	130	21-12	2nd
Kyle Rosner		Jr	130	13-7	4th
Andrew Montanez	Sr	145	24-7	2nd
John Boland		Jr	145	9-19	4th
Jim Holubowich	Jr	171	25-3	2nd
Adam Minsky	Sr	189	22-11	2nd
Ricardo Cunha	Sr	215	9-17	2nd
Tom Grimaldi	Jr	135	31-7	1st
				4th in NC Champ

The following boys did not make the County Championship Tournament, but did have a fine year:

Brenden Canavan	Sr	160	5-7	5th
Eric Wong	Sr	112	22-8	5th
Leo Morales		Fr	189	13-6	6th
Mike Gonzalez	Sr	275	6-12	DNP
Nick Rachell		Jr	112	11-18	DNP
Brian Gallego	Fr	130	16-6	DNP
Joe Ricciardi		So	119	5-12	DNP
Nick	Tonini		Fr	96	22-7	JV 1st
Julio Gauto	So	160	12-9	JV 1st
George Costa	Fr	112	11-11	DNP
Jason Vega	So	171	11-10	JV 2nd
John Macedo	Fr	119	3-13	DNP

Coach Guido also gave a special mention to Eric Wong, saying, "Although he did not make the county tournament this year (he made it in 2002) his 22 wins, some of All-County opponents, greatly helped this team to its fine dual meet season." At the time of this talk, Coach Guido also pointed out the Middle School wrestling team was off to a 6-1 start and said, "With the help of these incoming freshmen and the returning Varsity and JV squad, we are looking forward to a fine season next year."

After a long and rugged winter, one of the things that gives us a sense that we've made it and spring is on the way is baseball. The Mineola High School Varsity Baseball Team has been formed and the season is getting under way. Head Coach Helms Bohriner, in his eighth season, is aiming for a strong season. "Our expectations are the same. We want to make the playoffs and take a shot at the conference title, as well as the county championship." Bohringer points to five returning players as his nucleus:

Greg Weiss - All-Conference selection, will be asked to do a lot of pitching, as well as catching;

Rich Medlock - All-League, three-year Varsity member, will be asked to lead a young team with his bat and his smarts;

Mike Kondraciuk - is expected to be the #1 starting pitcher;

Shon Phillip - will be one of our better hitters and expected to play a solid first base; and

Matt Sanderleaf - will share duties on the mound and first base.

Coach Bohringer also listed four young men as his hot newcomers to the Varsity Squad:

Derek Webber, Soph. - shortstop and pitcher;

Danny Medlock, Jr. - third base;

Tom Owens - shortstop and pitcher; and

Mike De Stefano, Soph. - catcher, outfield and pitcher

The coach listed three teams as his toughest competition. Those teams are among the finest every season. Clarke is the defending State Champion. Island Trees was the County Champion two years ago. Division is also a perennial power.