Carlson, Mattei shine on the mat

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

Joseph Mattei of Herricks came oh-so-close to a state championship in his senior year.

He literally could not have come any closer. The 160-pound wrestler from Herricks had a remarkably dominant season, winning championships in his weight class at the county level and roaring through the state tournament’s winners bracket.

But in the fnals, Mattei was beaten, 7-6 by Cornwall High School’s Tyler Reed, 7-6. Still, he set school records for wins (188) and pins (139). Mattei’s teammate, Joseph Manfredi, who won a state title in 2022, fnished third at the qualifying tournament at 126 pounds, but for medical reasons was not able to compete at states, according to coach Eric Goldberg.

The other dominant wrestler in the area this winter was Manhasset’s Eric Carlson. The 189-pound senior was unstoppable in dual meets and beat Kwasi Bonsu of Baldwin to reach states, becoming only the second Manhasset wrestler to ever win a Division I title.

Undefeated going into states, Carlson reached the semifnals but lost to Elijah Diakomihalis of Hilton H.S., 7-6, but recovered to win a third-place medal, the highest-ever fnish for a Manhasset grappler.

As a team, Manhasset again won the team conference title, its fourth in fve seasons behind coach Stephon Sair.

In the Division II competition, Wheatley saw Zachary Samuel defeat teammate Joseph Manzano in the 110-pound division at the county tournament, with both advancing to states, while North Shore’s Kristos Vlahopoulos also qualifed for states at the 189-pound level.

On May 3, following a win over rival Syosset, a car carrying four Bulldogs players was struck by an alleged drunk driver.

Two players, eighth graders Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, were killed, while senior Zachary Sheena and sophomore Ethan Solop were injured and hospitalized.

After a few days of mourning and funerals, Roslyn’s players elected to continue playing the rest of the season. The Bulldogs advanced to the large-school semifnals, where they fell to Syosset, 6-1.

The Port Washington boys were able to go one step farther, winning a tight 4-3 battle with Great Neck North in the semifnals to advance to the county fnals.

But in that matchup, the Vikings were bested by Syosset, 6-1 in the fnals.

On the individual side of things, Great Neck South was the only local team to send players to the state tournament at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Albert Hu, a junior at Great Neck South, fnished third in the county tournament and advanced to states, while the doubles team of senior Carter Shea and sophomore Ayush Shrof also fnished third at counties and advanced to states.

At states the Great Neck players each lost in the second round on June 2, after scoring their frstever state wins in round one.