When senior Andrew Rakitzis’ name is mentioned, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is Plainedge football. A dominant lineman and varsity all-star who helped push Plainedge to the Nassau County Championship his junior and senior season, Rakitzis ended his last football season as a Devil with the honor of going All-County. However, he is not ready to retire his days as a Plainedge athlete just yet. This winter Rakitzis will take his strength back to the mats to pursue his sixth year of wrestling.
As a seventh-grader, originally the plan to start wrestling for Rakitzis was to become a better football player.
“Wrestling contributed to me becoming a better tackler; for example, the double leg move in wrestling is similar to the form of a tackle,” said Rakitzis.
Wrestling is a sport that demands for players with a lot of pride and dedication. Rakitzis fits that role with great dignity.
“My father has always pushed me to work my hardest and never let up,” said Rakitzis of his father’s influence his life.
Now a senior, Rakitzis wouldn’t be able to imagine his life without wrestling, as it has become another passion of his.
“Wrestling has not only kept me in shape for football but puts me in the best shape of my life,” he added. “It has made me a diverse athlete and it not only helps my agility but puts my body into unfamiliar positions and tests my strength.”
As a four-year varsity wrestler, Rakitzis has become very familiar with the sport and has became a force to be reckoned with in the 195 lb. weight class. His weight lifting explains why at just 17 years old, Rakitzis bench presses 285 lbs., deadlifts 515 lbs. and can do 20 pull ups. These numbers justify why he was titled the “Strongest Kid In Plainedge” as a junior after a weight lifting competition held at the high school.
“Wrestler’s are a rare breed of athletes,” said Rakitzis. “People commonly say this because during the season we undergo practices at a level of high intensity. We also focus a lot on weight management.”
The Plainedge varsity wrestling team practices three hours a day, five days a week. But this hard work pays off for Rakitzis, as he has built up quite the wrestling résumé. As a sophomore, he placed second All-Conference. As a junior, he was fifth place All-County and third place All-Conference. As for this season, Rakitzis sets the bar high.
“My goal is to win counties and go on to place in states,” he said.
Rakitzis’ powerful wrestling technique is “as cool as the other side of the pillow,” as famously used by the recently deceased ESPN sports analyst/reporter Stuart Scott. Rakitzis’ favorite move is the “shag single,” which puts him in a good position to take down his opponent for two points.
“I believe wrestling over the years has given me a great advantage to play football in college,” he said of his future athletic plans.
As one of Plainedge’s most promising athletes, be sure to follow Andrew Rakitzis on his hunt to be a state wrestling champion, and a bright future as he strives to become a collegiate football player.
