It’s been 38 long years since the Schreiber High School wrestling team had a county champion. Now, they can add two new champions to their highly successful wrestling program.
Senior captains Sam Goldman and Elmer Mendez were crowned county champs this season for the Vikings. They make up half of the school’s four county champions in team history. Port Washington was one of only two Nassau County teams to place two champions.
The team has had winning seasons dating back to the early 1970’s. Head Coach Anthony Schettino, a Schreiber High School alumnus and former wrestler, has led the Vikings for the past 23 years. He believes that there is no secret to the program’s success.
“Success in wrestling is a direct reflection of ‘what you put in you get out,’” said Schettino. “If you decide to put in more time and work a little harder, then you will undoubtedly earn greater success.”
This philosophy not only helps the group excel on the wrestling mat, but in the classroom as well. In fact, they earned the N.Y. State Scholar Athlete Team distinction for the sixth consecutive year.
Coach Schettino believes that wrestling has had a positive impact on these young athletes not only in the classroom but in all aspects of life in general.
“Hard work, drive, perseverance, sacrifice, responsibility, and self confidence . . . are all taught through the sport of wrestling, and are all essential life skills for those seeking success,” said Schettino. “In essence, as wrestling coaches, we are utilizing our sport to not only mold successful wrestlers and athletes, but also individuals with the skills necessary to succeed in life.”
Many of these attributes were displayed by this year’s squad. County champs Goldman and Mendez are prime examples of the team’s success.
Goldman, along with being a Nassau County champion, is also a four-time scholar athlete, three time all-conference and three time all-county athlete. He has even earned the distinctive News12 Scholar Athlete Award. However, his biggest achievement was finishing fourth in the 126-pound weight class at the State Wrestling Championships in Albany in February. Goldman was also the recipient of one of Nassau County’s top scholarship awards, given to the best of the best student athletes. He was recruited by several Ivy League schools.
“Sam’s work ethic, drive, sacrifice and time put into the sport was second to none” said Schettino.
Mendez is another well-deserving county champion. He is a standout in his 220-pound weight class. He also earned a trip to the State Wrestling Championships, where he finished seventh in his weight class. Mendez will continue his wrestling career at the State University of New York at Brockport.
“Mendez’s work ethic, and time put into his extremely high level of conditioning, put him in the position to win those close, big matches, and that is exactly what he fought through before standing on top of the podium at the Nassau championships,” said Schettino.
Coach Schettino believes that all the hard work and training put into this season has paid off immensely for his boys.
