Nassau CC Looks to Make it Three in a Row

This will be the 49th year of wrestling at Nassau Community College. Last year, Nassau won its fourth National Championship in the past seven years and second consecutive National title. Nassau CC also has won seven consecutive Mid Atlantic District Championships.

The 2009-10 team has three returning starters from last season’s National Championship team. The returning 2009 Lions are Ricardo Gomez (125lbs) last year's NJCAA National runner-up, Mid Atlantic Champion Pat Bell (174lbs) and NJCAA National qualifier Jesus Cartagena (184lbs).  They will be joined with returning members from last year’s National Championship team in Jules Doliscar (165lbs), Lenny Michel (165lbs), David Khovin (197lbs) and Corey James (285lbs) a red shirt freshman, who was the NYS High School State runner up in 2008.  Every year there is an influx of new talent to go along with those that are coming back from injuries, three wrestlers that should contribute in a big way are Rob Troy (149lbs), Lance Wade (157lbs) and Chris Gandolfi (174lbs).  Rob finished third in NYS in 2008 and was injured last year, while Lance a former NYS Champion is also coming back from injuries. Chris Gandolfi took a year off and was a NJCAA National Qualifier in 2008.  There are also a couple of talented transfers such as Francisco Pereira (125,133lbs), Mike Doria (141, 133lbs), Wilson Cardoza (149lbs), John Makaschian (165lbs) and Jonathan Murray (125lbs) that will be vying for a starting spot. Then you can't forget the very talented group of incoming freshman that will be challenging the sophomores: Hugh Nawn (125lbs), Sidney Johnson (133lbs), Mike Piro (133lbs), Kodie Silvestri (141lbs), Brian Herold (149lbs), Travis Donnor (149lbs), Rick Nardell (165lbs) , Thomas Jackson (184lbs), Anthony Lupi (184lbs) and Scott Munro (285lbs). Kodie Silvestri was one of the most sort after wrestlers in the country last year after finishing second in the NJ State Championships.

The Coaching Staff has been together for many years, Coach Schmidt will be entering his twenty-fouth year, fourteen of them as Head Coach.  He will be assisted once again by undoubtedly one of the best coaching staffs in the country.  Chris Edmond, former NCAA Div 1 National Champion and soon to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame, Vougar Orounjov, the former two time World Champion and Russian Olympian (Bronze Medal Winner), Sam Thomas and Tyshawn Scarlett, two former Nassau NJCAA All Americans. 

The Mid-Atlantic Conference will once again be very competitive with perennial power teams Gloucester CC and  Spartanburg Methodist, joined by Bergen CC, Middlesex CC, Williamson Trade and a new NJCAA member Darton College (Albany, GA).

The schedule will be the most competitive and challenging we have seen of late.  The Lions will compete against mostly four-year schools at tournaments such as the College of NJ Open, East Stroudsburg Open, Centenary Invitational, Penn State Open, Wilkes Open, Virginia Duals, Millersville Invitational and The NYS Championships.  Nassau for the first time will be competing in the Virginia Duals against all four year schools.

This upcoming season you will be seeing former Nassau wrestlers competing for other universities and colleges.  Nassau CC will have three former NJCAA National Finalists wrestling at the Division 1 level, Chris Notte (Oklahoma State) 2008 NJCAA National Champion will be wrestling at 125lbs and should be right there in the national picture in March.  Bobby Ward who finished second last year in the NJCAA National Tournament will be wrestling at North Carolina State after only one year at Nassau,  Bobby will display his talents in the ACC. The big guy, Brandon Williamson, a former NJCAA National Champion now at West Virginia University, will prove he's one of the best heavyweights in the country.  At Division 2 Andre Harrison (Fort Hayes), at Division 3 you will also see former wrestlers competing for a National Championship and All-American honors, Steve Perez, Martino Sollitile (Cortland), Eduardo Delgado (Hunter), Dan Daddino (Delaware Valley) and Chris Wade (Oneonta).  In the NAIA former two time NJCAA All American Alp Ozilikic will be wrestling for the perennial NAIA National Champions Lindenwood University.