Gary Mims, Wrestling Coach at Massapequa HS, has announced he will be retiring at the end of the season.  There will be a reunion of all former Massapequa wrestlers after the finals of the 43^rd annual Massapequa Christmas Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 29^th.   The Social will be held at Sidekicks Restaurant on Park Blvd. In Massapequa Park.

Coach Mims, head coach since 1978, was an assistant coach for nine years prior to elevating to head coach.  Under his leadership, Massapequa has won nine Section 8 Team Championships and the 1998 Team was the New York State Team Dual Meet Champions.

The staple of the program has been the tremendous support of the community having the ability to attract athletic kids with strong family values to wrestling.  Coach Mims has been quoted several times stating

“It is all about the kids.  I like them and they like me.  We get a good percentage of our best athletes in the school to wrestle.  Many of our past and present wrestlers play two or three sports very well.

I inherited a great program from Al Bevilacqua, my former coach, who in turn inherited one from John Haas, his former coach.  Our system has never changed, our terminology, our training methods have been consistent maintaining competitiveness every year.  We are all disciples of Sprig Gardner, legendary Mepham HS coach and his unbelievable teaching system.

The only thing I ever changed was putting an M on our singlet.  Coach Bev always told our teams and us, if you're good, they will remember where you are from.

We ask the parents of our kids as they enter the 7^th grade, give us 6 years and we will give you back 40 years building your sons to be successful men.  Massapequa has a great many successful former young men who have wrestled in the PROGRAM."

The well will not be dry for the next head coach as we have 69 kids in the high school program, 74 kids in the middle school program and 60-80 kids in our youth programs.”

For more information regarding the Reunion please contact:

Vito Mundo
CHIEFSWRESTLING@aol.com