The Manhasset youth wrestling team coached by Bob Trieste went up against the Port Washington Youth Association (PYA) wrestling league coached by Anthony Coccarelli at the annual Port Washington PYA youth and senior wrestling night, renamed to Major Michael Corbisiero PYA/Senior Wrestling Night after a former Viking wrestler, U.S. army service member and city Rescue EMC Firefighter. Both Manhasset youth wrestling and PYA have been working closely together throughout the season to give the kids joint practices, but Jan. 10 was the first match-up.
“This program has been in existence for six years and I’ve been the coach for three years,” said Trieste. “It gives the kids a a chance to be exposed to and prepared for wrestling in the future. It’s great that we can work together with Port. It’s a great opportunity and gives the kids a friendly, competitive environment.”
For many of the kids in the Manhasset youth wrestling program, the match-ups against PYA were their first real matches. Wrestlers ranged from second-graders Luke DePietro, Peter Vassilou and Christian Paterek; to third-graders Lucus Pai, Kevin Kim, Declan Paterek, Jamie Hoppe, Jack Doran and Maxwell Cellura; to fourth-graders Duke Trieste, Brady Healy, Colin Kelly, John Murphy, Luca Pierini, Nicky Pugliese and Henry Jervis; to fifth-graders Alex Armendariz and Kingston Takahashi; and sixth-graders Trevor Schmidt, Harris Ghaffari and Logan Minsky.
“The program helps encourage and build up their confidence in wrestling,” said Trieste. “It gives them a taste of competition at a young age in a positive environment.”
