(Photo by Levittown Public Schools)
There’s nothing like getting a head start on your competition. That’s exactly what Killian Foy is thankful for.
The General Douglas MacArthur High School varsity wrestler has been competing since he was in kindergarten. Ever since, he’s developed his skill set to become one of Nassau County’s top wrestlers.
“I want to get on the attack,” Foy said. “I just wrestle my match. I don’t leave anything up to chance. I don’t leave anything up to the referee. I just go, do my moves and do what I have to do.”
Foy, who’s a freshman at MacArthur, went 39-8 during the 2018-19 season. His success on the mat led him to the NYSPHSAA state championships at Albany’s Times-Union Arena on Feb. 23. It was during the tournament that Foy showed his true colors.
In a duel against Massapequa’s Anthony Conetta, he scored the victory, advancing to the finals in the Division I 99-pound category. Though he would lose the match to Hilton High School’s Gregor McNeil, he made his way to become the second-best wrestler in the state.
“He has had an outstanding year,” head coach Robert Paletta said. “He is a focused and determined young athlete. Besides having a ton of talent, he is a hardworking athlete who pays attention to all the little details.”
In order to be successful at such a young age, coach Paletta said Foy stands out because of his diet. Foy watches what he eats carefully. Most of all, he trains to make sure he can tolerate pain.
“I usually practice over the offseason almost every day,” Foy said. “Usually, it’ll be every day for about an hour and a half to two hours. I try to take care of my body. If I feel something is aching, I’ll rest it, so I can continue performing well.”
While disappointed he didn’t capture the state title, Foy is using it as motivation for the next three years of his high school career. His season included triumphs in the Joe Davidson Memorial Tournament, the NY-USA Wrestling Southern Super, the 2018 NYWAY Long Island Regional and a runner-up finish in the 2019 Section VIII Division I Championship.
Now, Foy is hungry for more.
“It means a lot, showing that hard work does pay off,” Foy said. “But I’m not there yet. It’s hard work and sacrificing. If you want to get places, you have to give up time for hanging out with your friends to practice and perfect your abilities.”
