Article by Phoenix writer Britney Guevara ’21:
This past Sunday the Firebird Wrestling Team crowned three champions at the Nassau-Suffolk League Tournament. Senior captain James Watterson won a tightly contested finals match against a hungry opponent by a single point while fellow senior Alex Cooper wasted no time and earned a first period pin. Sophomore big man Tim McGrath used some slick moves usually reserved for the lighter weights to earn a seven to three decision in taking the heavyweight championship finals but fell one match short earning runner up finishes. Finishing the day with a win in the third place were John Reynolds, Ryan Paladino, Matthew Alamia, Omar Reyes, and Marco Psyllos. The Birds finished in second place in the team standings ahead of St. Anthony’s but a few points shy of rival Chaminade. Overall the team qualified twenty-three wrestlers for the New York Catholic State Championships this week giving themselves a great opportunity to take home the State Tournament Team Title in addition to moving a number of wrestlers on to the New York State Federation Championships in Albany at the end of the month.