Last month, Bonac’s wrestling team received the first piece of fan mail in the program’s recent history. Written by 90-year-old Carol Sherman, a Windmill Village resident, the note praised Bronco Campsey for his recent success.
“I have enjoyed reading about you in The East Hampton Star,” Ms. Sherman wrote. “I am a ninety-year-old woman, and the photos of you wrestling and the praise of your coaches prompted me to write to you.”
Ms. Sherman sent the note to The Star’s sports department, and this writer delivered it — and her — to a practice the week before the league championships so she could meet her new hero, a Pierson High School junior. Ethan Mitchell, the team’s head coach, welcomed Ms. Sherman to the wrestling room with open arms.
“In anything I’ve been a part of, I’ve never had anything written in. I was really trying to send that message home to the boys today: No matter what, people are always looking at articles and are always looking at what’s happening with us,” Mitchell said. “This program started in 1933, so it’s one of the longest-running programs on Long Island, and this is absolutely the first time I’ve had anybody write in, which is an awesome thing to have. The fact that Bronco was able to acknowledge that also is awesome. Very, very few people get that kind of recognition. It’s really special.”
After taking a photo with Campsey and the entire wrestling team, Ms. Sherman had a chance to chat one on one with her favorite Bonack wrestler and share her praise in person. “People’s comments about you — they said not only are you a wonderful athlete, but you’re modest, and you’re polite, and you’re a great kid. And I said, ‘Well, that sounds like the kind of guy I’d like to meet!’ ”
Ms. Sherman, a writer herself, asked Bronco such excellent questions that she should write the sports page when this reporter is on vacation. But for now, she’s intent on following Bronco’s ascent to the county — and, we hope, state — championships this season, and plans to attend a Bonac home match next winter.
“It feels amazing that people are actually watching me. It’s great,” Campsey said. “It means so much, and thank you so much.”
As for the rest of the championships ahead this month, Campsey is ready to rock. “I’m ready,” he said. “This is the best part of the season.”