The Bonackers had a rough end to the regular season, losing five of their last six matchups — the first loss came against William Floyd High School on Jan. 29. At the Phantom Duals at Bayport-Blue Point on Jan. 31, the Bonac wrestlers beat Oyster Bay, but lost to Central Islip, Riverhead, Bayport-Blue Point, and Half Hollow Hills West. Forfeits played a huge role.
“With 32 wins on the season, forfeits in duals count as wins and are equal to pins,” for 6 points, explained Ethan Mitchell, the Bonackers’ head coach. “It’s important that we have wrestlers to put out. That killed us.”
It certainly didn’t kill Bronco Campsey. The junior at Pierson High School, who became the winningest wrestler in Bonac history last month with his 103rd win, sets a new school record nearly every time he takes to the mat. He went undefeated last week, with two technical falls, three pins, and a forfeit. He now has 115 career wins.
In the meet against William Floyd, which East Hampton lost 64-11, Campsey wrestled Jayden Glover in the 126-pound weight class, winning with a tech and a final score of 22-2. During the match, Campsey caught Glover in a spladle (pictured), an advanced pinning combination of a split-leg takedown and a cradle. The only other Bonacker to win that day was Nate Tarbet, who pinned Ihsan Oliver while wrestling at 132 pounds.
At the Phantom Duals, East Hampton took on five teams between 9 a.m. and noon. The first opponent was Central Islip, which also beat East Hampton 64-11. The only two wins were courtesy of Campsey, who blanked Josty Martinez 15-0, taking the match in another tech, and Francesco Palombino, a senior, who pinned Jeffrey Burris Kirton.
East Hampton’s only win of the day came against Oyster Bay at 10 a.m., a 45-29 victory in which the Bonackers won five of their 14 matches and took three forfeits. At 132 pounds, Campsey pinned James Panetta. At 138 pounds, Bonac’s Ryes Fida pinned Frederick Cochran. At 175 pounds, Chris Amay defeated GeorgeAnthony Agostinello in a 12-9 decision. At 190 pounds, Orson O’Brien pinned Cody Karlson, and at 285 pounds, Palombino pinned Ethan Fernandez. In extras, which don’t count toward the point totals, Tarbet pinned Jovan Noboa, and Hashim Fida pinned Nicholas Berber, both in the 132-pound weight class.
At 11 a.m., the Bonackers fell to Riverhead 44-36, with very little actual competition. Of the 14 matches, there were nine forfeits, with five of those going Bonac’s way. Of the remaining five matches, Campsey was the only winner, pinning Christopher Ramos at 126 pounds.
The closest matchup of the day was against Bayport-Blue Point, which beat the Bonackers by just 5 points, with a final score of 41-36. Once again, Campsey was the only winner, at 126, pinning Nicholas Barber. The remainder of East Hampton’s points were awarded in forfeits.
The final loss of the day came at the hands of Half Hollow Hills West, with a final score of 66-18. O’Brien would record the only actual victory for East Hampton, pinning Sari Elsheikhali at 190 pounds. Campsey would remain undefeated, winning in a forfeit.
The Bonackers are now preparing for the League V championships at West Islip, scheduled for Saturday, and you can expect Campsey to keep winning.
“He’s definitely feeling ready to rock into this postseason,” Coach Mitchell said. “This is where he shines.”
