Top Sports Stories 2015: Riverhead wrestler wins county crown
It will be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in Riverhead wrestling history.
Wrestling in the county finals at 120 pounds in February, Riverhead’s Ed Matyka trailed 5-0 with half a minute remaining. Time was running out on his season.
Then in an instant, Matyka rallied back to force overtime in a match that ultimately went to triple overtime. Matyka emerged a 7-5 winner and later, the title of Most Outstanding Wrestler. It was a highlight moment in Matyka’s career, which saw him finish with a 45-6 record for his senior season.
Matyka went on to become Riverhead’s first all-state wrestler since 2005. At the state championships in Albany, Matyka finished fourth in his weight class.
Matyka was a two-time league champion for the Blue Waves.
Shoreham-Wading River had its own share of success during the wrestling season. While the Wildcats didn’t crown a county champion, they did send three wrestlers to Albany for the state meet. Two of them, senior James Szymanski and junior Jack Taddeo, reached the podium as all-state wrestlers.
Szymnaski entered the state meet as Shoreham’s third-winningest wrestler in school history. This year, however, marked his first trip to the state meet. In a brutally tough 132-pound bracket, Szymanski went 4-2 to finish in fourth place. He bumped his career record to 193-23.
Taddeo wrestled at 145 and finished in fifth place. He finished the year with the most wins for Shoreham after posting a 47-5 record.
Shoreham junior Kevin Meloni wrestled all 99 pounds and finished one win shy of all-state honors.
Photo Caption: Ed Matyka of Riverhead won the 120-pound county crown. (Credit: Daniel De Mato, file)
Previous 2015 Top Stories
SWR baseball reaches county finals
Riverhead relay team matches record
League champion girls soccer team
