The Port Washington High School's Viking head wrestling coach Anthony Schettino was awarded the Nassau County section VIII "Rookie Coach of the Year" award at this year's awards ceremony April 9. Schettino, who became a father one-week before the Viking's season began, took over the head coaching position last year after acting as the team's assistant coach for 11 years. He has led the team to two consecutive Nassau County Conference Championships and an 18-4 dual meet record including the New York State Scholar Athlete team award this season.

The success of wrestling in Port Washington has been a secret to many people in the community but with programs as Schreiber, Weber, PYA wrestling and Open Mats on the rise, it is a sport that is being talked about in more and more homes. Most children's first experience with wrestling is through the PYA program, which is run on Tuesday and Thursday nights in both the Schreiber and Weber wrestling rooms during the late winter. It is run by Schettino, his uncle Chris Murray and Taisei Kikuchi (also the assistant high school wrestling coach) who are all former Schreiber wrestlers. These three coaches have witnessed firsthand what their donated time to this program can accomplish. Many PYA wrestlers have made it to or through the high school ranks and have reaped the benefits of their many years of dedication and hard work. Going on to wrestle not only for Schreiber High School but for Manhasset, North Shore, Chaminade and Roslyn high schools as well, many have been named team captains, crowned all conference, all county and all state (freestyle) high school wrestlers with two going on to the freestyle nationals. With this level of accomplishment, many have also gone on to compete in the college ranks including coach Schettino a successful collegiate wrestler who was also a product of the PYA wrestling program as a youth!

Tremendously helpful to our youth wrestlers were open mats held at the high school last summer in which coach Schettino and Kikuchi donated their time to help wrestlers, of all ages, three days a week for most of the summer. They provided them with a place to meet and learn new moves and competitively wrestle. Special events were also organized, such as visits from Schettino's college teammates both three and one time NCAA All Americans, as well as a Division II college coach and a certified nutritionist. Five wrestlers who did attend open mats last summer wrestled varsity for the Vikings this season, including one eighth grader, two freshmen, one sophomore and a senior who had an undefeated season.

With all the momentum that Port Wrestling has it is clear that the program is headed toward more success and a bright future. 2003 Open Mats will be held at Manorhaven School July-August, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6-8 p.m.