RKA wrestling squad powers into playoffs

The season ended the same way it began for the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (M.S/H.S. 141) wrestling team: with a dominating win over George Washington High School.

The Tigers, who did not make the PSAL team playoffs last season, defeated the Trojans 48-18 on Jan. 23 and will head into the postseason with only one loss this season.

“I’m happy with the performance,” said RKA coach Robert Dicanio. “I’m happy with the amazing season we had this year. All the boys responded well. They worked hard. We started in September and we had a goal, and we set our goals early and we retained them as we moved throughout the year. And one of those goals was to hopefully make the playoffs.”

The match started with three straight wins for the Tigers in the 99-, 106- and 120-pound weight classes. Erik Bishop notched three takedowns on Dylan Nunez in the 120-pound match as the Tigers jumped out to an early 18-0 lead.

Ethan Srebnick also had three takedowns as he put away Samuel Medina to give the Tigers a 24-6 advantage after the 138-pound match. Srebnick is now 6-1 this season.

After two George Washington forfeits, Jose Garcia defeated Josue Polanco at 160 pounds to cut the Tigers’ lead. However, it would be too much to overcome for the Trojans. 

Senior Daniel Bushell recorded four takedowns and three near-fall sequences against freshman Dante Liburd in the 170-weight class to start the Tiger rally back up.

The Tigers would forfeit the 182-weight class, then GW’s Mehrojiddi Aslov beat Nathan Garcia at 195. 

Bernardo Sena and Alexander Mayer battled it out in the 220-pound class. Both wrestlers recorded two takedowns in a hard fought battle, but Mayer would come out on top for the Trojans.

The Tigers will have a week off before they get back on the mat for the playoffs. For Srebnick, it is just enough time to sharpen up for the most important time of the year.

“We just need to work harder, practice harder and try to learn some new technique and just more intensified practices,” he said. “[We need to] try to build off each other and fix our weaknesses.”