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History of Saint Anthony's Wrestling The Saint Anthony's Wrestling Program was founded by Jerry Harrell, when the school was located on its former campus in Smithtown, New York. In 1972 and 1973 the wrestling team was a club sport. In 1974 the Junior Varsity team was founded, followed by the addition of the Varsity team in 1975. In the first year as a varsity wrestling team the Friars amassed a dual meet record of 4 wins and 5 losses. Since that time the Friars have never seen a losing season. In 1982 Kevin Smith would be brought on as Head Coach and the wrestling program would begin to become the Catholic Powerhouse that it is today. Under Coach Smith's tootalage the Friars would win six Catholic State Team Championships, including one in the last year of his coaching in 1995. Coach Smith would see a 4-Time CHSAA Champ, Peter Smith 1989-1992 and a 3-Time CHSAA Champ, Joe Smith 1985-1987. In 1986 Joe Smith became the first Friar to Place in the NY State Tournament when he placed 6th at 126 lbs. The next year he would become the first 2-Time NY State place finisher when he placed 3rd at 126 lbs. Bill Maisel, a 2-Time Section XI Champion, would take over as Head Coach in 1995 and bring along high school and college teammate Tony Walters to serve as his assistant coach. Coach Maisel would serve as head coach until 1999 when he would return to his alma mater and become the head coach at Amityville High School. In 1999 Tony Walters took over the helm and won a Catholic State Team Championship in his first ever season as a head wrestling coach. Since then Coach Walters has has led the Friars to 2 more CHSAA championships, a 4th place finish in the New York State Tournament in 2001 followed by a 3rd place finish in 2002. Entering this season he has coached a Friar to All-State status 11 times in his 9 years as a head coach. In 2000 he helped lead Lucas Magnani to Saint Anthony's first, and only, New York State Championship. The following year Coach Walters made history again when Saint Anthony's became the first, and only, Catholic School with two wrestlers in the NY State Finals, Keith Eckert and Lucas Magnani. This feat would be repeated the following year with Lucas and his brother Thomas each reaching the state finals. In 2002 Lucas and Coach Walters would yet again set the bar for Catholic School Wrestling when Lucas became the only St. Anthony's wrestler to earn All-American status at the prestigious Senior National Wrestling Tournament. Coach Walters added to his already impressive resume in 2007 when Stephen Russ joined Lucas Magnani as the only Friar wrestlers to acheive All-State status on 3 separate occasions. The most recent success the Friars have seen came in 2009 when for the first time ever we had 3 underclassmen all achieve All-State status. Then Sophmore Grant Greene joined Lucas Magnani and became the second St. Anthonys wrestler ever to win a New York State title, and only the 4th CHSAA wrestler to do so. In his second year wrestling, Sophomore Jimmy Morris became only the second St. Anthony's wrestler to finish third in the state tournament. Along side these two was Junior Christoper Brienza who finished in fourth place. The future of the Friar wrestling program is very bright as we begin our first full season in our new Student Center. The main feature of this facility is a 120 X 60 foot wrestling room, roughly the size of a basketball court. This is a tremendous upgrade to our previous wrestling room that was about 35 X 25 feet. The former wrestling room squeezed in 6 practice circles while the new facility has 32 practice circles with room to spare. Former Home of St. Anthony's Wrestling
New Home of St. Anthony's Wrestling
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