The Dalers wrestling team has had some success this season as they captured the conference championship led by senior captains Nick Franco and Matt Cestare. They defeated a strong Hicksville club in blowout fashion. Farmingdale had a couple huge pins in the match that helped them take it over. Jalees Briggs, Matt Cestare, and Tom Palermo were just a few wrestlers who came away with huge pins for the Dalers. 

Counties are coming closer and closer for the Dalers. Senior Nick Franco, who is ranked second in the county for the 195 pound weight class, looks to capture the county title. Franco was last year’s 195 pound runner up. He is still seeking to defeat the number one ranked Matt Hegi from Memphem as Franco has yet to defeat him in five matches. Franco is not only second in the 195 pound weight class, but he’s ranked number one in the 220 pound weight class, as he took down the number one ranked wrestler from Westbury in a dual meet to jump ahead of him. The question is, where will Franco wrestle when it comes to counties? 

Four more seniors to watch for the Dalers are Jalees Briggs, Tim Bazylewicz, Matt Cestare, and John Aguilar. Tim is looking to place in counties for the 99 pound weight class, as he fell short a year ago. Jalees Briggs, who placed 6th in counties a year ago, looks to redeem himself and try and compete for the first spot in his weight class. Cestare, who did not place in his weight class last year, looks better than ever as he has had some key wins on the road to counties. He, of course, has that one goal to capture that county championship. Aguilar is also looking to place this year in counties as he fell short of placing a year ago. Juniors Matt Gallo, Saul Solis,and many others seek to place in counties as well. 

In addition, three senior Dalers participated in Eastern States. Matt Cestare finished with a 3-2 record on the weekend. Nick Franco placed 4th and beat Matt Hegi for the first time in his wrestling career with a 3-1 victory. 

As for counties, we will have to wait and see, but it looks like the Dalers’ time has come. 

UPDATE: As counties came and went the Dalers looked sharp. There were six all-county Farmingdale Wrestlers: seniors Nick Franco, Matt Cestare, Tim Bazylewicz, Jonathan Aguliar, and Jalees Briggs, and junior David Connolly. All of them represented Farmingdale in placing in counties to become All-County for their weight class. Briggs and Franco both advanced to the states, with Franco going 3-1 and placing second in NY State by beating Hegi in the semi-final. Franco was the first person in Dalers history since 1979 to be a NY State finalist. What a four-year career by Nick Franco as he heads to Suny Brockport next year.