Wrestling Returns to Peekskill High School

On Tuesday, December 16 the Peekskill City School District’s Athletic Department welcomed back the sport of wrestling to the District after a 20 year absence. The District’s premiere event included eight of Peekskill’s 12 new wrestlers who participated in the quad meet with students from three other schools: Mahopac, North Salem and John Jay Cross River.

In honor of the sport’s resurrection, legendary PCSD Hall of Fame wrestling Coach Larry Cook returned to the District to attend the occasion. Cook coached wrestling at Peekskill from 1963, the year the sport first came to the District, until 1978. During his career Cook’s wrestling teams became sectional champions twice, winning a title once in 1971-72 and again the following year in 1972-73.

Peekskill’s newest wrestlers will be coached by Mike Telesco (Varsity Coach), Raoul Ortiz (Modified Coach), Nick Harris (JV Coach) and Jonathon Travis (Intramural Coach).

Also on hand at Tuesday’s match was PCSD Athletic Director Lou Panzanaro, who says that he is looking forward to once again offering wrestling as an athletic option for Peekskill students.

“I’m hoping that we get enough wrestlers interested in joining so we can fill every weight class,” said Panzanaro. “I love watching the sport. It’s exciting, it’s interesting. I think it’s a great conditioner and I think it’s something we need to round out our sports program here in Peekskill .”

Of those Peekskill students that wrestled at the meet, those who won their matches were Jahaad Franks, Juan Granda, Steven Hernandez and Samoray Sutton.