Star Southampton Wrestler Headed To State Championships

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A "superstar" wrestler at Southampton High School is heading to the state championships, the district said.

Mariners League VII wrestling "superstar" Brad Bockhaus has secured a spot in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships, scheduled for Feb. 25, the district said.

Brad, a senior, earned his spot after finishing in first place at the county meet with a final record for the season of 9 to 1. During that meet, after two 20-second pins in the preliminaries and quarterfinals, he beat his opponent from Shoreham-Wading River and moved on to win against his adversary, Alon Alkeali of Elwood-John H. Glenn High School, in the finals, the district said.

Bockhaus defeated Alkeali 5 to 4, for the 189-pound county title at the Suffolk County Division II Championships at Mattituck High School, school officials said.

Bockhaus, who also runs spring track, has been wrestling since he was 7 and earned state champion designation in the kids wrestling program before earning an All-County title as a freshman.

“It is no surprise to me that the hardest, steadiest worker got the prize,” said Bockhaus’ coach, Lester Ware.

Also earning honors this season were Bockhaus’ teammates, who were named All-County. Alex Boyd (20-9), Cole Fox (20-7) and Adrian Gonzalez (19-9) all finished in third place within their weight classes, district officials said.