Joe Kavanagh Caps Perfect Wrestling Season With State Title

Word got around Wantagh High School fast last week after the state wrestling championships . The Warriors wrestling program had itself a new state champion, in the person of Joseph Kavanagh.

Kavanagh is the latest in a string of state champions in the sport -- six in the past seven years -- for the talent-laden Wantagh wrestling program, under head coach James Murphy. "It's just amazing how fast word gets around, when I came back after the tournament, I was getting congratulations all over school," said Kavanagh.

It's not surprising, given the prestige of the wrestling program at Wantagh -- and the accomplishments of Kavanagh, who was sewed up by Hofstra at the beginning of the school year. Kavanagh, whose career record is 162 wins, 13 losses and an incredible total of 140 pins, wrestled at 189 pounds this year, went undefeated, and pinned a school best 30 out of 40 opponents.

In the states, he faced the top talent in New York in his bracket, handling them all without difficulty, and cruised to a win in the final match after going ahead 8-0 by pinning his man.

"I got him in a ball and chain tilt," Kavanagh said. "It was a good match, and clearly the high point of my hear. I worked hard to reach for this goal." 

It was a fitting end to a season in which Kavanagh was dominant from start to finish, according to his coach. And it was also a fitting way to end a stellar career at Wantagh.

"Joe started his career in ninth grade at 152 pounds, with a pin, finished his career with a pin," said Joe's father James Kavanagh. "That was the only pin of the finals in the state."

 In fact, the most exciting match at states was probably the semifinals, against Tony Fusco of Shenendahoah, who Kavanagh had beaten in a one versus two matchup earlier in the season. "This was a highly anticipated rematch," said Kavanagh's father James Kavanagh. " Fusco wanted redemption, and Joe was motivated. It added a lot of drama to the semifinals."

If there's any key to Kavanagh's success, it's motivation and consistency. "Joe approaches every match like it's a national title," said his dad. "Every year has its ups and downs, but the key to success is remaining consistent."

Not that one ought to discount tradition. "There's a level in this program, if you set the bar high enough, kids don't sell themselves short," said Coach Murphy. "Kavanagh moved in at a good time, he was exposed to a bunch of juniors who were phenomenal. Every one of them was no nonsense. He hung out and learned from them, when that happens an athlete doesn't know any different, they act that way too." 

It helps, of course, to keep acting that way - and that's what Kavanagh's done over the years. He's traveled across the states to train, not to mention to Russia to train with the national team there. He has a personal practice regimen five days a week, which he's continuing in preparation for the nationals in Virginia Beach at the end of this month.

The results speak for themselves. Two time National All-American, four time Section 8 finalist, three time Nassau County champion, New York State Champion.

You'd think Joe Kavanagh's got more than a little reason to be exude -- others were doing so, after all. "Hofstra was up there at the states when he won," said Murphy. "They took a chance on him, not knowing what he would be doing in the states. Now that he's won, Hofstra looks like a bunch of geniuses."

As for James Kavanagh, he's got some perspective on all the excitement. "We're big on his always remaining humble," he said. "A person should never take what they can do for granted a single moment. Joe doesn't pump his fist or jump up in the air after a win. It's all about respect, and being grateful that you can do something on the mat that other people can't do."