Wantagh HS Graduate Named CAA Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Hofstra University wrestler Steve Bonanno of Wantagh has been recognized for his hard work on on the mats and in the classroom. 

Bonanno was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2011-12 season last week. The junior accounting major has twice been named to the NWCA All-Academic team and been a CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and a member of the Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll on multiple occasions. The 2008 graduate is coming off a season in which he  after placing eighth in the 125-pound weight class at the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships in mid March. 

"It is quite an honor to have been given this award, as I get to represent Hofstra and the sport of wrestling," said Bonanno, who at 125 pounds and finished the season at 31-9 overall.

Bonanno, who captured a state title with Wantagh in 2008, said balancing wrestling and and academics "can be a juggling act at times" since it involves scheduling extra workouts to refine skills and lose weight as well making time for studying and homework.  

"The key I guess is to just be strict and stick to some sort of a schedule," Bonanno said. "It's also important that I have time to just relax since life can be stressful so it's important that you get some time to yourself as well." 

Bonanno and some of his Hofstra wrestling teammates were featured on the WPIX-TV 11 Morning News telecast this past Monday. To view the video, click here.