Huntington fourth grader Jason Bencivenga captured first and second place medals in separately sanctioned New York State wrestling tournaments in recent months. If he wasn’t already, the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School youngster is now on the radar of opposing wrestlers and coaches from across the state.
Jason Bencivenga (right) in action.
Bencivenga was spectacular at the USA Wrestling state championships at Bay Shore in late February. The talented matman drew two-time state champ Roman Zarbo in the opening round and lost. Anyone who has ever wrestled knows how difficult it is to wrestle-back in a double elimination tournament and place after losing in the first round. But the fourth grader did just that, going on to win his next four matches, including a barnburner of a rematch against Zarbo.
When the dust cleared, Bencivenga garnered second place in his weight class also with the Most Pins in the Least Amount of Time Away among all wrestlers in the tournament.
Fast forward to mid-March at the New York Wrestling Association for Youth state tournament at Nassau Community College. Bencivenga once again met up with Zarbo and he also pinned his way through the tournament, including a 37 second fall in the finals to win the state title.
The Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School fourth grader is a sensational athlete, as has been attested to by physical education teachers John Walsh and Natalee Schaeffer.
Bencivenga trains at Vougar’s Honors Wrestling School in Syosset where he is coached by two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Vougar Oroudjov.
