He’s actually obtained that canine in him.
The Island Bushes Bulldogs haven’t had a state-champion wrestler since 1979, however that may all change starting Friday because of the shot and takedowns of senior Joe Filocamo, the college’s first three-straight Nassau County title holder.
The 17-year-old cruised to victory this yr with a win over Seaford’s Yiannis Thomas two weeks in the past.
Filocamo is on monitor to change into some of the memorable athletes the tiny faculty district — one not broadly generally known as an athletic powerhouse — has ever seen.
“We were always looked down on,” Filocamo instructed The Publish. “I’m just here to show them just because we’re small doesn’t mean you don’t have what it takes.”
The group title below which Filocamo performs three sports activities is the right metaphor for his underdog athletic profession.
Within the fall, he barely sees a second on the soccer sideline as a working again, linebacker and long-snapper earlier than shedding about 20 kilos to wrestle within the 138-pound weight class, solely to placed on extra muscle as a lacrosse midfielder within the spring.
“Wrestling is my least favorite sport,” admitted Filocamo, who’s going to Lengthy Island College for lax subsequent yr.
He joined the wrestling group for 2 causes: to remain in form throughout the chilly climate months and to pound heads with out getting in hassle.
Going into senior yr, two epic wrestling title wins have been sufficient.
As a sophomore, Filocamo erased a 1-0 deficit in opposition to Locust Valley’s Justin Dvorak to submit a dramatic 7-1 win within the ultimate seconds.
Then, as a junior, he defeated an East Meadow wrestler, Sebastian Barco, to whom the Bulldogs had misplaced earlier within the yr, to assert gold.
“I really hated wrestling last year,” Filocamo mentioned of its fatiguing dedication that may break down many athletes. “I was done wrestling up at that point. I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I don’t enjoy the sport.’”
Nevertheless, simply because he was down for the rely didn’t imply coach Damian Garcia was.
“Coach told me, ‘It’s not about you. It’s about everyone around you and your family, your community, and the boys on the team,’” Filocamo mentioned.
Filocamo actually obtained the message when Garcia, who mentioned there can be no laborious emotions both manner, impressed his star chief with what it means to complete what he began — and the way his success actually impacted the small Levittown faculty.
“The community itself, the wrestling community, the parents, they just like having him around. He’s just such a good, positive role model,” Garcia mentioned of Filocamo, who fortunately works with center schoolers and younger athletes to develop them into the subsequent leaders on varsity.
The coach added that Filocamo’s presence and mentorship instantly modified the tenor of Island Bushes wrestling.
“We haven’t had as much newsworthy stuff over the last 10 years,” Garcia mentioned. “Joe has led the way. We’ve had five county champions in the last three years, and 10 kids qualify for the state tournament.”
Then, Filocamo began noticing the fanfare himself.
“My guidance counselor was coming up to me, my home and careers teacher, my dad, all saying, ‘You gotta wrestle, you gotta wrestle,’ ” he recalled.
“And I dominated my senior year. Everything came together. … The second I won my third championship, the first thing coach asked, ‘Aren’t you glad I made you wrestle?’ And I was.”
Garcia proudly says Filocamo wrapped his highschool tenure on the very best observe doable for causes past claiming faculty historical past.
“The younger kids got to see somebody who can lead by example because he is an extremely hard worker,” the coach mentioned. “I knew once we got him in the room that it would be like riding a bike, and he would be right back where he was.”
No matter occurs at states in Albany, this weekend can be Filocamo’s final dance as a wrestler.
Even when he wins, nationals would battle with lacrosse, and the one-sport-a-season athlete must shift gears. Regardless, Filocamo is trying ahead to his collegiate future and that of the Bulldogs’ wrestling program, the place he’ll probably volunteer as a coach subsequent yr in his downtime.
“These guys have the potential to win it all,” he mentioned of the gritty squad that made him right into a repeat champion.
“It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight; it’s about the size of the fight in the dog. That was my senior quote this year.”
