Local High School to Participate in 39th Annual Sprig Gardner Wrestling Tournament

Photo: Last year’s winners Hewlett Bulldogs

The East Hampton High School Wrestling Team will kick off their season by hosting the 39th Annual Sprig Gardner Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13.

The eight high school teams that will take to the mats include Bayport, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Ward Melville, Hauppauge, Riverhead, Westhampton, and East Hampton.

The young men will be competing in fifteen weight classes: 99, 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, and 285 pounds.

“The Sprig continues to be a true community event,” Coach Steve Tseperkas said. “The Varsity Tournament will be running in the high school gym on three mats and the JV Tournament will be held in the Wrestling Room. Wrestling will be going on all day and will feature All-County and All-State wrestlers from some of the teams.”

The Preliminaries will begin at 9 a.m. The semi-finals should start around 2 p.m. and the finals should begin around 6 p.m.

The awards ceremony will follow the finals and consolation matches. Back by popular demand, the master of ceremony for the day’s events will be Steven Tekulsky.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students while children under 10 years old are free. Long sleeve T-shirts commemorating the tournament will be on sale for $20 on a first come basis.

Long Island wrestling under the leadership of Frank “Sprig” Gardner began at East Hampton in 1933. One year later Gardner accepted the position of Director of Athletics and head wrestling coach at Mepham HS in Bellmore. Sprig Gardner is considered to be the “father of wrestling on Long Island”. Many of those who wrestled or coached on Long Island in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s had attended wrestling clinics conducted by him. His influence can still be felt today.

More on Patch:

• WATCH: Long Island Truck Driver Escapes Fatal NJ Crash By Crawling Through Fiery Windshield
• Nearby: 22-Year-Olds Found Dead in Car
• Nor’easter to Bring Heavy Rain, Wind to Long Island
• Girl Scouts’ 11th Annual Holiday Light Show Is Ready to Shine
• Police Seek Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run on Southern State in Farmingdale
• Peconic Man Killed, Greenport Man Charged With DWI in Wrong-Way Crash
• Police: Man Attempts to Rob Off-Duty NYPD Officer in Patchogue, Gun Discharged in Struggle
• Police: Huntington Station Man Exposed Himself to Children