Wrestling a means to an end for Smith
Hills West's Jagger Rebozo takes down West Islip's Brendan Smith in their 3rd place 182 lb. match. Rebozo won by decision 7-0. (Jan. 21,2012) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
West Islip senior Brendan Smith could have found a less taxing way to spend his winter.
A standout attackman on the eight-time Suffolk Class A championship lacrosse team, Smith is a Marquette University signee and one of the Island's top returning players. Instead of waiting for his primary sport to begin, Smith spends his Saturdays in very hot gyms.
Wrestling at 182 pounds, Smith lost a 7-0 decision to Half Hollow Hills West's Jagger Rebozo to finish fourth at the Kris McDonald Islip Cup. He is 16-8 and had been pinned only once this season.
"Wrestling gives me a competitive advantage because I have been working out all offseason, and so once lacrosse season comes around, I'm ready to roll," Smith said.
He began wrestling in seventh grade in order to keep active and continued to wrestle in high school, since his basketball skills left much to be desired. But he thrived at lacrosse, most notably scoring the county championship-winning overtime goal to beat Smithtown West last year.
In wrestling, he accepted his limitations. The mat became a means to an end, a way to keep fit for lacrosse.
"I know that most of the kids that are better than me wrestle all year round," Smith said. "That's their sport, and lacrosse is mine. I don't get my head down from losing to some of these kids because I know that is their sport."
"I'm just here to get in shape and do the best I can."
