Family Ties in Wrestling

John F. Kennedy High School, located in the Bellmore-Merrick area, has become a hub for family talent, featuring seven pairs of siblings. Among them are three sets of twins and even a set of cousins, all involved in wrestling.

Head coach Brian DeGaetano shared, “I’ve had a lot of brothers on teams before, but never seven.” It’s an impressive count that adds a layer of camaraderie and competition.

Wrestling, as DeGaetano noted, is quite a demanding sport. Having so many brothers on the team, with a lineage in the sport dating back to the 1960s, brings both tradition and responsibility to the athletes.

This year, the Cougars have continued their strong performance, coming off a perfect 16-0 season and gearing up for the dual-meet playoffs. It’s fantastic, really, to see them maintain that momentum.

There’s quite a variety in weight classes among the family members too. Senior Thomas Pierce competes at 150 pounds, while his younger brother Justin is wrestling at 118 pounds as a ninth-grader. Meanwhile, Ian Garcia, weighing in at 285 pounds, is noticeably larger than his cousin Evan, who is a 190-pound sophomore.

Twins Giovanni and Francesco Loccisano, both in the ninth grade, are also making their mark, wrestling at 126 and 110 pounds, respectively. It’s interesting how these family dynamics play out on the mat.

Then there’s freshman Lucas Capo, who currently outweighs his brother Hendrick, an 11th grader, at 157 versus 144 pounds. Still, their training together as practice partners seems to foster teamwork despite any size differences.

DeGaetano mentioned how the brothers not only travel together but also motivate one another. “They inspire each other to improve,” he reflected. It’s heartening, in a way, to see that kind of support within the team.

Interestingly, he added that older siblings sometimes enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry with their younger siblings. “Some of these brothers are among the top performers on our team, which really drives our younger guys to work harder,” he explained.

He continued, “It naturally enhances the team dynamic. Watching their brothers compete makes them think, ‘I want to get better too.’ That motivation just circulates—it really pushes everyone to excel.”