Wildcat Wrestling pins Hudson, Costabilo plays the part

By Greg Peters
Posted 1/14/25

The River Falls Wildcat wrestling team had just finished beating rival Hudson in their final home dual meet of the season this past Thursday night, 43-34. The Wildcats were back in the win column …

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Wildcat Wrestling pins Hudson, Costabilo plays the part

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The River Falls Wildcat wrestling team had just finished beating rival Hudson in their final home dual meet of the season this past Thursday night, 43-34. The Wildcats were back in the win column against Hudson, taking the last two years on the chin versus the Raiders. Trying to pin down Wildcat senior Vinny Costabilo for a post-match interview was more difficult than it has been for opponents to pin him on the mat this year. The gym lights were still dark; the "main event" white-hot spotlight was still fully focused on the center of the wrestling mat.   

Costabilo was already in sweats up in the stands. Fellow classmate and non-wrestler, Brooks Rivard, had Costabilo in a headlock; it was typical high-school-boy horseplay. Costabilo was playing the part.

Speaking of playing the part, if a casting director needed an actor to play a Shark or a Jet in "West Side Story," they would be wise to call Vinny Costabilo. If they need a Tony Manero sidekick in "Saturday Night Fever," Vinny Costabilo has that part locked up, too. The puffy dark hair, the gold chain, and the perma-smirk, it's all there. Vinny Costabilo can play himself. Costabilo is fast-talking, minus the "New Yawk" accent, and laughing all the time. There is a fun energy about him. He has a certain twinkle in his eye creating smiles for others. He gives it away for free and it's effortless. Costabilo has a sense about him he knows what it takes to survive, but, at the same time, his eyes are full of naivety.

"Vinny! Get down here, I need to interview you," barked out the sportswriter, seemingly trying to round up a herd of cats.

Costabilo jumped off the bleachers and into interviewing position.

"CRM Services Employee of the Month right here, Vinny Costabilo!" stated the senior wrestler with a screaming smile and his chest puffed out further than his hair. "I'm ready for the interview!"

Costabilo was prouder of his landscaping and snow removal part-time job and employee of the month award than he was for moving his wrestling record to 24-4 with a first period pin over Hudson's Eli Mertens.  

"It's really not about the wins and losses," said Costabilo. "It's about scoring points and having fun."

"I'm glad Vinny said that," said Head Coach Cam Loomis. "That's what we preach. That guy is on a mission and this is the best he's ever wrestled."

Costabilo has always been one of the hardest working wrestlers on the team. That has never been the issue according to his head coach. 

"But he would freeze up," said Loomis about Costabilo in past seasons. "And he wouldn't open up. We (the coaching staff) all knew it was there for Vinny. He's letting it loose this year and I'm so happy for him."

"I used to get really hung up on wins and losses and worry about am I going to lose in front of all these people," said Costabilo. "I've been praying to God to help take away my worries and anxieties and that's what I've been doing. I'm just focusing on practice and scoring points and it's been really fun this year."

Besides the employee of the month accolade, Costabilo also notched first place medals at the recent New Richmond Invitational and the coveted Northern Badger. Every opponent Costabilo faced in the Northern Badger Classic was ranked eighth in the state or better at the 144-pound class.     

Thursday night was "Give Back Night" for River Falls wrestling against Hudson. The Wildcats were collecting donated items for Our Neighbors' Place and the River Falls Food Pantry.

The Wildcats recorded six pins including Oliver Larson at 126, Reider Loomis at 132, Jonas Longsdorf at 144, Costabilo at 150, Chance Saumer at 165, and Jacob Hutchinson at 190.

"We work really hard in practice," said Loomis. "They know they're ready and they know if they fight for six minutes, there aren't too many kids that can keep up with that pace. As long as we don't get pinned, we feel like we're in the match. Isaiah Black was a perfect example."

Black was down 9-1 after the first period against Hudson's Muntasir Battah. Black battled back and earned the Wildcats four points in the team score defeating Battah 21-13.

The Wildcats will travel to Rice Lake to take on the Warriors on Thursday, Jan. 16. Start time is at 7 p.m. The match can be seen live on the River Falls Sports YouTube channel.   

River Falls Wildcats, wrestling, Hudson Raiders, dual meet, Vinny Costabilo