From 1950 to 1958, Long Island was truly the national hot bed of wrestling.

The infamous Sprig Gardner ruled the nation while Mepham High School ruled Long Island with few exceptions.

The most outstanding wrestler during that time had to be Guy Guccione, who oddly enough came from Bay Shore High School and not Mepham.

Guy dominated the Long Island scene, winning the Long Island championship three times and setting the record for Long Island's longest winning streak, losing only twice in his freshman year. For his four-year high school career, Newsday called him the "Golden Boy" of Long Island wrestling and he was selected as one of the most feared wrestlers.

He was recruited by every major university in the nation and settled on Penn State University where he received a four-year grant-in-aid. It is interesting to note that during the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s there was a gentleman’s agreement between Hall of Famers Charlie “Doc” Spiedel of Penn State and Gardner, where Gardner was to identify and recommend the one wrestler from Long Island whom Spiedel would provide a Penn State wrestling scholarship. Guccione won the scholarship in 1956 and went on the represent Penn State for four years as a varsity competitor.

After graduation Guy moved to central Pennsylvania and became the wrestling coach at Bellefonte Area High School, leading his teams to a 20-6 record from 1960-62. He then became the coach at Suffern High School, where his teams won 110 duals and won Rockland County and New York State sectional championships in 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1970. He coached three New York State champions and was considered to be one of the outstanding wrestling clinicians in the nation. “Gooch” was named Rockland County Coach of the Year in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1968.

His leadership skills next provided him an opportunity to enter the administration at Suffern High School. After becoming one of the most popular principals in Suffern High School history, he became assistant superintendent of the Suffern Central School District.

Guy is the proud father of three children, all of whom have finished their academic studies and are now actively engaged as teachers.

He is a member of the Suffern High School Hall of Fame, the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame, the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame, and now the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.