While at Hicksville High School under Coach Fred Recher, Neil captured the Section VIII Championships in 1967.

He then wrestled for former Penn State NVAA Champion Larry Fornicola at Keystone Junior College in PA, where he won the National Junior College Championships in 1970, one of only three Keystone wrestlers to do so.

He continued his career with Coach Bob Getchell at Hofstra University, winning a conference title and competing in two NCAA Championships.

In 1972, he assisted Fred Recher at North Shore HS and mentored County Champs Kevin Roesch and Mark Blankmeyer, and in 1974-1975 he assisted former Lock Haven NCAA Champion Fred Powell at Slippery Rock State University. The 1974 team finished in 11th place at the NCAA Division I Championships, and the 1975 team won the PSAC title with a then record 6 individual champions.

He closed out his coaching career by assisting Bob Getchell at Hofstra in 1977, the year Nick Gallo became the 126 lb. NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler.

Most people who know Neil know that his love of wrestling led him to a job with TW Promotions, Inc. and the ASICS America Corporation.

As a successful businessman, he’s had the opportunity to support the sport he loves so much. Neil applied his knowledge of wrestling to the development of wrestling facilities and equipment.

Coach Matt Sanzone of Locust Valley HS indicated that Neil not only helped design and install two wrestling practice facilities, but he’s planned and implemented dozens of others throughout the east coast area, including the renowned Friedman Wrestling Center at Cornell University.

Never severing his relationship with Hofstra, Neil remains an active participant in the university’s wrestling development program. He has long worked with the Friends of Long Island Wrestling in marketing high school and intercollegiate wrestling. Specifically this includes supporting the Long Island Chapter’s Hall of Fame Dinner and Annual Golf Outing. All these involvements are motivated by love of the sport as they accrue no remuneration.

Neil’s love of wrestling has brought him into contact with hundreds of coaches and wrestling teams throughout the years. His particular interest has been with the youth of our community and the love of working with middle school and high school kids.

Several years ago, he was intimately involved in the creation of beach wrestling, an activity that’s take place informally on the south shore beaches from the 1930’s until today. In 2005, with the help of other Long Island wrestling enthusiasts, Neil organized, promoted, and introduced a more formal style of the sport and created the newest adjunct to our great wrestling tradition- Beach Wrestling. Thousands who’ve strolled the boardwalk in Long Beach have had the opportunity to see wrestling for the first time, or renew their association with the sport on a beautiful summer afternoon. USA Wrestling quickly adopted beach wrestling as an addition to their program, and now sponsors regional, national, and world championships.

Along with TW Promotions, Inc. business associates Bill Farrell and Nick Gallo, Neil’s interest and involvement in wrestling continues on a daily basis. The company represents ASICS and RESILITE, two of wrestling’s oldest and greatest companies, and also distributes The Mat Rack System, a series of wrestling mat storage and transportation machines. Neil’s tenure in wrestling now stretches over a 40 year period and continues to grow.

Neil lives in Patchogue with his teenage daughters Aubrey and Chelsea, and his partner Karen Wenner.