UFC Fighter Al Iaquinta Gives Pep Talk To Wantagh HS Students

WANTAGH, NY — Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Al Iaquinta gave a pep talk to students from his high school alma mater, Wantagh High School, as they interviewed him about his career recently for a sports literature class, according to a news release.

Iaquinta, who was an all-county wrestler and captain of the dual-meet championship team before graduating Wantagh High School in 2005, ranks number 14 in the UFC’s lightweight division, Wantagh School District officials said.

Iaquinta spoke to the students about his training schedule, his quest to stay in shape year-round and his current injuries, but he also revealed how his high school experiences prepared him for his career as a top athlete, focusing on goals being the most important tool for success, and he also encouraged students to take advantage of what the high school has to offer, according to school district officials.

“Setting goals transfers to everything in life,” Iaquinta said. “Wantagh High School was a great place to be, although I didn’t appreciate it at the time. There were resources there that I didn’t take advantage of. There is nothing like Wantagh High School.”

He was selected by sports literature students as a “Hometown Hero” that they were researching and reading about in class, and they got to chat with him in an interview during a Google Meet session on March 18, according to school district officials.

The goal of the sports literature class, which is a one-semester class for seniors, is to “bolster character and self-esteem, while teaching life lessons through nonfiction and fictional athletic literature,” school district officials said. In the class, students have read and discussed “Friday Night Lights” and researched the world’s best athletes during a “Greatest of All Time” unit, according to school district officials.

Sports literature class teacher Julie Magnuson said the Google Meet was intended as an opportunity for students to receive inspiration, but that the ultimate fighter did much more.

“You have shown us that if you dream big, you can achieve great things,” Magnuson told Iaquinta.

Iaquinta’s former coach Frank Muzio congratulated him on his achievements. “People here in Wantagh are behind you because you are a great sportsman and great representative of the community,” he said.