Matteo Somma, a triathlete with the Lightning Warriors, has become the first male member of the organization to compete at the collegiate level as he announced that he will attend Wingate University, based in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to join the university’s Men’s Triathlon Varsity Club Team.

Matteo chose Wingate because it is one of the few colleges that have triathlon as a sport. This year, the Bulldogs won the MACTC Conference. In selecting Wingate, he said, “I wanted to continue competing in triathlons in college, and this school is a big name when it comes to this sport.”

The Malverne native has always had an interest in sports. At an early age, he learned to swim at the Long Island Aquatic Center (LIAC) at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. When he entered junior high school, he decided to join the varsity cross-country team at Valley Stream North High School. In addition to running, he also continued to swim with LIAC.

When he was 15, he decided to enter his first triathlon along with his friends from his swim team. This event was the Mini Mightyman Pool Triathlon at Eisenhower Park in 2022. It was during this event he met Noah Lam, the head coach for the Lightning Warriors, which is a nonprofit triathlon team whose focus is to make the sport available to everyone. The team’s goal is to unlock each member’s potential as both an athlete and a leader. The organization also encourages its members to become better athletes and ambassadors for the sport.

“When I first competed with Lightning Warriors, all I had was a mountain bike,” Matteo said. “Since I joined, I must have gone through two bikes and will probably go through one more before leaving for college.”

“I’m amazed at the way Matteo has competed over the past couple of years,” Mr. Lam said. “We’re proud to have him represent Lightning Warriors and become the first male member of our group to compete on the collegiate level.”

When Matteo started competing in triathlons, he thought it was just a way to spend time with his friends, but he has since taken his performance to the next level and made a name for himself in the sport. He typically trains about 20 hours per week, swimming six days a week, running six to seven days a week and biking approximately five times a week. Matteo’s training is overseen by his mentor and coach Ryan Siebert, who has played an indispensable role in his progress within the sport. This year, Matteo won the 2024 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships Torremolinos-Andalucia (ages 16-19) in Spain with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, 6 seconds. It was the fastest time among all age groups. The event consisted of a 750-meter swim, 20 kilometers on the bicycle and a five-kilometer run.

He also competed in the Atlantic City Triathlon, where he finished second in his age group and third overall. In October 2025, he will compete in the World Championships in Australia.

Joseph Somma, Matteo’s father, credited Mr. Lam with helping Matteo get in touch with Mr. Siebert and finding a nutritionist for Matteo to help improve his diet. “Noah and the other coaches affiliated with Lightning Warriors have been very supportive and helped Matteo make many connections in the sport,” he says.

In addition to excelling in triathlons, Matteo has a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He is also enrolled in several Advanced Placement courses prior to graduation.

“I am proud of my son and what he has accomplished,” said Joe Somma. “Matteo has shown himself to be a success as both an athlete and a student. As a father, there is nothing more that you can ask for.”

For more information, visit www.lightningwarriors.org.

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About Lightning Warriors
Lightning Warriors is a Long Island-based not-for-profit triathlon team focused on making the sport of triathlon available to all young athletes. Lightning Warriors’ goal is to unlock each member's potential as athletes and as leaders, encouraging athletes to excel in all levels of life. For more information, visit www.lightningwarriors.org.