Wrestling Preview
Craig Kelskey is the new king. It was just a matter of time before his diligence and endless hours of hard work paid off and sent his Red Raiders of Patchogue-Medford into the upper echelon of Suffolk wrestling.
It has been 15 years since Kelskey was hired at Patchogue-Medford and now that his team has reached the pinnacle of high school wrestling in the county, he is not too sure he is happy about it.
“I used to walk into the coaches’ meetings and there would be so many takers to schedule a dual meet with us,” Kelskey said. “Now I walk in the room and everyone scatters – and I stand alone.”
It’s not that no one likes Kelskey; they just fear his program the way they fear Sachem, Longwood and Huntington.
“I have no duals outside of our league in Suffolk. That’s ridiculous,” Kelskey said. “If we didn’t get into some tournaments we wouldn’t have any seeding criteria for my kids for the county tournament. I would like the section to propose mandatory crossover dual meets for all schools. You only get better when you wrestle the best.”
Kelskey isn’t the only coach with scheduling problems.
“Why lose and give up the chance of being undefeated by wrestling someone that’s much better?” said Sachem coach Jack Mahoney. “It’s to the point where teams avoid the better schools and we can’t schedule anyone.”
Patchogue was forced to schedule outside of the county. The Red Raiders will meet Suffern, Mahopac, Massapequa and Long Beach. At the Bellport Tournament, Kelskey was asked to send only his junior-varsity-level kids.
It’s tough being at the top.
With only five returning county champions, the county weight class titles are wide open. Deer Park’s Angelo Zegarelli (91), Huntington’s Adrian Bonilla (105), Longwood‘s Rason Phifer (112), Rocky Point’s Matt Wyllie (126) and Newfield’s Frank Ganter (250) are all back. Ganter and Phifer are two-time county champions and Phifer captured the state title with a 10-3 win over Kenmore West’s Mike Pacillo in the 112-pound final.
Wrestling
LONGWOOD INVITATIONAL
91 – C. Fellicetta (Bellport) pinned Broglie (Mt. Sinai), :55. 98 – Kalamaras (MS) won by default. 105 – Davis (Longwood) dec. Fabian (L), 4-2. 112 – Sable (L) dec. Rogers (MS), 11-1. 119 – Short (L) dec. Omelchuk (B), 7-2. 126 – Herrmann (B) dec. Lods (Newfield), 9-6. 132 – Bernholz (MS) dec. McAleese, 6-1. 138 – James (L) dec. Lorenzana (Whitman), 11-6. 145 – Woodley (L) pinned McGuire (N), 4:22. 155 – Mackenzie (L) dec. Schimmel (N), 7-4. 167 – Matuza (Whi) dec. Graham (Wya), 11-2. 177 – Chavious (B) dec. Meiselbach (MS), 2-0. Hvy – Crawford (Wya) def. Gallo (B) by tech. fall, 4:27. 250 – Marrero (Wya) pinned Day (Wya), :15. Outstanding Wrestler – Chauncy Woodley (L), 145. Champion of Champions – Woodley (L), 145. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 11 Dec 1994
LEAGUE I Longwood 55, Smithtown 13
91 – Finnerty (L) pinned Glaser, :43. 98 – Randy Fabian (L) def. Turbush by tech. fall, 2:22. 105 – Fable (L) pinned Jenkins, 5:55. 112 – Short (L) pinned Corrigan, 5:40. 119 – Vakar (L) pinned Specchio, 5:34. 126 – Lewis (L) dec. Zarcone, 12-2. 132 – McAleese (L) dec. Kipling, 12-6. 138 – James (L) def. Mousakheel by tech. fall, 4:22. 145 – Woodley (L) def. McLoughlin by tech. fall, 5:59. 155 – Rob Fabian (L) pinned Fiore, 2:24. 167 – Wohlegmuth (S) dec. Harders, 16-6. 177 – Keena (S) pinned Minarovich, 3:01. Hvy – Petrocelli (S) dec. DaSilva, 8-3. LEAGUE IV Deer Park 51, Miller Place 16. Jan. 6
Streaking Lions
The Longwood wrestling team has won five straight League I dual-meet titles and holds a League I dual-meet unbeaten streak of 31-0-1. The Lions have a dual-meet winning streak against state opponents of 58-0-1 dating to Feb. 4, 1989. The last loss was at Sachem, by a score of 27-19. They have an overall unbeaten streak of 24-0-1 since losing three times in Pennsylvania in 1993.
Coach Mike Picozzi, who resigned before this season, compiled a 104-21-2 over 10 years. What’s more impressive about Picozzi was that 14 of those losses came in his first two years at the school, which hadn’t won a league title since 1969. Jan. 6
Longwood 45, Mt. Sinai 15
91 – Finnerty (L) pinned Broglie, 2:52. 98 – Randy Fabian (L) pinned Kalamaras, 1:58. 105 – Sable (L) dec. Rodgers, 10-6. 112 – Franquiz (MS) dec. Davis, 9-4, OT. 119 – Morbillo (MS) dec. Short, 6-1. 126 – Bernholz (MS) dec. Lewis, 6-4, OT. 132 – Brown (L) dec. Lynaugh, 5-0. 138 – James (L) pinned Tucci, 3:53. 145 – Woodly (L) pinned Wells, 1:16. 155 – Rob Fabian (L) pinned Kaplan, 1:03. 167 – Hardera (L) dec. Pinola, 4-3. 177 – Giallanza (MS) pinned Minarovich, 1:37. Hvy – DaSilva (L) pinned Davidson, :43. Jan. 8
Longwood 62, Copiague 6
105 – Sable (L) pinned Hodge, 5:13. 112 – Phifer (L) won by default. 119 – Halinar (L) pinned Grosso, 1:54. 126 – Zakar (L) dec. Gorbert, 13-1. 132 – James (L) dec. Inoa, 16-9. 138 – Woodly (L) pinned Hennessey, 2:32. 145 – Sabian (L) def. Garito by tech. fall, 5:32. 167 – Short (L) won by default. 177 – Lebby (L) pinned Ayala, :43. Hvy – Morales (C) pinned DaSilva, 3:07. Forfeits by: C (98, 155). Jan. 15
LEAGUE I Longwood 42, Brentwood 15
98 – Harrel (L) dec. Acevedo, 9-2. 105 – Davis (L) dec, Salinger, 12-6. 112 – Martinez (B) dec, Finnerty, 4-2. 119 – Zakar (L) pinned Orama, 1:48. 126 – Lewis (L) pinned Cabrera, 1:36. 132 – McAlese (L) pinned Koenig, :43. 138 – Woodley (L) def. Maldonado by tech. fall, 5:27. 145 – MacKenzie (L) dec. Fields, 8-5. 155 – Fabian (L) def. Grillo by tech. fall, 1:49. 167 – Short (L) dec. Irrizzary, 6-3. 177 – Frohreich (B) pinned Lebby, 3:35. Hvy – Kriegsman (B) pinned DaSilva, 5:04. Jan. 21
Longwood 64, Centereach 0
98 – Ran. Fabian (L) pinned Otto, 1:33. 105 – Davis (L) dec. Puleo, 4-2. 112 – Shewprashad (L) dec. McNaughton, 4-3. 119 – Phifer (L) dec. Drago, 11-3. 126 – Halinar (L) def. Fabian by tech. fall, 5:47. 132 – McAlese (L) pinned Torres, 2:30. 138 – James (L) pinned Carter, 3:52. 167 – Short (L) pinned Kazaks, 4:41. 177 – Lebby (L) pinned Avitable, 1:11. Forfeits by: C (145, 155, Hvy). Jan.29
WRESTLING NOTEBOOK Longwood’s Dynasty Is Sachem’s ’90s Nemesis: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 31 Jan 1995:
Longwood can lock up its sixth consecutive League I dual-meet title with a win at Sachem at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Sachem (9-0) is the last League I opponent to beat the Lions. That was Feb. 3, 1989, when the Flaming Arrows won, 27-19, at Sachem.
Since then, Sachem is 0-4-1 against Longwood. “Hopefully, we can turn it around,” coach Jack Mahoney said. “We’re getting tired of losing to them.”
It will be a tall order. The Lions handed highly regarded Patchogue-Medford a 36-15 pasting Friday and are stronger than ever with former county champions Rason Phifer and Shawn Lewis in the lineup. Phifer is also the defending state champion at 112.
After coach Mike Picozzi resigned prior to the season, Ethan Prifte took over and the program hasn’t skipped a beat. Prifte has done a great job and the Lions have an 8-0 record.
The Lions are 63-0-1 against New York State opponents in the ’90s and have a 35-0-1 League I unbeaten streak. Sachem is 67-6-2 in the ’90s, but its problems against Longwood demonstrate how good the Lions have been.
Longwood won last year, 29-25. “Every match is close,” Mahoney said. “It’s great for the fans but not for the coaches.”
Longwood 49, Ward Melville 12
98 – Finnerty (L) pinned Bertelle, :48. 105 – Sabel (L) pinned Belvedere, 3:06. 112 – Shepherd (L) dec. DeSario, 8-0. 119 – Phifer (L) pinned Guida, 2:51. 126 – Zakar (L) dec. Boglioli, 6-2. 132 – McAlese (L) dec. Macedonia, 18-4. 138 – James (L) def. DiBernardo by tech. fall 5:58. 145 – Fabian (L) dec. Seickel, 15-5. 155 – Maehr (WM) pinned Hardarr, 1:21. 167 – Short (L) dec. Theodoropoulos, 12-6. Forfeits by: Longwood (177); Ward Melville (Hvy). Feb. 11
Sachem Defeats Longwood:
By Gregg Sarra. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 02 Feb 1995:
Year after year these exceptionally talented teams battle for the League I title. And every year they pack the gym with fans from all over the county.
And never have the wrestling teams from Sachem and Longwood let the fans down. The dual meet gets more and more exciting with each weight class. And with each year the teams add another chapter to an already historic series.
“They {fans} get their money’s worth,” Sachem coach Jack Mahoney said after his Flaming Arrows doused the League I hopes of Longwood, 24-21, last night in front of 1,800 people at Sachem.
The meet came down to the final weight class at 215, as have so many of these contests. And how ironic that with Longwood ahead, 21-18, Sachem’s Tom Zahn would wrestle Longwood‘s Rich daSilver, a former Sachem wrestler, in the decisive match.
Zahn hit daSilver with a crushing headlock and pinned him at 5:12 for the win. It was a win that ended the Flaming Arrows’ futility against the Lions in the past five years. Longwood had won four of the past five meetings and tied once.
“We won big matches in the lower weights with {Chris} Lotito and {Scott} Herfel,” Mahoney said. “That was the dual.”
Not quite the dual but those wins had a major impact on the outcome. Lotito helped Sachem climb out from a 9-0 deficit when he came back to beat Jason Short at 112 with four third-period points for a 7-5 win.
Sachem’s Kirk Peterson did his job against defending state champion Rason Phifer by staying off his back and losing, 9-0. That proved pivotal as Sachem lost only four team points there instead of six as Peterson kept Phifer at bay, albeit, while being hit with three stalling violations.
“No one got pinned and that was important,” Herfel said. “Kirk’s role was important and just one of the keys in the match.”
Peterson, the second stringer at 119, enabled Mahoney to move Herfel, the usual starter, from 119 to 126.
Herfel, the gold medalist at the Empire State Games over the summer, used a takedown with 21 seconds left in his match for a 4-3 win over Dustin Zakar.
“I didn’t mind being bumped up,” Herfel said. “It was a move for the team.”
The Massaro twins, Tom and Joe, posted decisions at 138 and 145, respectively, to get Sachem within 16-12 in the team scoring.
Longwood‘s Robert Fabian came up with a big move and put Art Hammel to his back for a 9-2 win at 155.
But Sachem countered with powerful Tony Vecchio at 167, who put the squeeze on Mike MacKenzie at 1:22 in the first period for the first pin of the match. Vecchio’s win was even more potent when MacKenzie was hit with a loss of a team point for misconduct. A six-point win became seven and the match was tied at 18.
“When we tied up I felt how much stronger I was,” Vecchio said. “I was so pumped with the crowd and all and I went right after him. It’s been six years since we beat those guys and it felt good.”
Give referee Peter Dirlan credit for understanding the intensity of the match. He could have set the tone early and hit Longwood with one or two unsportsmanlike conduct points but chose to look the other way. But Dirlan had no choice when he penalized Longwood‘s Kendell Brown at 138 for misconduct after an elbow to the head of Tom Massaro. Brown, having moved up two weights, looked frustrated against the bigger and stronger Massaro and lost, 6-1.
The loss snapped Longwood‘s (8-1) unbeaten streak on Long Island at 66 and puts Sachem (10-0) in a position to win the League I title with a win over Patchogue-Medford Feb. 10.
“We’ll enjoy this one right now,” Mahoney said. “It’s been awhile.” Sachem 24, Longwood 21
98 – Harrell (L) dec. Podgarsky, 12-0. 105 – Davis (L) dec. delos Santos, 13-3. 112 – Lotito (S) dec. Short, 7-5. 119 – Phifer (L) dec. Peterson, 9-0. 126 – Herfel (S) dec. Zakar, 4-3. 132 – McAlese (L) dec. Davidson, 3-2. 138 – T. Massaro (S) dec. Brown, 6-1. 145 – J. Massaro (S) dec. Woodley, 3-2. 155 – Fabian (L) dec. Hammel, 9-2. 167 – Vecchio (S) pinned M. MacKenzie, 1:22. 177 – M. Short (L) dec. Gissaro, 5-4. Hvy – Zahn (S) pinned daSilver, 5:12. Longwood penalized one team point for misconduct at 167.
Suffolk League 1 Tournament at Brentwood
February 18, 1995
Team Scores
1. Patchogue-Medford 198.5
2. Longwood 195.5
3. Sachem 185.5
4. Brentwood 118.5
5. Ward Melville 76.5
6. Connetquot 75
7. William Floyd 72
8. Smithtown 32
Brackets
Championship Finals
91 – Jason Finnerty (Longwood) pinned Artie Weidler (Patchogue-Medford), 3:11
98 – Tony Harrell (Longwood) major dec. Scott Jenkins (Smithtown), 8-0
105 – Nino LoCasio (Patchogue-Medford) dec. Dilberth Jiminez (William Floyd), 5-4
112 – Rason Phifer (Longwood) dec. Felix Martinez (Brentwood), 8-5
119 – Kurt Riley (Patchogue-Medford) dec. Dustin Zakar (Longwood), 5-3 OT
126 – Jeff Forsythe (William Floyd) dec. Kendall Brown (Longwood), 5-0
132 – Jack McAlese (Longwood) dec. Ed Mentz (Patchogue-Medford), 7-3,
138 – Tom Massaro (Sachem) def. Charlton Woodley (Longwood), by Inj Dflt
145 – Joe Massaro (Sachem) dec. Dennis Seikel (Ward Melville), 2-0
155 – Art Hammell (Sachem) dec. Frank Gissaro (Sachem), 4-2
167 – Anthony Vecchio (Sachem) dec. Jason Kenul (Patchogue-Medford), 5-2
177 – Andy Weaver (Patchogue-Medford) pinned Travis Jackson (Ward Melville), 1:31
215 – Bob Ramirez (Patchogue-Medford) dec. Rob Fiese (William Floyd), 8-3
250 – Mark Mueller (Patchogue-Medford) major dec. Dave Kriegsman (Brentwood), 9-1
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Jeff Forsythe (William Floyd, 126)
Most Pins Least Time: Anthony Vecchio (Sachem, 167), 3 pins in 3:16
Consolation Finals
91 – Carlos Restrepo (Brentwood) dec. Derek Graf (Sachem), 6-2
98 – Brian Podgarsky (Sachem) pinned Nate Acevedo (Brentwood), 1:33
105 – Jeremy Salinger (Brentwood) dec. William Davis (Longwood), 3-2
112 – Manny Orama (Brentwood) dec. David Accardi (Connetquot), 3-1
119 – Frank Petrella (Connetquot) dec. Scott Herfel (Sachem), 6-3
126 – Andrew Boglioli (Ward Melville) def. Shawn Lewis (Longwood), by DQ
132 – Chris Davidson (Sachem) dec. Tom Maldonado (Brentwood), 3-1
138 – Danny Hayes (Connetquot) dec. Mark Montalvo (Patchogue-Medford), 8-2
145 – Mike Fields (Brentwood) dec. Robert Fabian (Longwood), 3-1
155 – Rick Maher (Ward Melville) major dec. Rob Delucca (Patchogue-Medford), 8-0
167 – Shawn Heinlein (Connetquot) pinned Mike Short (Longwood), 2:37
177 – Scott Frohreich (Brentwood) dec. Tom Zahn (Sachem), 3-1
215 – Sean Green (Sachem) dec. Charlie Reiter (Smithtown), 4-2
250 – Peter O’Leary (Connetquot) dec. Corey Bidegain (William Floyd), 9-5
Dr. L Robert “Doc” Fallot Memorial Suffolk County Wrestling Championship
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
February 17-18, 1995Team Score
| Patchogue-Medford | 132.0 | Amityville | 33.0 | |
| Longwood | 99.5 | Hampton Bays | 32.0 | |
| Lindenhurst | 77.5 | North Babylon | 31.5 | |
| Bellport | 74.5 | Port Jefferson | 31.0 | |
| Wyandanch | 72.0 | Harborfields | 28.0 | |
| Sachem | 71.5 | East Hampton | 26.0 | |
| Deer Park | 70.5 | Greenport-Southold | 26.0 | |
| Huntington | 69.5 | Copiague | 20.5 | |
| Half Hollow Hills East | 61.5 | Bayport-Blue Point | 20.0 | |
| East Islip | 60.0 | Islip | 19.0 | |
| Half Hollow Hills West | 57.0 | Centereach | 16.0 | |
| Mt. Sinai | 51.0 | Babylon | 13.0 | |
| West Islip | 50.5 | Kings Park | 12.0 | |
| Shoreham-Wading River | 48.0 | Westhampton Beach | 10.0 | |
| William Floyd | 46.5 | West Babylon | 8.5 | |
| Mattituck | 44.0 | Riverhead | 8.0 | |
| Hauppauge | 43.5 | Commack | 6.0 | |
| Brentwood | 42.5 | Connetquot | 6.0 | |
| Sayville | 38.5 | Walt Whitman | 6.0 | |
| Newfield | 36.5 | Central Islip | 4.0 | |
| Rocky Point | 35.0 | Miller Place | 4.0 | |
| Ward Melville | 33.5 | Smithtown | 4.0 |
Championship Finals
91 – Jesse Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River, 7th) dec. Chris Felicetta (Bellport), 4-0
98 – John Case (Hampton Bays) dec. Todd Davey (Mattituck), 3-2
105 – Angelo Zegarelli (Deer Park) dec. Adrian Bonilla (Huntington, Jr.), 14-12
112 – Rason Phifer (Longwood) pinned Sal Cusuman (Deer Park), 1:08
119 – Matt Hickey (Half Hollow Hills East) dec. Kurt Riley (Patchogue-Medford), 3-1
126 – Ryan Bernholz (Mt. Sinai) dec. Jeff Forsythe (William Floyd), 5-3 OT
132 – Matt Wyllie (Rocky Point) maj dec. Jason Iannello (Hauppauge), 11-0
138 – Chauncey Woodley (Longwood) dec. Tom Massaro (Sachem), 4-3
145 – Rob Fries (Lindenhurst) dec. Kevin Lavey (Harborfields), 8-6
155 – Chris Brodmerkel (West Islip) dec. Matt Fromm (East Hampton), 5-3
167 – Anthony Vecchio (Sachem) dec. Dan Kelskey (Deer Park), 5-1
177 – James Crawford (Wyandanch, Sr.) dec. Jim Knote (Sayville), 9-3
215 – Mark Frole (Lindenhurst) dec. Alex Hunt (Greenport/Southold), 7-3
250 – Matt Mueller (Patchogue-Medford, Sr.) dec. Thomas Marrero (Wyandanch, So.), 4-3
Lonnie Kittle Most Outstanding Wrestler: Angelo Zegarelli (Deer Park, 105)
Most Pins Least Time: Jason Kenul (Patchogue-Medford, 167), 3 in 6:15
Consolation Finals 3rd/4th
91 – Jason Finnerty (Longwood) dec. Tim Hough (Mattituck), 4-2 OT
98 – Frank Palumbo (Half Hollow Hills East) dec. Mathew Ellison (Wyandanch), 4-2
105 – Nino Locascio (Patchogue-Medford) dec. Lou Puleo (Centereach), 5-4
112 – Felix Martinez (Brentwood) dec. Mike Coppinger (East Islip, Sr.), 6-0
119 – Luis Bonilla (Huntington, Sr.) pinned Dustin Zakar (Longwood), 4:33
126 – Tom Andria (Islip) dec. Ryder Herrmann (Bellport), 8-3
132 – Lou Inoa (Copiague) dec. James Thatcher (Bellport), 3-1
138 – Mike Miller (Port Jefferson) dec. Paul Turano (North Babylon, Sr.), 10-7
145 – Jason Gerondel (East Islip, Sr.) dec. Tim Ritchie (Sayville), 3-2 OT
155 – Art Hammel (Sachem) dec. Joe Amira (Half Hollow Hills West), 3-2
167 – Dave Rubano (West Islip) dec. Dave Taylor (Shoreham-Wading River), 10-4
177 – Sean Chavious (Bellport) dec. Mark DeVoe (Huntington, Sr.), 5-1
215 – Rob Ramirez (Patchogue-Medford) dec. Rob Fiese (William Floyd), 5-1
250 – Dave Ricotta (Half Hollow Hills West) pinned Bernard Henderson (Amityville), 3:54
Consolation Finals 5th/6th
91 – Artie Weidler (Patchogue-Medford) maj dec. Rob Matias (Lindenhurst), 10-1
98 – Tony Harrell (Longwood) dec. Joe Halleran (North Babylon, So.), 7-3
105 – Dilberth Jimenez (William Floyd) dec. Chris Galvez (Half Hollow Hills East), 6-1
112 – Brian Haise (Babylon) dec. Mike Franquiz (Mt. Sinai), 8-1
119 – Scott Lods (Newfield) dec. Joe Morbillo (Mt. Sinai), 13-6
126 – Nick Song (Hauppauge) dec. Andrew Bogliot (Ward Melville), 7-0
132 – Joe Duva (Port Jefferson) dec. Ed Mentz (Patchogue-Medford), 6-2
138 – Kris Pawlitschek (Bayport-Blue Point) pinned Rob Relinger (West Islip), 2:47
145 – John Goode (Westhampton Beach, Sr.) dec. Dennis Seickel (Ward Melville), 6-4
155 – Matt Scully (East Islip, Sr.) dec. Randy Connell (Lindenhurst), 4-3
167 – Jason Kenul (Patchogue-Medford) pinned Kevin Horner (Half Hollow Hills West), 0:50
177 – Travis Jackson (Ward Melville) dec. Seth Diamond (West Babylon), 4-3
215 – Ryan Hogan (Kings Park) def. Jamal Bernard (Half Hollow Hills West), by FFT
250 – Dave Kriegsman (Brentwood) def. Frank Ganter (Newfield, Sr.), by FFT
WRESTLING NOTEBOOK System Needs Some Work:
Sarra, Gregg. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Feb 1995
Powerful Patchogue-Medford, Sachem and Longwood found it difficult to schedule non-league opponents within the county this season. Between those three schools, only Longwood faced a Suffolk non-league opponent. Teams were unwilling to place their wrestlers against these top League I programs, which had an adverse effect on tournament seedings.
If a wrestler didn’t lose to an opponent from those three powerful League I schools and was a champion from Leagues II through VI, the chance of getting a high seed in the county tournament was good. If a wrestler lost to an opponent from the three schools and went on to win a league title, his seed was lower. So based on the odds of winning, why wrestle one of those guys?
“All matches have a direct effect on the seeding,” Sachem coach Jack Mahoney said. “My kids don’t have the opportunity to wrestle outside of League I and we don’t get enough points at the seeding meeting to get the proper seeds.” It’s true.
Thus, the eight League I schools, which have a total student population of more than 17,000, get an equal amount of competitors as the nine-school League VI, which has a total population of just under 3,000 – or less than the enrollment at Sachem alone. League I, which boasts four of the top 20 teams in the state and three in the top 10, has only two of the 14 top seeds in the opening round of the county tournament at 1 p.m. today at SUNY-Stony Brook.
One of those top seeds belongs to Longwood‘s Rason Phifer (112), the defending state champion, who gets an automatic first seed. The other belongs to Sachem’s Anthony Vecchio (167), who placed third at the county tournament last year. Neither would have been a top seed without last year’s result.
Today, League I will have six sixth seeds, the lowest possible seed for a league champ, out of 14 and League VI will have four top seeds, the most of any league.
Here’s how the seeding is set up. The six league champs are seeded for each weight class and the other qualifiers fill in the unseeded spots automatically. A wrestler is awarded 10 points for wins, 40 points for wins against league champs, 15 points for indirect wins against wrestlers who beat league champs and bonus points for beating defending county or state place-winners or other state sectional champions.
Basically, if you never wrestle the other league champions, you can’t amass points. Thus, a lower seed.
“People will look at the seeding in the tournament and ask, `How?’ ” Mahoney said. “Our kids can’t build points for seeding through the season because no one will wrestle us. It’s criminal.”
Ideally, the best wrestler will win no matter where he is seeded in the brackets. But in the grueling county tournament, if a wrestler’s path to the title is obscured or even slowed by too many tough opponents, he’ll never make it to the final. And if he does, he might be too banged up to persevere.
This is how the finals could shape up tomorrow night: 91 – Jessie Jantzen (SWR) vs. Chris Felicetta (Bellport). 98 – Matthew Ellison (Wyandanch) vs. Tony Harrell (Longwood). 105 – Angelo Zegarelli (Deer Park) vs. Adrian Bonilla (Huntington). 112 – Rason Phifer (Longwood) vs. Felix Martinez (Brentwood). 119 – Matt Hickey (Hills East) vs. Luis Bonilla (Huntington). 126 – Jay Gerondel (East Islip) vs. Jeff Forsythe (Floyd). 132 – Matt Wyllie (Rocky Point) vs. Jason Iannello (Hauppauge). 138 – Tom Massaro (Sachem) vs. Rob Relinger (West Islip). 145 – Kevin Lavey (Harborfields) vs. Tim Ritchie (Sayville). 155 – Brandon Connell (Lindenhurst) vs. Chris Brodmerkel (West Islip). 167 – Anthony Vecchio (Sachem) vs. Anthony Zito (Hills East). 177 – James Crawford (Wyandanch) vs. Sean Chavious (Bellport). 215 – Jamal Bernard (Hills West) vs. Mark Frole (Lindenhurst). 250 – Frank Ganter (Newfield) vs. Matt Mueller (Patchogue-Medford).
HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK Grappling A Family Tradition: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
COMPILED BY GREGG SARRA, JOHN VALENTI, J.P. PELZMAN AND GARY GLANCY. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 02 Mar 1995
It seems wrestling is a family sport. When one brother wrestles, the younger ones often follow suit. That’s because they have no choice but to defend themselves when the older brother comes home to show off his new moves.
If last weekend’s county wrestling championships were an indication, the younger brothers tend to surpass their older siblings.
In Suffolk, Ron Frole, a former Lindenhurst wrestler who reached the county tournament in 1987 but never won the title, was matside when younger brother Marc took the 215-pound title.
During his career, Len Fries of Lindenhurst lost in the county final three times through 1993; he was there when little brother Rob earned the 145-pound title.
Carleton Woodly never won a county title at Longwood when he wrestled through 1990, but there he was to embrace brother Chauncey when he won the 138-pound title.
James Crawford of Wyandanch won the 177-pound title. In his corner was brother Billy, who won a heavyweight title in 1989.
Matt Wyllie won his second title for Rocky Point. His brother Rob was a three-time winner from 1992-94.
In Nassau, the Curnuck brothers, Colin (126) and Cartney (132), won titles in consecutive weight classes for MacArthur.
Kevin Shippos of Baldwin captured the 215-pound class as brother Steve, who won two county titles in 1986-87, watched from the coaching box.
And speaking of the coaches box, former county champions Don Jantzen and Paul Brodmerkel cheered as their sons, Jesse Jantzen and Chris Brodmerkel, won titles at 91 and 155 pounds, respectively.
Shawn Kegel of MacArthur won his second consecutive 91-pound title. His brother Jim was competing in the junior-college nationals in North Dakota at the same time.
Phifer Goes for 2nd Wrestling Title: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
By Gregg Sarra. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 03 Mar 1995
Rason Phifer of Longwood doesn’t know much about losing. The 112-pound Suffolk County champion will return to the state wrestlingtournament today to defend his championship.
Phifer brings a 46-match winning streak and impressive resume back to the the Onondaga War Memorial in Syracuse. He decisioned Mike Pacillo of Kenmore West 10-3 in last year’s 112-pound final. His last loss came as a sophomore two years ago in the state final at 112 pounds when he dropped a last-second 7-6 decision to Chris Stevens of Fredonia.
“Rason is so talented that he had the potential to win more than two state titles in his career,” Longwood coach Ethan Prifte said. “Only one other Longwood wrestler has accomplished that. Rason will shoot for his second state title this weekend and he’s very focused on that goal.”
Phifer would like to join former teammate John Lange, now at Penn State, as the only Longwood wrestlers with more than one state title. Lange won three, becoming the only wrestler in Suffolk history to do so. He will be challenged by David Caruso of New Hartford, the defending state champion at 98 pounds, who moved up two weight classes.
Phifer is a three-time county champion and four-time finalist. As an eighth-grader he lost in the county final 5-4 in overtime to Huntington’s Brian Fischenich, who went on to win a state title. As a 9th-grader, Phifer was ranked first in the state but was disqualified from the League I tournament after a questionable slam against Connetquot’s Chris Dowd.
Longwood teammate Chauncey Woodly (138), a junior, will make his first trip to the state tournament as will 10 other Suffolk representatives, the most inexperienced team to go upstate in 14 years. The returnees are Rocky Point’s Matt Wyllie (132) and Deer Park’s Angelo Zegarelli (105). Wyllie finished sixth at 126 and Zegarelli placed third at 91 last year.
WRESTLING NOTEBOOK System Needs Some Work: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Sarra, Gregg. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Feb 1995:
Powerful Patchogue-Medford, Sachem and Longwood found it difficult to schedule non-league opponents within the county this season. Between those three schools, only Longwood faced a Suffolk non-league opponent. Teams were unwilling to place their wrestlers against these top League I programs, which had an adverse effect on tournament seedings.
If a wrestler didn’t lose to an opponent from those three powerful League I schools and was a champion from Leagues II through VI, the chance of getting a high seed in the county tournament was good. If a wrestler lost to an opponent from the three schools and went on to win a league title, his seed was lower. So based on the odds of winning, why wrestle one of those guys?
“All matches have a direct effect on the seeding,” Sachem coach Jack Mahoney said. “My kids don’t have the opportunity to wrestle outside of League I and we don’t get enough points at the seeding meeting to get the proper seeds.” It’s true.
Thus, the eight League I schools, which have a total student population of more than 17,000, get an equal amount of competitors as the nine-school League VI, which has a total population of just under 3,000 – or less than the enrollment at Sachem alone. League I, which boasts four of the top 20 teams in the state and three in the top 10, has only two of the 14 top seeds in the opening round of the county tournament at 1 p.m. today at SUNY-Stony Brook.
One of those top seeds belongs to Longwood’s Rason Phifer (112), the defending state champion, who gets an automatic first seed. The other belongs to Sachem’s Anthony Vecchio (167), who placed third at the county tournament last year. Neither would have been a top seed without last year’s result.
Today, League I will have six sixth seeds, the lowest possible seed for a league champ, out of 14 and League VI will have four top seeds, the most of any league.
Here’s how the seeding is set up. The six league champs are seeded for each weight class and the other qualifiers fill in the unseeded spots automatically. A wrestler is awarded 10 points for wins, 40 points for wins against league champs, 15 points for indirect wins against wrestlers who beat league champs and bonus points for beating defending county or state place-winners or other state sectional champions.
Basically, if you never wrestle the other league champions, you can’t amass points. Thus, a lower seed.
“People will look at the seeding in the tournament and ask, `How?’ ” Mahoney said. “Our kids can’t build points for seeding through the season because no one will wrestle us. It’s criminal.”
Ideally, the best wrestler will win no matter where he is seeded in the brackets. But in the grueling county tournament, if a wrestler’s path to the title is obscured or even slowed by too many tough opponents, he’ll never make it to the final. And if he does, he might be too banged up to persevere.
This is how the finals could shape up tomorrow night: 91 – Jessie Jantzen (SWR) vs. Chris Felicetta (Bellport). 98 – Matthew Ellison (Wyandanch) vs. Tony Harrell (Longwood). 105 – Angelo Zegarelli (Deer Park) vs. Adrian Bonilla (Huntington). 112 – Rason Phifer (Longwood) vs. Felix Martinez (Brentwood). 119 – Matt Hickey (Hills East) vs. Luis Bonilla (Huntington). 126 – Jay Gerondel (East Islip) vs. Jeff Forsythe (Floyd). 132 – Matt Wyllie (Rocky Point) vs. Jason Iannello (Hauppauge). 138 – Tom Massaro (Sachem) vs. Rob Relinger (West Islip). 145 – Kevin Lavey (Harborfields) vs. Tim Ritchie (Sayville). 155 – Brandon Connell (Lindenhurst) vs. Chris Brodmerkel (West Islip). 167 – Anthony Vecchio (Sachem) vs. Anthony Zito (Hills East). 177 – James Crawford (Wyandanch) vs. Sean Chavious (Bellport). 215 – Jamal Bernard (Hills West) vs. Mark Frole (Lindenhurst). 250 – Frank Ganter (Newfield) vs. Matt Mueller (Patchogue-Medford).