PORTJERVIS TOURNAMENT:
96 — Fiumano (H) d. Sganga (L) 12-3. 103 — Lodena (PJ) p. Butler (M) 2:47 112– Flynn (H) d. Scebeck (PJ)15-1. 119– Palacios (H) p. Dilan (L) 3:34. 125– E. Biccum (PJ) d. Zarcone (H) 9-1. 130– Spann (H) d. DaCosta (CS) 6-0. 135– Fabian (L) d. Sair (H) 9-5. 140– Jones (PJ) d. Gomez (H) 14-2. 145– Pullman (NP) d. Lake (L) 9-2. 152- – Frischknecht (RH) d. Giani (H) 1-0. 160– Piana (H) Def. Nelson (RH) 4:15. 171– McKeiernan (L) p. Quiones (CS) :32. 189– Proscia (PJ) d. Tricuricio (L) 10-4. 215– Sable +(L) p. Andriac (PJ) :24. 275– Couto (L) p. Cliaborne (M) :36. Team Scores — 1. Huntington 224; 2. Longwood 185.5; 3. Port Jervis 175; Red Hook 100; 5. Middletown 88; 6. New Paltz 74.5; 7. Clarkstown South 70; 8. Ellenville 21. Outstanding Wrestler — Henry Frischknecht (Red Hook).
LONGWOOD TOURNAMENT-Dec. 11
96 – Tutunjian (Longwood) d. Owens (L), 13-8. 103 – Sganga (L) d. Mandler (Smithtown), 14-3. 112 – McReady (Shoreham-Wading River) p. Phelps (Smi), 1:35. 119 – Licata (Smi) d. R. Dilan (L), 5-1. 125 – Miracola (SWR) d. Vargas (Wyandanch), 8-2. 130 – McGara (SWR) p. Belding (Smi), 3:03. 135 – Bernholz (Mt. Sinai) p. R. Jantzen (SWR), 4:50. 140 – Jean-Louis (Wya) d. Pinola
(MS), 8-5. 145 – Lake (L) p. Coleman (Newfield), 1:28. 152 – J. Jantzen (SWR) def. Tully (L) by TF, 2:34. 160 – Robey (N) d. Bryan (SWR), 2-1. 171 – Coogan (SWR) p. McKiernan (L), 2:33. 189 – Vlhakis (SWR) d. Tricarico (L), 4:51. 215 – Sable (L) p.
Morgella (Comsewogue), 1:08. 275 – Cuoto (L) p. Vereb (SWR), 1:33. Most outstanding wrestler: Jesse Jantzen (SWR, 152).
Mid-Hudson Tournament-at Kingston – Dec. 29
96 – Sganga (Longwood) p. M. Smith (Mahopac), 2:24. 103 – Mormile (Monroe Woodbury) d. Stuart (Colonie), 11-3. 112 – John Gartister (MW) def. Ossont (Sleepy Hollow), by TF, 3:21. 119 – Trombley (Northern Adirondack Central) d. Pagan (Newburgh Free Academy), 8-1. 125 – Stenglein (Col) def. Benson (Valley Central), by TF, 2:51. 130 – Munn (SH) d. Todd (MW), 6-4, OT. 135 – Edwards (Cornwall) by default. 140 – Masa (Long Beach) d. Walls (Baldwin), 3:13. 145 – Morczek (SH) p. Dionisio (Bald), :45. 152 – Mazzurco (Mah) d. Johnson (Niskayuna), 9-2. 160 – Rausenberger (NFA) def. Street (King) by TF, 4:07. 171 – Lawrence (NFA) d. Rice (King), 11-2. 189 – Montague (NFA) p. Constable (Averill Park), 1:45. 215 –
Sable (Long) p. White (Vestal), 1:43. 275 – Tarullo (Col) p. Johnson (Vest), 2:21. Team Scores – Monroe-Woodbury 263, Longwood 1681/2, Newburgh Free Academy 1451/2, Colonie 145, South Lewis 1361/ 2, Averill Park 1301/2, Vestal 1261/2, Long Beach 1261/2, Mahopac 1131/2, Northern Adirondack Central 1121/2, Kingston 101, Niskayuna 99, Baldwin 921/2, Valley Central 84, Ossining 801/2, Sleepy Hollow 791/2, Arlington
741/2, Cornwall 72, Cobleskill 66, Shenendehowa 611/2, North Babylon 561/2, Middletown 501/2, John Jay 23, R.C. Ketcham 15, Rondout Valley 3.
Longwood 69, Poly Prep (Brooklyn) 10
103–Sganga (L) p. Franco (PP), :56. 112–Molina (PP) d. Chin, 18- 7. 119–Samnuth (L) p. A. Young, 2:30. 125–Mathias (PP) p. Pasquale, 5:28. 130–Lynch (L) p. Scott, 2:31. 135–Fabian (L) d. Cino, 6-3. 140–Buckman (L) p. Binograd, 5:11. 145–Lake (L) p. Vonalthann, 4:51. 152–Tully (L) p. Scotto, 1:16. 160–Shackles (L) p. Walsh, 3:29. 171–McKiernan (L) p. Hart, 2:25. 189–Tricarico (L) p. Rhael, 3:00. HVY–Coute (L) p. Mangiero, 1:10. Forfeits by: Poly Prep (215). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 09 Jan 2000:
Longwood 41, Lindenhurst 21
96–Owens (Long) p. Favara, :51. 103–Sganga (Long) p. Cusumano, 5:50. 112–Gorman (Lin) d. Chin, 13-4. 119–Sebastopoli (Lin) p. Samnuth, 1:58. 125–Ficalora (Lin) d. Pasquale, 15-6. 130–Summers (Lin) d. Lynch, 10-2. 135–Fabian (Long) d. Gholson, 11-5. 140–Lake (Long) p. Canobbio, 2:27. 145–Buckman (Long) d. T.Sforza, 9-5. 152– Tully (Long) d. F.Sforza, 10-9. 160–Dare (Lin) d. Vanderwalle, 9-4. 171–McKiernan def. Pierce by TF, 3:17. 189–Tricaro (Long) p. Pontecorvo, 3:12. Forfeit by: Lin (215). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 09 Jan 2000:
Longwood 50, Ward Melville 18
112–Jong (W) p. Samnuth , 3:58. 119–Dilan (L) d. Freiberger, 7- 5. 125–Pasquale (L) d. Meyer, 4-0. 130–Lynch (L) p. Goldstein, 3:36. 135–Fabian (L) d. Gueryn, 11-4. 140–Buckman (L) d. Sefarian, 11-2. 145–Mandel (W) p. Crombie, 1:37. 152–Tully (L) p. Meir, :17. 160–Vanderwale (L) d. Doran, 4-0. 171–McKiernan (L) d. Ansley, 16- 6. 189–Trico (L) p. Maer, 5:26. HVY–Sable (L) def S.Ferraro, tf 4:43. 275–C.Ferraro (W) p. Couto, 1:15. Forfeit WM (103). Jan. 13
Longwood 59, Smithtown 10
103–Sganga (L) p. Cinco, 3:12. 112–Phelps (S) d. Chin, 17-6. 119- -Licata (S) d. Dilan, 1-0. 125–Pasquale L) d. Davey, 5-2. 130– Lynch (L) d. Manello, 10-1. 135–Fabian (L) d. Smilow by TF, 5:02. 140–Buchman (L) p. Levy, 5:00. 145–Lake (L) d. Coffin, 11-1. 152– Tully (L) p. Hildebrant, :23. 160–Brundage (S) d. Shackles, 9-4. 171- -McKiernan (L) p. Seguine, 5:21. 189–Tricarico (L) p. Chereskin, 3:38. 215–Sable (L) p. Olsen, :37.HVY –Cuoto (L) p. O’Reilly, 3:51. Jan. 15
THIS WEEK / A LOOK AT THE TOP HIGH SCHOOL GAMES AND PLAYERS: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
REPORTED BY DEBORAH SATTER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 18 Jan 2000:
WRESTLING
East Islip at North Babylon (Tomorrow, 5:45 p.m.): East Islip seeks revenge against North Babylon, which won last year’s meeting, 37-27, and captured the League III title. Rob Baccaro, the defending county champ at 96 pounds, is one of East Islip’s top wrestlers. North Babylon is led by Greg McCoy at 119.
Longwood at Floyd (Friday, 7 p.m.): Two of the best teams in League I as well as the county. Last year, Floyd beat Longwood for the first time in 12 years. Floyd is led by defending state champ Ryan Maurer (135) and Longwood is led by Dan Sable, at 215. Both are undefeated in the league.
Shoreham-Wading River Tournament (Saturday, 10 a.m.): Some of the top teams in the county, including host Shoreham-Wading River, Brentwood and Longwood, as well as upsate power Suffern (Section I), will be competing.
Longwood 40, Floyd 24
96–103–Owens (L) d. Pearce, 5-2.112–Sganga (L) d. Korn, 18- 10.119–Dilan (L) d. Dugin, 3-0.125–Ar.DeOliviera (F) d. Pasquale, 7- 3.130–Carasiti (F) p. Jackman, 1:25.135–Williams (F) d. Fabian, 14- 7.140–Lake (L) p. Piscak, 2:41.145–Ad.DeOliviera (F) d. Tully by TF, 4:42.152–Maurer (F) INJ Vander Walle, .160–Shackles (L) p. Schmid, 4:31.171–McKiernan (L) d. Parr by TF, 3:58.189–Tricarico (L) p. Sferrazza, :53.HVY–Sable (L) p. Greene, 1:59. Jan. 22
Longwood Is Victorious: [SUFFOLK Edition]- Longwood 27, Brentwood 25
Gregg Sarra. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 29 Jan 2000
The staredowns more associated with the WWF (entertainment wrestling) had nothing on last night’s 160-pound match in the Longwood-Brentwood dual meet for first place in Suffolk’s powerful League I.
Brentwood’s Rich Boine and Longwood’s Matt Shackles were fired up before the opening whistle and the action that proceeded had the entire crowd pumping.
Soon after their serious staredown, Boine took Shackles right to his back and nearly gained a first-period pin before the feisty junior fought his way out.
Boine expended so much energy trying to nail the pin he gassed late in the second period as Shackles, to the roar of the crowd, scooped Boine into the air and laid him down to rest for the pin in 3:32.
The result drew bedlam from the home crowd and sent Longwood onto a 27-25 victory and sole possession of first place before 547 fans at Longwood.
“The stare was just a way of seeing what was in his head,” Shackles said, “and it kind of backfired because he came out fast and hit me with a great move. But I remembered what the coaches told me, ‘It’s easy to roll over and lose. It’s much more difficult to stick it out.'”
Shackles did more than stick it out, he persevered.
Shackles’ win helped cut the Lions’ deficit to 21-20. Teammate Dan McKiernan followed with a 12-1 win over Tom Blumenauer at 171 pounds for a 24-21 Longwood lead.
Brentwood’s Antonio Pegues upended Mark Tricarico, 18-6, giving the Indians a 26-24 lead before Longwood’s Dan Sable, the defending county champion, beat Larry Banks, 11-4, at 215 to seal the Lions’ win and end Brentwood’s dual-meet winning streak at 18-previously the longest on Long Island.
“I like the way we matched up,” said Brentwood coach Bob Panariello, whose team lost a point for unsportsmanlike conduct. “They came up with some big wins.”
Brentwood (4-1) captured the League I dual meet and tournament titles last year. But last night, resolve and fortitude enabled a younger Lions team to gain the top spot in the league.
One of the most inspiring performances came from Longwood ninth- grader Nick Buckman, who wrestled up two weights, and prevented highly-regarded Casey Beach from gaining crucial pin points. Beach won, 9-2, in the 145-pound match.
Longwood coach Darren Goldstein said Buckman is considered a technically terrific wrestler for someone so young and his job was to help the Lions stay close in the team score.
“He’s able to counter well and wrestle smart,” Goldstein said. “And that kept us in the match. I knew it would very close. We needed a few breaks to pull out the win.”
Panariello made a move that looked critical to winning the dual. He moved 135-pounder Mike Munoz down a weight to 130 pounds to meet Ricky Lynch. The decision proved to be a winner. Munoz beat Lynch, 13- 2, for a major decision and four team points to give Brentwood a 13- 7 lead. Then eventually came Shackles’ match against Boine and victory for Longwood.
SUFFOLK LEAGUE I
Patchogue-Medford 36, Longwood 27
96–Owens (L) d. Costello, 7-2. 103–Sganga (L) d. Holmgren, 5-4. 112–Rothaus (PM) def Chin by inj. 119–Dilan (L) p. Anello, 2:54. 125–Ognosky (PM) p. Jackman, 2:19. 130–Melito (PM) p. Massian, 3:03. 135–B. Mentz (PM) d. Fabian, 5-1. 140–Buckman (L) d. Anastasia, 8-2. 145–R. Mentz (PM) p. Lake, 4:38. 152–Newsom (PM) d. Vanderwalle, 4-2. 160–Skackles (L) d. Davila, 6-0. 171–Deloarocco (PM) p. McKineran, 3:00. 189–Tricarico (L) d. Karbowiak, 10-3. Forfeits by: PM (215). Feb. 3
SUFFOLK LEAGUE I: What a week for the Brentwood wrestling team. Longwood seized sole possession of first place in the league with a 27-25 win over Brentwood on Jan. 28. But things have changed drastically since that loss. Longwood lost three starters to injury and dropped consecutive dual meets to Patchogue-Medford and Sachem. Brentwood clinched the league title after host Sachem edged Longwood, 30-29, leaving Longwood, Patchogue-Medford and Sachem tied for second.
“We sat and watched the whole thing,” Brentwood coach Bob Panariello said. “First we were out of it. Then we were back in it. Now we’re the champions. We were silently happy. It’s been a very tough league. And it ended with a wild week.”
Sachem heavyweight Duncan Iannucci (215) took down defending Suffolk champion Dan Sable with 11 seconds remaining to tie the score at 6 and send the bout into overtime. The two wrestled into overtime criteria before Sable rode out Iannucci for the win.
But it wasn’t enough as Longwood fell a point short on the team score.
NASSAU CONFERENCE II: Long Beach won its third straight Conference II title, although the Marines will share the crown with Bellmore JFK. The two teams finished with 5-1 conference marks after Long Beach ended its regular season with a 33-18 win over Port Washington.
SUFFOLK LEAGUE I
Sachem 30 Longwood 29
103–Sganga (L) p. Reilly, 3:56. 112–Marorty (S) p. Samnuth, :32. 119–Sokolovoski (S) d. Dilan, 4-1. 125–Dodge (S) p. Jackman, 1:24. 130–Vanneh (S) d. Massian, 8-2. 135–Fabian (L) p. Iodogno, 3:16. 140–Buckman (L) d. Faller, 5-0. 145–Lake (L) d. Pesce, 16-3. 152– Lundy (S) p. Bonabort, 1:41. 160–Kling (S) d. Shackles, 12-5. 171– McKiernan (L) p. Toia, 4:54. 189–Hiller (S) d. Tricarico, 5-3. 215– Sable (L) def. Iannucci, 6-6, OT. Feb. 6
Suffolk League 1 Tournament at Lindenhurst
February 12, 2000
Team Scores
1. Longwood 181
2. Brentwood 173
3. Lindenhurst 163.5
4. William Floyd 153
5. Sachem 148.5
6. Patchogue-Medford 95.5
7. Smithtown 61.5
8. Ward Melville 57
Brackets
Championship Finals
96 – Matt Sganga (Lwd) pinned Tony Sebastopoli (Lind), 5:00
103 – John Cusumano (Lind) dec. John Gorman (Lind), 11-7
112 – Starlin Jimenez (Bwd) dec. John Manarte (Sac), 14-0
119 – Steve Sebastopoli (Lind) dec. Frank Sokolowski (Sac), 4-0
125 – Rob Carasiti (WF) dec. Ryan LaFlare (Lind), 10-6
130 – Mike Williams (WF) dec. Jerard Melito (PM), 6-1
135 – Adam DeOliveria (WF) dec. Jamie Fabian (Lwd), 8-4
140 – Ryan Maurer (WF) dec. Jeffrey Salinger (Bwd), 21-10
145 – Casey Beach (Bwd) dec. Rob Mentz (PM), 4-3
152 – Job Fernandez (Bwd) dec. Frank Sforza (Lind), 10-9
160 – Dan Toia (Sac) pinned Dave Dave Brundage (Sm), :58
171 – Dan McKineran (Lwd) dec. Jim Hiler (Sm) OT Crit.
189 – Antonio Pegues (Bwd) dec. Mark Tricario (Lwd), 14-5
215 – Dan Sable (Lwd) pinned Shane Ferraro (WM), 2:26
275 – Duncan Iannucci (Sac) dec. Cole Ferraro (WM), 2-0 OT
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Starlin Jimenez (Brentwood, 112)
Most Pins Least Time: Joe Maehr (Ward Melville, 189), 3 in 8:22
Consolation Finals
96 – John Barrone (WF) pinned Mike Tutunjian (Lwd), 4:25
103 – Jack Holmgren (PM) dec. Tim Reilly (Sac), 8-1
112 – Ken Dugin (WF) dec. Max Rothus (PM), 3:00
119 – Greg Licata (Sm) dec. Ari DeOliveria (WF) 3-1 OT
125 – Angel Garced (Bwd) by inj. dflt. over Carl Ficalora (Lind)
130 – Keith Gholson (Lind) dec. Joe Pedagno (Sac), 9-5
135 – Brian Mentz (PM) pinned Ed Meehan (Sac), 3:41
140 – Tom Sforza (Lind) dec. Nick Buckman (Lwd), 3-2
145 – Charles Greaves (Bwd) dec. Chris Lake (Lwd), 7-1
152 – Jason Kling (Sac) dec. Ken Schmidt (WF), 8-1
160 – Dylan Vanderwalle (Lwd) dec. Matt Schackles (Lwd), 6-5
171 – John DellaRocco (PM) dec. Tom Blumenauer (Bwd), 7-2
189 – Joe Maehr (WM) pinned Brandon Hillman (Sm), 5:28
215 – Larry Banks (Bwd) pinned Doug Olsen (Sm), 4:16
275 – Nick Allocco (WF) dec. Tim O’Reilly (Sm) 2-1 OT
It’s Close Call for Sganga:
Gregg Sarra. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 19 Feb 2000:
Matt Sganga struggled mightily to get free. The Longwood wrestler, seeded second at 96 pounds, was in a bind against powerful sophomore Rohan Murphy of East Islip in a sudden-death overtime period.
Sganga conferred with Longwood coach Darren Goldstein before the final 30 seconds of his match in the quarterfinal round of yesterday’s Dr. Robert Fallott Suffolk County Wrestling Championships at the University at Stony Brook before a soldout crowd of 3,225.
Sganga was up against difficult odds. Murphy, who was born with a severe birth defect in his lower legs and had his legs amputated just below the upper thigh at age 4, has developed the strength of a 160- pound athlete in his upper body.
“Coach told me I had to have constant motion to get Murphy off- balance,” Sganga said. “He is so strong and I couldn’t let him clamp down on me or it was over.”
Sganga broke free of Murphy for a reversal just before time expired and took a 4-2 overtime win to advance into the semifinal round against third-seeded Joe Fiumano of Huntington at 10 a.m. today.
A dejected Murphy (26-3) was hugged at center mat by Sganga (29- 1) to a standing ovation.
“I have all the respect for him in the world,” Sganga said. “We worked out together in freestyle over the summer and became great friends. There is nothing handicapped about him on the mat.”
Murphy was hard on himself after the bout but vowed to come back through the wrestleback rounds and place in the tournament.
“He just rolled on me and I lost control,” said Murphy, who won his first wrestleback match against Kris Greene of Harborfields, 12- 4. “I’m disappointed, but I have to get ready to wrestle back.”
Murphy took a 2-0 lead with a first-period reversal before Sganga scored an escape and tied the score at 2 with a second period penalty point.
“He [Murphy had me with an arm lever and a tight waist,” Sganga said. “He was squeezing the air out of me.”
Just not enough to squeeze out a win.
c
Dr. L Robert “Doc” Fallot Memorial Suffolk County Wrestling Championship
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
February 19-20, 2000Team Score
| Huntington | 149.5 | Islip | 26.0 | |
| Hauppauge | 132.0 | Sayville | 26.0 | |
| Brentwood | 107.5 | Bay Shore | 25.5 | |
| East Islip | 107.5 | Harborfields | 23.0 | |
| Shoreham-Wading River | 102.0 | East Hampton | 22.0 | |
| William Floyd | 97.5 | Half Hollow Hills West | 22.0 | |
| Northport | 81.0 | Mattituck/Greenport | 21.0 | |
| Lindenhurst | 79.5 | Commack | 20.5 | |
| Amityville | 72.0 | Kings Park | 18.5 | |
| North Babylon | 70.5 | Walt Whitman | 18.5 | |
| Rocky Point | 67.0 | Babylon | 17.5 | |
| Longwood | 52.5 | John Glenn | 17.0 | |
| Half Hollow Hills East | 50.5 | Wyandanch | 16.0 | |
| Sachem | 43.5 | Central Islip | 14.0 | |
| Westhampton Beach | 42.5 | Smithtown | 14.0 | |
| Patchogue-Medford | 40.5 | Stony Brook | 13.0 | |
| West Islip | 38.5 | Centereach | 11.0 | |
| Mt. Sinai | 37.5 | Copiague | 11.0 | |
| Bellport | 35.5 | Riverhead | 9.0 | |
| Ward Melville | 35.0 | Comsewogue | 7.0 | |
| Connetquot | 31.5 | Southampton | 6.0 | |
| Deer Park | 28.0 | Bayport-Blue Point | 4.0 | |
| Newfield | 26.5 | Hampton Bays | 4.0 |
Championship Finals
96 – Rob Vaccaro (East Islip, So.) pinned Matt Sganga (Longwood, So.), 5:31
103 – Pat Flynn (Huntington, So.) pinned John Cusumano (Lindenhurst, Jr.), 3:01
112 – Dan Song (Hauppauge, So.) dec. Starlin Jimenez (Brentwood, Sr.), 5-4
119 – Steve Palacios (Huntington, So.) dec. Steve Sebastopoli (Lindenhurst, Sr.), 3-2
125 – Dan Roberts (Bellport, Jr.) dec. Frank Rivera (North Babylon, Sr.), 3-2
130 – Kyle Bernholz (Mt. Sinai, Sr.) dec. Anthony Carbone (Northport, Sr.), 3-2
135 – Mike Torriero (Rocky Point, Sr.) pinned Justin Iannello (Hauppauge, Jr.), 1:44
140 – Ryan Maurer (William Floyd, Jr.) pinned Uthman Jackson (Amityville, Jr.), 4:28
145 – Jesse Jantzen (Shoreham-Wading River, Sr.) TF Casey Beach (Brentwood, Sr.), 17-2
152 – Mike Patrovich (Islip, Jr.) dec. Lou Giani III (Huntington, Sr.), 4-2
160 – Jack Piana (Huntington, Sr.) dec. Ryan Robey (Newfield, Jr.), 8-2
171 – Jerome Joe (Half Hollow Hills East, Sr.) dec. Woody Cromarty (Amityville, Sr.), 12-6
189 – Antonio Peques (Brentwood, Jr.) dec. Matthew Rocco (Half Hollow Hills East, Sr.), 8-6 OT
215 – Dan Sable (Longwood, Sr.) TF Larry Banks (Brentwood, So.), 18-3
275 – Cole Ferraro (Ward Melville, Sr.) pinned Duncan Iannucci (Sachem, Jr.), 5:57
Lonnie Kittle Most Outstanding Wrestler: Mike Torriero (Rocky Point, 135)
Champion of Champions: Dan Song (Hauppauge, 112)
Most Pins Least Time: Rob Vaccaro (East Islip, 96), 4 in 13:15
Consolation Finals 3rd/4th
96 – Joe Fiumano (Huntington, Jr.) dec. Rohan Murphy (East Islip, Jr.), 6-0
103 – Joe Moramarco (Northport, Jr.) dec. Rob Fredette (Westhampton Beach, So.), 10-3
112 – John Manarte (Sachem, So.) dec. Greg McCoy (North Babylon, Jr.), 6-4 OT
119 – Lou Vecchio (Westhampton Beach, Sr.) dec. Xavier Vargas (Wyandanch, Jr.), 10-0
125 – Brian Gatta (Northport, Sr.) pinned Lou Russo (East Hampton, So.), 4:47
130 – Mike Williams (William Floyd, Jr.) dec. Jerard Melito (Patchogue-Medford, Jr.), 7-4
135 – Adam DeOliviera (William Floyd, Jr.) TF Chris Barrett (East Islip, Sr.), 19-3 3:59
140 – Gavin Ress (Hauppauge, So.) dec. Bill Mascaro (West Islip, Sr.), 4-2
145 – Charles Kozora (Mattituck, Sr.) dec. Rob Mentz (Patchogue-Medford, Jr.), 11-6
152 – Mike Seluzitsky (Commack, Sr.) dec. Sean Fehn (North Babylon, Jr.), 4-1
160 – Joe Cea (Rocky Point, Sr.) dec. Frank Zappulla (Connetquot, Sr.), 12-1
171 – Rychie Ress (Hauppauge, Sr.) dec. Chris Cardella (Walt Whitman, Sr.), 1-0
189 – Matt Corcoran (Rocky Point, Jr.) dec. Mark Brunza (East Islip, Sr.), 2-1
215 – Barry Lewis (Hauppauge, Sr.) pinned Kevin Gribbon (Harborfields, Sr.), 4:56
275 – Chris Gugliotta (Sayville, Jr.) dec. Jamall Taylor (Amityville, Sr.), 9-7
Consolation Finals 5th/6th
96 – Jaret Czarniecki (Northport, So.) dec. John Barone (William Floyd, 7th), 7-3
103 – John Gorman (Lindenhurst, Fr.) dec. Mike Velys (Riverhead), 4-2 OT
112 – Ryan McCready (Shoreham-Wading River, Jr.) dec. Mike Synan (East Islip, Jr.), 7-4
119 – Mike Vaccaro (East Islip, Jr.) dec. Gregg Licata (Smithtown, Sr.), 2-1
125 – Josh Federico (Kings Park, Jr.) dec. Ryan LaFlare (Lindenhurst, Jr.), 4-0
130 – Mike Roth (Half Hollow Hills West, Jr.) dec. Keith Gholson (Lindenhurst, Sr.), 10-9
135 – Brian Mentz (Patchogue-Medford, Jr.) dec. Josh Keitt (Central Islip, So.), 2-1
140 – Nick Gomez (Huntington, Jr.) dec. Frank Sforza (Lindenhurst, Jr.), 2-0
145 – Lee Rappaport (Half Hollow Hills West, Sr.) def. Matt Horsley (Bellport, Sr.), By Dflt
152 – Anthony Coster (Connetquot, Sr.) dec. Rich Delgado (Centereach, Jr.), 2-1
160 – Sean Bryan (Shoreham-Wading River, Sr.) pinned Dave Brundage (Smithtown, Sr.), 1:42
171 – Bill Coogan (Shoreham-Wading River, Sr.) dec. Dennis Laterza (West Islip, Sr.), 4-1
189 – Pete Vlahakis (Shoreham-Wading River, Sr.) dec. Ben Bonaventura (Hauppauge, Sr.), 5-3
215 – Shaun Adams (Deer Park, Jr.) dec. Tim Dreyer (Connetquot, Jr.), 9-4
275 – Rob Weiner (Stony Brook, Sr.) dec. Jeff Carey (Hauppauge, Sr.), 3-2
HEAVY LIFTING Long Island’s Kerry McCoy has big shoes to fill, those of wrestling legend Bruce Baumgartner: [SPORTS FINAL Edition]
Coffey, Wayne. New York Daily News; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 10 Sep 2000:
On one of his bulging biceps, there are two Japanese characters that mean “to dominate.” On the other, there are five interlocking rings. When Kerry McCoy puts his arms together, he doesn’t merely create havoc on the world’s wrestling mats, or display his freshly beefed-up physique.
He has a capsule description of his short-term plans, the destination he has pointed his life toward for four years.
“My goal is to be the best I can be, and the best I can be is Olympic champion,” McCoy said before a recent workout at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
For the first time in four quadrennials, the U.S. freestyle heavyweight is not named Bruce Baumgartner. Rather, it is the 26- year-old McCoy, of Middle Island, L.I., and Longwood High School, a converted 220-pounder and favorite son of the New York Athletic Club, which helps support him.
McCoy, whose father, Richard, was a former Morgan State football player, is 18-0 this year. He has been so crushingly efficient that it helped Baumgartner, now head man at USA Wrestling, see the wisdom of retirement.
“I quit at the right time,” Baumgartner said at the Olympic trials, where McCoy defeated longtime rival and reigning world champion, Stephen Neal, to gain the Olympic spot.
Four years ago, McCoy, a two-time national champion at Penn State, finished third in the Olympic trials, losing to the eventual gold medalist, Kurt Angle. A year later came a wholly different setback, when FILA, the sport’s international govering body, eliminated the 220-pound weight class.
Suddenly, McCoy found himself in the playpen with 286-pound boys, no small adjustment. As recently as two years ago, McCoy was still giving away 50 or 60 pounds, which did not stop him from almost making the world championship finals, before a 1-1 semifinal victory over Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba was overturned after the Cuban delegation filed a protest that was upheld.
McCoy recognized that he needed to bulk up, and began working with Joe Bastardi, a bodybuilder in State College, Pa., launching into an intense weightlifting campaign that added some 40 pounds of muscle to his 6-2 frame. The challenge these days is often to keep the weight on; McCoy pushes himself so hard in workouts he can lose as much as 10 pounds in a single session.
“He’s a late-night pizza guy, and I’ve offered to buy them for him if he needs them to keep weight on,” said Bruce Burnett, the U.S. Olympic freestyle coach.
Like virtually everyone else who has spent any time around McCoy, Burnett has nothing but raves for his natural charisma, affability and smarts. An assistant wrestling coach at Lehigh, McCoy was chairman of the NCAA’s student advisory committee. At Longwood HS, when he wasn’t winning his state wrestling championship, he was playing first-chair cello in the school orchestra, and serving as senior class president.
“He’s got a great personality, with a great work ethic and great athletic ability. Then you add the intelligence in there, and it’s a pretty hard combination to stop,” Burnett said.
Perhaps McCoy’s most singular gift, though, is his ability to stay positive. It is a quality he has manifested his entire life, never moreso than when he suffered two broken legs in kindergarten, getting hit by a hit-and-run driver in Central Islip while waiting at a bus stop with his grandmother.
McCoy was in the hospital for several months, and in a body cast for months more. His ebullient spirit and smile made him a favorite among doctors and nurses.
“He was always, always a trooper,” said Gretchen Cisco, McCoy’s mother, a devout Christian who prayed over scripture while Kerry was wrestlingNeal at the Olympic Trials in Dallas. “He never complained about the pain, never cried. He was just so brave.”
Said McCoy, “It was one of the best times of my life. I had first- class accommodations at all times. When I wanted something to eat, they brought me food. When I wanted to watch TV, I could watch TV. The only thing I couldn’t do is go out and play.”
McCoy moved to Colorado Springs a year ago, a transition that he said has been a huge factor in his development. Reknowned for his quickness and savvy, McCoy has reached a whole new level this year, according to Burnett.
He has already beaten Rodriguez and Neal, the last two world champions. Now comes the greatest challenge of his life: to live the message of his tattoos, and get to the top of the Olympic podium.
“He has a plan and a dream, and he’s going for it,” Burnett said.
OLYMPIC OBSTACLES 1. U.S. wrestlers must deal with Alexander Karelin, Russian Greco-Roman superheavyweight and the closest thing these Games have to a mortal lock. The retirement-bound Karelin, seeking to become the first Olympic wrestler to win four gold medals, has not lost an international match in his career.
SPORTS FLASH / LI Wrestler Sweeps Trials / McCoy beats world chapion, wins ticket to Sydney: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
John Jeansonne. STAFF CORRESPONDENT. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 25 June 2000:
Dallas – Kerry McCoy deserved a hug. And not just one of those sweaty, businesslike embraces in plentiful supply during the three- day U.S. Olympic wrestling trials that concluded last night. For a lot of tiring, heavy lifting – moving reigning world champion Stephen Neal around the room in consecutive matches like cumbersome furniture – the 25-year-old former Longwood High School star earned a trip to Sydney, Australia, in September and an eventual squeeze of pride from his mother.
McCoy had just engaged in various activities appearing to be against doctor’s orders. Beyond the obvious, exhausting tug-of-war with Neal – like McCoy, an extra-large package of muscle, quickness and relentlessness – there was the tension of the proceedings. McCoy had arrived at the trials as the No. 1 seed, by virtue of his April victory over Neal at the national championships, so he waited while an eight-man “challenge tournament” boiled the heavyweight freestyle division down to a single finals opponent.
Not surprisingly, the opponent who emerged was 23-year-old Neal of Bakersfield, Calif., winner of both the 1999 U.S. and world heavyweight titles -and last summer, he was the last man to defeat McCoy.
To earn an Olympic berth, McCoy had to beat Neal twice, in a best- of-three-matches, single-day showdown. That meant putting McCoy’s previously at-rest body against Neal’s building momentum in another test of wrestling physics.
Still, McCoy got all the angles right, applying the proper leverage from a 4-1 afternoon decision, followed by a 6-4 win in the evening.
“Right now,” McCoy said, “I’m on top of the world. I’m going to take a couple of weeks off and let everyone know it happened. Do some traveling, get back to New York. I’m been talking about this for a long time and it finally happened.”
Though heavyweight wrestling often projects the same level of action as isometric exercises, the 260-pound McCoy and 255-pound Neal offered nifty footwork, flash attacks and wriggling escapes. In their midday opening match, several lunges at each other’s legs were futile until, their arms locked like opposing NFL linemen, McCoy suddenly heaved Neal over his left shoulder like he was tossing a couch out a bedroom window, which gave McCoy the 3-0 lead that easily stood up.
When they met again hours later, with Neal needing a victory to force a rubber match, McCoy fell briefly behind 1-0 but repeatedly got to Neal’s legs, twisting him out of position.
After the win, McCoy was free to admit that the five Olympic rings tattooed on his right biceps were meant for the 1996 Atlanta Games. The tattoo “has faded a little bit,” McCoy said, “but it still had enough power left.”
It was back in his senior year at Longwood High, when McCoy was the undefeated New York State 177-pound champion, that he first began to think of Olympic possibilities. On his way to two NCAA championships at Penn State, he once strung together 88 straight victories. He worked as a volunteer assistant with the Penn State wrestling team and put a couple of hundred-thousand miles on a battered car, driving to competitions and training camps, even working as a training partner with three-time Olympian Bruce Baumgartner.
For the ’96 Atlanta Games, Baumgartner asked McCoy to be in his corner, McCoy’s closest glimpse of the Olympics after finishing third in the ’96 trials. Until now.
“In ’95, I had a couple of close matches with Kurt Angle and Kurt won the worlds,” McCoy said. “So I thought ’96 was going to be the year for me. That’s when I got the tattoo. I thought I was destined to make the team then and I didn’t. But this is just as good.”