2013 pages - Friends of Long Island Wrestling
Transcription
2013 pages - Friends of Long Island Wrestling
19214_Cover:2013 covers 1/2/13 12:12 PM Page 1 19214_Cover:2013 covers 1/2/13 12:12 PM Page 2 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 1 Long Island Wrestling 2013 Editorial Staff* Published By: The Friends of Long Island Wrestling Bill Brennen is a 1956 graduate of Mepham H.S. He graduated from Pratt Institute in 1960 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and is now a retired partner of Brennen & Sadera, a New York based graphic design firm. He has been active in various aspects of Long Island wrestling for over thirty-five years, working with The Nassau County Wrestling Coaches Association and The Friends of Long Island Wrestling, where he is a board member. 775 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793 (516) 804-8676 www.friendsoflongislandwrestling.com www.foliw.com Editorial Staff Executive Editor Deputy Editor Copy Editors Design Director Layout Research Editors Staff Photographer Advertising Jerry Seckler Pascal Perri B.A. Schoen & Robin Earl Bill Brennen Bill Brennen & Jerry Seckler Bill Brennen & Jerry Seckler Pete Venier Jerry Seckler & David Hayes B.A. Schoen attended Baldwin High School and wrestled there for coach Buzzy Friedel. He attended Moorhead State College in Minnesota and majored in Mass Communications. He was a referee for years, including two as President of the LI Wrestling Official’s Association. In 1996 he was elected to the Baldwin Board of Education and, in 2009, to the board of Nassau BOCES, positions he holds today. Besides writing for this publication, he has assumed the lead roll in the “Friends” presence on the web. Editorial Contributors T.J. Brocking • Mike Candel • Glen Jochum • Chris Messina Jamie Moffet • Larry Owings • Pascal Perri • James Sagos Don Sayenga • B.A. Schoen • Jerry Seckler • Richard Shane Jim Sheehan • Yar Smada • Lee Roy Smith • Dan Wetzel Michael White Pascal Perri was a champion wrestler at both Mepham High School and Syracuse University. He became one of the premier wrestling officials in the United States. He founded the National Association of Wrestling Officials and is past president of The Eastern Collegiate Wrestling Officials Association. In 1995 he was inducted into The National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an “Outstanding National Official.” He is an officer and board member of The Friends of Long Island Wrestling The Friends of Long Island Wrestling would like to thank the many people and organizations that have graciously contributed stories and photographs in this issue of Long Island Wrestling: The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum, Mike Candel (Nassau Community College), Pete Venier, Joe D’Aquila, Glen Jochum & John Griffin (Stony Brook University), Jim Sheehan (Hofstra University) and all the families and friends of our Hall of Fame inductees. We are grateful to all of our Sponsors: Asics Corporation, Bethpage Credit Union, Michael DerGarabedian, Joe Settinari. In addition, we thank all the individuals and businesses who have taken ads. Without this support, we would be unable to publish this book each year. In the mid 1950’s, Marlboro cigarettes was looking for a rugged, good-looking athlete to feature in their national ad campaign. Bill Farrell, a Hofstra alumni and Little AllAmerican apparently had the “look” and was selected to be the model for the Marlboro Man Campaign. The picture on the cover of this publication is of Bill Farrell smoking a Marlboro and covering his right cauliflower ear with his fist.On the back of his fist was a tattoo. Bill’s photograph appeared nationwide on billboards and in numerous newspapers and magazines. Bill Farrell,a physical fitness fanatic certainly did not smoke. As you will read in these pages, Bill, became a multiple time National and International Champion. He was also the U.S. Olympic wrestling coach in 1972. He later founded one of the most successful sports oriented businesses in the nation. Bill recently passed away at the age of 83 and is missed by all in the wrestling community. *Jerry Seckler Jerry Seckler biography found on page 3 with the Presidents Message Pete Venier is a 1956 graduate of Wantagh High School where he was a Long Island wrestling champion.He then went on to wrestle at Colgate University. While serving as an assistant wrestling coach at Connetquot H.S., he began to photograph local wrestlers. His expertise soon became nationally known. His work has been featured in virtually every national wrestling publication, and in many college wrestling guides. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009. 1 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 2 Friends of Long Island Wrestling Officers, Directors and Committees Hall of Fame Selection: William Zagarino, Chairman • Bob Bury Larry Cantor Mike Davey • Bill DeSario Reggie Jones, Jr. • Jack Mahoney • Joe Patrovich Pascal Perri • Jerry Seckler • Pete Venier Officers: Jerry Seckler, President Pascal Perri, Vice President Bill Trichon, Treasurer Jack Friedman, Of Counsel Pete Venier, Comptroller Board of Directors Roger Bogsted Bill Brennen Paul Brodmerkel Richard Bury Robert Bury Larry Cantor Pete Cimino Mike DerGarabedian Bill DeSario George Dlugolonski Group Representatives: Neil Duncan Dennis Dunne William Farrell Jack Friedman Ronald Friedman Louis Giani Howie Greenblatt David Hayes Reggie Jones, Jr. Paul McCarthy Christopher Messina Kevin Murphy Paul Schmidt B.A. Schoen Frank Seckler Joe Settineri Paul Schmidt William Zagarino Colleges — Paul Schmidt Officials — B.A. Schoen Publications & Website Bill Brennen • Dave Hayes • Pascal Perri B.A. Schoen • Jerry Seckler • Pete Venier Tournaments: Advisory Board Roger Bogsted Michael DerGarabedian Dennis Dunne Ron Friedman Sections — Nassau: Mike Davey • Howie Greenblatt Suffolk: Chris Messina • Bill DeSario Catholic & Private • George Dlugolonski Bob Bury • Paul McCarthy • Pascal Perri Jerry Seckler Nick Gallo Kevin Murphy Pascal Perri Joe Settineri Awards: Paul Brodmerkel • Neil Duncan Committees: Golf Outing: Hall of Fame Induction Dinner: B.A. Schoen • Frank Seckler • Pat Seckler Jerry Seckler • Bill Trichon Pete Cimino • Mike DerGarabedian • Dennis Dunne George Dlugolonski • Nick Gallo • Kevin Murphy Pascal Perri • Jerry Seckler •Joe Settinerri • Bill Trichon Stanton Bishop Scholarship Award Bill Brennen • Pascal Perri • B.A. Schoen • Jerry Seckler Membership: Mike Davey Chairman Bob Bury is a charter member of the Friends of Long Island Wrestling Board of Directors. He was a National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee in 1987. He began his wrestling career at Mepham High School in 1945 under the tutelage of famed Coach “Sprig” Gardner and was a three year Long island champion. He continued his exemplary wrestling career at Syracuse University. Bob Bury, the outstanding wrestler, became Bob Bury the distinguished wrestling coach in 1958.and coached for 23 years.He coached many outstanding wrestlers during his career and compiled a 200-76 record that included 61 Division Champions, 23 Nassau County Champions and 8 New York State Champions. Two of his wrestlers, Tom Schlendorf and John Walter, went on to win NCAA Championships. Mike Davey is a graduate of Calhoun High School where he wrestled for Coach Bob Bury. He went on to wrestle for SUNY Cortland where he helped his team to a New York State Collegiate Championship. After college he secured a position at South Side High School in Rockville Center and was the wrestling coach for thirty five years, coaching numerous Nassau County Champions and NYS placewinners. During that span Mike served terms as the Nassau County NYS Wrestling Coordinator and President of the Nassau County Wrestling Coaches Association.In 2011, he was inducted into The National Wrestling Hall of Fame He recently spent four years researching and publishing the second edition of“ The History Of Long Island Wrestling”. He is a charter member of The Friends of Long Island Wrestling and serves as Membership Chairman. 2 Bill Zagarino graduated from Mepham June 1950 He wrestled varsity Jr & Sr Year ,for legendary Mepham coach, “Sprig” Gardner. He then began college at Hofstra and wrestled on the freshman team. He transferred to Millersville State Teachers Collage and wrestled varsity his second and third year. Bill graduated in January 1955 so he did not wrestle the last 6 months. After graduation he assisted JoeValla atAmityville high School and began officiating wrestling. He was an official up to the early 1980's As an official he twice represented Suffolk County in the State Tournament . He joined The Friends of Long Island wrestling and became an active board member. He serves as chairman of the Hall of Fame selection committee. and also volunteers to work at the annual golf outing. 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 3 Jerry Seckler, wrestled at Valley Stream Central High School where he lost only one dual meet freshmen through his senior years. He was twice a Long Island Champion; National Prep School Champion; Jr. and Sr. Metropolitan Champion; undefeated two years at Penn State; member of the Penn State EIWA Championship team; varsity co-captain his senior year at Penn State; varsity wrestling coach at Columbia University; past President of EIWA Coaches Association; Board Member of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association; member of the EIWA Hall of Fame Committee; President of the New York Downstate Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is also a member of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame. dominated the Eastern United States. His unusual coaching style was offered to any and all coaches who were interested, and because of his “open room” policy and his students, thousands of programs were effected and Long Island became nationally known for exceptional wrestling prospects. Wrestlers from Long Island Schools were recruited by colleges across the nation. Gardner brought a spirit of leadership to Long Island wrestling and now it is time that new leaders emerge to pick up the tradition begun by “Sprig”. The Friends of Long Island Wrestling are proud that two of our members are now ready to join in that leadership role. The challenge for wrestling is no longer for changes in coaching styles, but in the marketing of wrestling to the uninitiated public. The time has come for the next generation to begin to assume the responsibilities for guiding wrestling in the future. Michael DerGarabedian and Noel Thompson have been named to the Board of Directors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Coach Frank “Sprig” Gardner arrived in East Hampton, Long Island in 1928. He was the new Football coach at one of the oldest villages in America. Gardner’s roots were in southern Pennsylvania, and he had just graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. “Sprig’s” knowledge of wrestling stemmed from his college roommate who was a varsity wrestler at F & M. Gardner was a brilliant coach and a trained physical educator. He moved to Mepham High School in North Bellmore on the South Shore of Long Island where he became the Football and wrestling coach. It was at Mepham where “Sprig” began his storied career in wrestling. On Long Island, a few high school wrestling programs were already in place and wrestling had already been established in YMCA’s and local colleges. The student body at Mepham was ready and “Sprig” proved to have the right formula to change the entire area into a wrestling incubator which feeds American colleges nationally. Gardner’s success, in part, came from his development of a new concept in coaching. Sprig” created the concept of “chain moves and drilling” in practice sessions. His unique coaching style was rewarded with two undefeated decades of dual meets and tournaments losing only once. His teams Michael DerGarabedian Michael’s love of the sport and excellence on the mat earned him a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he wrestled for the “Wolverine” coaches Dale Bahr and Joe Wells for five years (1980-1985) and earned a spot in the starting line up four of those years. He placed in the Big 10’s Championship multiple times. As a nationally ranked wrestler, Michael’s last year in college was met with a life altering decision, wrestling in the Big 10 Championship or sit for the Law School Admission Test. Michael, governed by a “wrestling lesson”, chose the latter and never looked back. Upon graduating law school, Michael accepted a job in Hartford, Connecticut. While there, he continued to use the “mat lessons” to build what is now considered one of New York’s most prominent law firms. Michael is consistently quoted in local papers, national legal publications and has been featured on prime time TV legal documentaries. His trial record is unmatched by any other attorney in our region and he attributes all of his success in out of the court-room, to one “wrestling lesson”....”No one will ever out work me”. 3 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 4 Noel Thompson National Title in over a quarter-century in 2010. He chaired the NYAC to four National Division 1 team titles, 20 individual National Champions, and two World Medals. Previously, Noel was also President of NYAC Wrestling. As a competitor, he wrestled for the New York Athletic Club placing at the 2001 US Open in Men’s Freestyle. Noel currently serves as Team Leader for the USA Women’s Freestyle team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Noel graduated from Hofstra University in 2004 with a major in marketing and a minor in history. Wrestling all four years, he was a three-time team captain. He is a fourtime NCAA Qualifier — three times making the AllAmerican Round — and amassed 130 career collegiate wins. He was awarded the Howdy Myers Award as Hofstra’s Outstanding Male Athlete. Attending Freeport High School in Long Island, Noel was a New York State Champion, two-time High School All-American, and was voted both Nassau County Wrestler of the Year and Freeport High School Athlete of the Year. He was also an Ironman Award recipient as Captain of the Wrestling, Football, and Track & Field teams. In 1997, Noel led Freeport High School’s football team to their first Rutgers Cup Trophy since 1969. Noel lives in New York City with his wife Mildred and their son Noel Thompson III, AKA T3. Noel is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Thompson Global LP, a Global Macro Special Situations Hedge Fund which takes discretionary positions in commodities, currencies, energy, equities, and fixed income. He was previously employed as a salesman & trader in the Equities Division for Goldman Sachs & Co from 2005-2010 before working for JP Morgan Securities from 2010-2011. Noel was also Chief Marketing Officer of Vukani Energy, which traded and marketed crude oil and fuel between South Africa, South America, and the Middle East. In addition to his seat on the BTS board, Noel currently serves on the Board of Governors for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Hofstra University Athletics. Noel previously served as Wrestling Chairman of the New York Athletic Club, which was established in 1869. Under Noel’s leadership, the New York Athletic Club wrestling program won the first Women’s Freestyle National Title in 2009 and the first Men’s Freestyle Thomas B. Corsitto Insurance Agency wishes to congratulate this year’s Hall of Fame Inductees! The Corsitto Agency has been serving the residents of Seaford and the surrounding communities for over thirty years. From personal to business Insurance, The Corsitto Agency is a full service agency, family owned and operated. Congratulations to Coach Sal LoStrappo and his Seaford “Vikings” on a successful 2012-2013 season. Best Wishes Joe & Jack Corsitto 3900 Merrick Road, Seaford, NY (516) 783-0400 4 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 5 JEFF BLATNICK OLYMPIC CHAMPION, TV BROADCASTER, AND TRUE AMBASSADOR FOR WRESTLING Jeff Blatnick died unexpectedly on October 24, 2012 at the age of 55 of cardiopulmonary arrest at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, New York. Jeff, who beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma not once, but twice, would be remembered as the kind of guy who makes a room go quiet when he speaks. Blatnick was born and raised in Niskayuna, New York, a town that would later name a high school gymnasium and a park after him. He first hit the wrestling mat in 1973 when Niskayuna High School wrestling coach Joe Bena was looking for a wrestler who was over 200 lbs. In 1975, Jeff’s senior year, he would become the New York State Heavyweight Champion. Jeff Blatnick competed for Doug Parker at Springfield College, where he was a two-time Division II national champion and a three-time All-American. He was also a two-time Division I All-American placing sixth in 1978 and third in 1979. Jeff won the Greco-Roman Olympic gold medal in 1984 after beating Hodgkin’s lymphoma for the first time. Blatnick also provided television commentary for NBC during the 1988 Summer Olympic in Seoul, and later Olympic Games’ in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney. He was a commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and named UFC commissioner in 1998. Jeff lived in Ballston Lake, NY and is survived by his wife Lori, and his two children, Ian and Niki. 5 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 6 By Jerry Seckler NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEN ON TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES how to wrestle and he parlayed his early experience in wrestling into 11 National Championships. He Chalked up 300 victories, a Canadian National Championship,and he placed sixth in the World Championships. During his competition years Bill also was selected as a model for a advertising firm. He became the first Marlboro man. His pictures appeared in Life magazine and on billboards all over America. Marlboro was looking for a rugged looking athletic individual to promote their cigarettes, Farrell a non-smoker, fit the mold. However, he had to cover his right ear with his right fist in order to hide his cauliflower ear. Without benefit of high school or collegiate wrestling Bill Farrell enjoyed a substantial career as a wrestler and coach for the New York Athletic Club. It was as a world team and Olympic coach that he led his country to its best performance in the 20th century. Farrell took over the national freestyle team in the late 1960s, when it needed his organization and management skills, as well as his coaching. He was known for his ability to blend individuals with diverse personalities and techniques, obtaining maximum effort from each without conflict. BILL WAS A GREAT BUSINESS His knowledge of the international MAN CREATING ONE OF THE scoring system short-circuited Iron MOST SUCCESSFUL PHYSICAL Curtain deals at least twice saving FITNESS BUSINESS IN US gold medals. Bill would best be THE NATION remembered as the American coach of the 1972 Olympic team In his early years as a wrestler where Farrell became the mentor Bill befriended members of the to Dan Gable, the only wrestler in Japanese national team who were modern history to win the gold visiting the United States to without having a single point compete in the 1955 National AAU scored on him, Wayne Wells Championships. Through the who battled one international (Left to right) Leigh Farrell, Jack Friedman, Bill Farrell, Pascal Peri, friendships that developed he Bob DiBono and John Cusie at a reception for Dan Gable at the home of competitor after another to Michael DerGarabedian became the representative in the become a gold medalist in the United States for a Japanese Olympics, and Ben Peterson finished off the team’s gold in sneaker manufacturer known as “Tiger”. The 1955 national 1972 with his Olympic win. In addition there was a silver championships was the first time that most wrestlers had an medal for Rick Saunders and bronze for John Peterson and opportunity to wrestle Chris Taylor. However the Olympics isn’t on a foam Mat. Bill the point where Farrell began or negotiated for an ended his career it was more of a exclusive sales contract point in the center. with the Resilite company and became HOFSTRA FOOTBALL TO their representative INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING for everything east AND BIG BUSINESS of the Mississippi After graduating from River. His next College, Farrell began to learn acquisition Bill Farrell was a frequent guest on the TONIGHT SHOW and once engaged in a mock wrestling match with host, Johnny Carson 6 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 7 included representation of the Universal Fitness Gym, which rounded out his major inventories in physical fitness field. Bill opened larger and larger warehouses and employed more and more wrestlers in his business.During his early years with Tiger bill worked on improving the quality of the shoes. Early shoes had a tendency to rip apart without much use, however they were light, ideal for wrestling and particularly good for those individuals who like to use TheIr legs. Bill would send samples to selected college wrestlers all over the nation and asked them to let him know how the wrestling shoes held up , what they liked about the “Tiger shoe” and what could be improved .“Tiger” became ASICS a label that today is known worldwide, as the finest wrestling shoe made. Bill kew how to promote wrestling and physical fitness. As his reputation and business grew Bill was an often guest on the late night Johnny Carson TV show. He wrestled Johnny, then went on children shows performing with Marlo Thomas on the Bob McAllister TV show and presented kid wrestling for the 1st time on major TV. Wrestling lost a major influence when Bill Farrell passed away in June 2012 Farewell to a Great Friend! By Pascal Perri He was ruggedly handsome, intelligent, a super athlete, and a great friend. To our sorrow, he passed away at the age of 82. I have heard a good many stories about how Bill got into wrestling. None of them hit the mark. Here are the facts:Years ago, after graduating from college, a number of our high school and college pals put together a championship softball team. The team was loaded with outstanding athletespredominately wrestlers. We played in a number of leagues and almost always won the league championships. Our manager was Joe Margiotta, who later became a major personality in Long island and New York state politics. Joe was also a great supporter of Hofstra’s wrestling program. Bill Farrell was our catcher and cleanup batter. In a very short time Bill and I became great friends. He knew little or nothing about wrestling but he admired the way wrestlers handled themselves and the respect they received from all who knew them. Sometimes after practice a few of the wrestlers would demonstrate holds and even roll around on the turf. Bill was fascinated and impressed when one of the lighter weight wrestlers would easily take down the bigger football players. It was then that the wrestling bug got to Bill. When the softball season ended, Bill asked me if I would come to the Hofstra Gym and show him some holds and workout. I accepted At the time I weighed about 170. Bill weighed about 190 or more, was well coordinated and as strong as a bull. We shot take-downs and worked top and bottom situations. In the early stages of our workouts Bill was frustrated by how easily I could take him down and control him. But he was a gifted athlete and it wasn’t long before he started to not only hold his own, but to also gain more confidence in our scrimmages. Finally, we reached the point where it was difficult for me to do much with him. It was then that I knew it was time for him to move up to the next level. For years, he teased me about how I never gave him a chance for “pay back”. I told him, “Bill, my mother did not raise any dummies.” 7 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 8 THE 2013 STAN BISHOP SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Stan Bishop loved wrestling. Growing up on a small farm in Pennsylvania he also learned to love the English language. When he became an English teacher at Valley Stream Central High, he was able to combine these two passions in ways he did for the rest of his life. Stan was an assistant to Hall of Fame Coach Harold Earl who relied on Stan to accurately describe their wrestlers’ matches for coaching and promotional purposes. He counseled wrestlers on how to craft their college entrance essays and other writing samples. When Stan retired he became the founding editor James Sagos—Hicksville High School of the Friends of Long Island Wrestling Journal. Stan wrote many articles for the Journal and helped many other contributors to be come better writers. Unfortunately, Stan passed away a few years ago and the rest of the editorial staff miss him to this day. In his honor, it was decided to institute a writing contest to further both of Stan’s passions. This year’s winner, James Sagos, an eleventh grade student in Ms. Murphy’s English class at Hicksville High School, has always had a passion for the sport of wrestling. In seventh grade, James joined the Hicksville Middle School team, where he developed his initial love of the sport. His reverence for the competitive nature of wrestling is what he believes continues to hold his unyielding admiration. In addition to wrestling, James has continued to focus on his high school academics as well as other extracurricular activities, such as kickboxing. Like most teenagers, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, who have always been supportive of his athletics and education. James feels that he will always hold a deep respect for the sport that has played an influential role in his adolescent life. He will be presented with a $1,000.00 prize, courtesy of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, later this year. The Stan Bishop Prize committee would like to congratulate James and all the other finalists and thank all the entrants and the English teachers who helped make this a meaningful educational activity for all. We especially want to thank the members and staff of Bethpage Federal Credit Union for supporting this cause. Wrestling to many, is more than a sport. It’s a way of life. You have to eat right and run until your legs give out in order to stay on top of your game. But when your match finally comes and you know you’ve prepared yourself, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be than on that mat. You test strength against the other guy’s and when the round is finally over, you feel like you’ve just went to battle. Yet when the next round begins, you get your strength back, and all the moves you went over in practice race through you mind at a million miles per hour. Then after the match is over, two things can happen. You can stand there with your hands down, knowing that you could have done something more, mentally preparing your next exercises that you’ll do in practice so you won’t take another defeat. Or you can stand there with your hand raised high in the air by the referee, overjoyed at the great display of showmanship you and your opponent just put on for the families and fans who came to see you out there. Win or lose you still have pride. Pride because you are a wrestler. Pride because you’ve made it this far and didn’t give up on yourself. Many people don’t have the heart to be called wrestlers because it’s one of the toughest sports in the world. The strength and endurance you need to have so you can give it your all for two minutes straight and then needing to do it again and again until one of you is the victor, takes unparalleled mental toughness in order to push through. Being a wrestler also entitles you to respect. You’re part of a team, and when one of your teammates goes out for his match, you give him your undivided attention. Cheering for him and encouraging him for his next round, knowing that in turn he will support you when you’re out there. When it’s your time to go out, you can’t help but be a little uneasy about being the center of attention, surrounded by a whole crowd of dozens of people. It helps that you have your teammates there to encourage you, to cheer you on until the moment your hand is raised. Even if your hand isn’t raised and instead your shoulders hit the mat and you get pinned, your teammates are still there giving you confidence about your next match, giving you advice on things that went wrong and things you can do better. Some of them become your friends and some become best friends, people who you can’t imagine life without. Wrestling is one of the best sports in the world. It fills you with confidence, helps you create bonds with your teammates and keeps you in the greatest shape. It shows you how to push yourself and helps you mentally prepare yourself for anything life throws at you. But most of all, it gives you the pride of being able to call yourself a wrestler. Even the wrestler with no wins, no ties, just losses, can still hold his head up higher than any other person in school. Wrestling. Well what can I say about wrestling that doesn’t already give you images in your mind of heart and courage. If you wrestle, have wrestled or know a wrestler, then you know how hard the sport is and how much heart and mental toughness it takes to do. During the wrestling season wrestlers work their bodies like machines, passing boundaries that they thought they would never be able to accomplish. 8 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 9 Congratulations to the 2013 Hall of Fame inductees Bethpage is proud to support the LI Wrestling Scholarship program. 9 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 10 A Brief look at the past, present and future of THE NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT & THE STATE OF WRESTLING IN NEW YORK STATE By B.A. Schoen The 50th New York State High School Wrestling In the future it is hard to expect any section to dominate Championship was a lot like the first one in 1963: Long Island like the old days and there are two main factors I will cite to dominated. In Division 1 Suffolk County finished first with five argue that point. First: In 2004 a two-division system was champions and Nassau County finished second with three introduced at the tournament with the aim of helping smaller individual champs. schools compete. And Second: there is the rise in strength of A Tournament Upstate dominated by Long Island. other sections. In particular PSAL (thanks to Beat The Streets) It once seemed tougher to qualify for the tournament for a Long The once “Sleeping Giant” as Al Bevilacqua has always called Island wrestler than to actually compete upstate. In the first the City, is waking up. In addition the CHSAA is several years, the “States” were almost a celebrity tour of the getting stronger every year. In 2012, for the first time, the OW State for Long Island wrestlers. In 1963, for example, seven of went to a wrestler representing a parochial school—Jamal 12 weight classes were won by boys from Sections 8 or 11. 1964 Hudson, 130 lb. Champion from St. Anthony’s). Hudson was even more dramatic: Nassau won 10 weight classes while dominated the mats in more ways than with the fastest pin Suffolk medaled in one of the (00:08) in tournament history. He sang the National Anthem remaining three.(the number of just before the start of the finals. weight classes has ranged from 12— Comparing a wrestler to 15 over the years). Section VIII had another, maybe more than in other the first Two time champ: John sports, is always going to difficult. Harris from Hempstead in 1963-’64. Even when two wrestlers have a The dominance couldn’t last record of head to head matches, and it didn’t. Although Long Island there can still be legitimate debate has always been taken seriously, the about their relative skill. This is rest of the state has certainly caught especially true in cases when one up. Section 11 has the most titles by wrestler was out of his normal section: 20 and the most champions: weight class or was coming off an 151. Section 4 has the second most injury or other layoff. individual golds 141. Nassau In scholastic wrestling it gets wrestlers (Section 8) have 108 titles even more complicated as the and they have won the State title a weight classes change over the total of 10 times. years and, maybe more importantly, The term upstate is pretty the lifestyle of wrestlers evolves accurate. All but three of the over the years. In the “old days”, championships have been contested wrestlers were often good athletes north of the Throgs Neck Bridge. who excelled in several other Walt Whitman HS (1964 & 66) and sports and only spent one season The Nassau Veteran’s Memorial on the mats. Some of the early Coliseum (2006) have been the coaches hadn’t been wrestlers Four of Long Island’s New York State Champions: Al Palacio, Long furthest East and South locations of Beach; Kerry McCoy, Longwood; Tom Schlendorf, Calhoun; Jesse themselves. Ed Reinisch, Sal the State Tournament. DeFazio and the “Father of Jantzen, Shoreham-Wading River The Onondaga County War Wrestling”, “Sprig” Gardner, all had Memorial has hosted the tourney more than the rest of the sites great coaching careers without benefit of mat experience prior combined; 37, versus 6 for the Albany (Pepsi Arena/Times to their coaching stints. Union Center), and two each for Buffalo, Rochester and South Sprig didn’t have a secret technique to training champions, Huntington. he shared everything he learned. He invited coaches and When the NYSPHAA first conducted a state wrestling wrestlers to his room and ran clinics in the summer. To be the tournament, it probably started more arguments about regional demonstrator at Sprig’s camp was a high compliment, Bob superiority than it settled. In a notable series Valley Stream Stock, Joe Bavaro and Reggie Jones Jr. are three notable Central HS and Ithaca HS had a home and home series. And, examples. Extremely lucky wrestlers got to spend a few days at according to who you ask, it either established or refuted the the Coach’s East Hampton cabin where wrestling, bluefishing argument that the best wrestling in the state was to be found on and clamming were practiced. Long Island or upstate. Two young men who participated in In the 1960s more wrestlers began to expand their those matches, John Zabata (VSC) and Steve Shippos (Ithaca) season and wrestle in freestyle events like the Jr. and Sr. “Mets”. went on to have long careers as coaches in Nassau County. The late Bill Farrell and Vince Zuaro were among the Long 10 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 11 Islanders who were active in these programs. (http://thematslap.com/) first as a paper and, since 2001 The 70s and 80s saw the rise of kid wrestling and again, as a website. In 2011, Tony was named Photographer of Long Islanders were instrumental in its rise. Jumper Leggio and the year by the National Wrestling Media Association. his friend Bill Knapp started Bayshore kid wrestling over forty That really is quite an honor when you years ago. Terry & Marcia Haise and Ed & Marsha Gould are consider the great photographers like Pete Venier among the many who really helped this aspect of our sport (FOLIW), Dane Petersen (SPORTPIX) and Joe D’Aqila grow. (FOTOTRENS) we have here on Long Island alone. The 1990s were not a period when Long Island dominated Today we have the internet, web sites, facebook, chat up state, particularly Section VIII. In 1990 Craig Vitigliano (98 rooms, cable and satellite TV as well as streaming video. Plainedge) was Long Island’s only State Champ. In 1991 Nick Sites like youtube offer more matches than a fan should Hall (215 Longwood) was the Island’s lone gold medalist. or could watch. Skype and streaming video will bring Suffolk came back and was the top section in ’92, ’94 and ’99 more of the States to fans everywhere. but in 1994 and ’95 Nassau did not have a State Champ. Of The future? Don’t ask me! I think it’s important to course, the exception was Jesse jantzen of Shoreham Wading realize that 50 years is a long time for a man but the blink River, with his run of four state titles from 1997-2000. of an eye for mankind. Wrestling is Man’s Oldest Sport The New Millennium has seen Suffolk standing tall again and it’s in good shape today. Interest and participation while Nassau has clawed its way onto the podium as well. In are high. Women’s wrestling is an Olympic event and addition to placing second in the 50th edition of this great California and New York City have started new, girls only tournament, Nassau had the #1 Dual Meet Team in the state, wrestling leagues with their own seasons and Wantagh. They are a perennial Nassau power. In fact, Pete championships. Henning of Wantagh was the first NY State Champ by virtue of Dangers? They are out there. Financing is a big one. being the 95lb. winner in that first Taxpayer supported scholastic tournament. sports of any kind is only about To what can we attribute this 100 years old and, to a great resurgence? Certainly, Long Island extent, an American idea. In wrestlers put in the time both Europe, for instance, wrestling is off-season and off-Island. Johnny almost exclusively a club sport. Robinson’s intensive camps, The Typically, a community has a University of Minnesota and the club for a sport and families join Fargo Dome, on the for generations. It becomes a campus of North Dakota State have center of social as well as athletic become familiar sights to Long interaction. In the United States, Islanders and clinicians from all our best competitive swimmers over the country. Many of these often come from this pathway. clinicians have come to take part in Budget woes are deep, wide a new development: the rise of and not about to go away soon independent and, in some cases, for Public Education. Other danfor-profit wrestling clubs. Vougar gers? Health and safety Oroudjov, Razor Wrestling and concerns. The HIV/Aids panCraig Vitigliano’s Ascend are promidemic 30 years ago raised nent examples of this trend and concerns about blood borne they each can claim their share of disease and the Wrestling the Island’s success. community responded well. Media coverage has also Concussions and skin diseases, expanded. Besides this annual Four of the legendary coaches that catapulted Long Island into national ringworm and MRSA have been wrestling prominence: Harold Earl, Valley Stream Central; “Sprig: journal, now about 13 years old, Gardner, Mepham; Lou Giani, Huntington; Ed Reinisch, Baldwin getting a lot of attention and it coverage of the “States” and high is up the whole community to school sports in general have evolved over a half century. This protect athletes, officials and coaches from these threats. may be the biggest change of all. When Long Island had two Positive elements? Human Nature and the American daily newspapers, generations of coaches and wrestlers kept Spirit. Wrestling is the purest sport and the easiest to do. composition notebooks into which they pasted box scores of I’ve refereed wrestling matches in the Solomon Islands every high school match. These notebooks became ammunition with contestants who put on shoes for the first time in in marathon seeding meetings that preceded the qualifying their life when I brought them Asics shoes and singlets tournaments. from TW Promotions They had a brand new mat In 1963, there were more newspapers but many fewer TV donated by the Olympic development fund. Before they channels and no one, even Al Gore, had heard of the internet. had that mat, they threw a pile of palm fronds over a flat The Amateur Wrestling news was, and continues to be an excellent spot on the coral and covered it with a tarp. Then they source for results across the nation. Since 1979 Long Island has grabbed a hold of each other and they Wrestled! benefitted from the work of Tony and Jim Nordland. Both are former Amityville wrestlers who have published the Mat Slap Ever it has been thus and ever it shall be. 11 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 12 I was recruited by several national wrestling universities, including Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Oregon University, Portland State, Brigham Young University and Washington University. I attended Washington University and as a sophomore, wrestled at 158 pounds. I was the PAC 8 champion at that weight, and I decided that to be an NCAA champion I would have to pull down to my best weight. It turned out that Dan Gable was also wrestling at that weight. I had wrestled Dan before and lost by a few points. I was confident that because I was two years older with more experience, I had a chance of defeating him. In the national tournament, both of us had falls in every match so it was a showdown in the finals. Everyone kept asking me why I chose to meet Dan when I could have avoided him by wrestling at another weight. I felt that I could win and had everything going for me. Dan was consistently being pestered by the media to see if he really was going to end his career with a perfect 182–0 record. The media helped me out by placing a little seed of doubt into Dan’s mind. My strategy was to throw anything and everything that I had at him. Consequently, I made mistakes that cost me some points during the first At the 1970 NCAA Wrestling Championships,at Northwestern University, what is considered the “Greatest Collegiate Wrestling Bout Ever”, was wrestled between undefeated Dan Gable from Iowa State and a virtually unknown Larry Owings, from Washington University . Much has been said and written about that historic event. Recently, during a conversation with the winner of that bout, I asked Larry, “When everyone was running away from Dan’s weight class, what prompted you to pull weight so that you could meet the great Dan Gable?” Larry was gracious enough to give us an exclusive account of why he wanted to meet Dan head on. This is an abridged version of Larry Owings story. told in a letter to Pascal Perri, the third man on the mat that evening in the Northwestern field house, from Larry Owings. Due to space limitations, Larry’s letter has been abridged. For the complete story go to FriendsofLongIslandWrestling.com. I have been asked to share my recollections of my NCAA title bout with Dan Gable. It all began when I was a senior at Canterbury High School in Oregon. I wanted to be an Olympic champion. Pascal Perri was the referee for the GableOwings match that is considered by many as the greatest collegiate bout ever contested. 12 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 13 period. My style required action, strength and decided it was time to get it all done. With 40 seconds endurance. left, I became aggressive and pushed Dan. In the first period, I did what I call an underarm I was able to snap his head down into a front spin, a variation of a Greco Roman throw; I spun headlock. I wanted to go for a cradle, but Dan through and was not successful. I came back with a wouldn’t let me get to the side, so I worked down leg trip just as Dan shot on my leg. It was like I was and noticed that his left leg was close enough. saying, “Here Dan, take Spinning in the opposite my leg for an easy direction, he fell awkwardly two points.” to his butt and I jumped I found myself down, on top with a Whizzer but came right back out and held him for a near and tried another underarm fall. I was pressing hard spin to the opposite side. for a fall, and knew I This time it worked, and had scored 4 points in Dan tried to counter with the maneuver. I only a stepover. I countered hoped referee Pascal with a roll through to Perri would score it. score 2 points. At the I hung onto his leg end of the first period, near the out-of-bounds the score was 3–2 in my mark and waited. If I favor. got in trouble I was out I chose to start on the of bounds; if not, the bottom for the second time would expire in period because I never Larry Owings has Dan Gable on his back in the third period as Pascal Perri looks on. A few the match. When Pascal moments later he awards decisive back points to Larry who went on to win the match 13-11 wanted to be on the bottom Perri called time out, in the third period. The top position was always my Dan was inbounds and the rules said that 3 supporting best, and I wanted that to be where I could turn points had to be out for the official to stop the wrestling. someone in the third. I escaped again and came right Nevertheless, the match was stopped and the score clarified, back with a fireman’s carry. I started the fireman’s which Dan could not believe. carry on one side of the mat and drove Dan across It’s funny what goes through your head during a match. At the mat to the far side. I realized we were going to this point the score was 13-11 my favor, with only a few go off the mat and I mustered all my strength and seconds left. I figured I’d got here by being aggressive, so I shot hoisted him up and threw him over. I never had that in and grabbed his leg to finish the match. amount of strength before and I don’t know where it I helped Dan up and walked off the mat hiding my face came from. Dan was now down 6-2. I was on top in my hands, to escape everyone looking at me. The crowd attempting several pinning combinations, only to was wild and the roar of the fans was deafening. Referee Pascal have him move off the mat and out of bounds. Perri had to shout to get us to hear and we hardly heard the Thanks to an impartial and honest whistle. The tournament stopped at that point because the fans referee I was awarded a penalty point for Dan “fleeing could hardly believe what had happened. I could hardly the mat.” believe it myself — I had just beaten the invincible Dan Gable! The match continued with Dan scoring more Dan Gable was a great wrestler. I am just glad that I was points and battling back in the third period. He was in the right place at the right time. I was pumped for the match building up riding time points near the end of the and I’m not certain anyone could have beaten me that night. third period. Dan now had accumulated 2 points Over the years I’ve come to accept stuff that comes with riding time, and the match score was 9-8. With winning. I have come to the conclusion it is worth it if I can running time, Dan was in the lead 10 to 9. Bout time make a difference in someone else’s life. I have now devoted was running out! I thought he was stalling and I my skills to helping others have success in the sport of looked up at the referee as if to say, “He’s only holding wrestling. I have only one thing to say that I want you to on.” The referee did not appear to agree, so I remember: the bigger the challenge, the greater the reward. 13 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 14 AMATEUR WRESTLING New York Is The Birthplace Of By Don Sayenga Due to the remarkable popularity of high school and who was and who wasn’t an amateur athlete. To settle college wrestling west of the Hudson River, notably in Iowa debates, an extremely strict list of rules and restrictions was and Oklahoma, most people tend to forget the American veradopted by the N4A in May, 1885. Despite agreement on the sion of our sport originated in New York. We are lucky to live rules, some of the clubs had been finding ways to get around in an informative age when digitizing older books and them. For example, a New Yorker named Lawrence “Lon” documents allows anyone with a PC and good browser to Myers, who was beyond debate the fastest runner anywhere seek out the records of our founders. Our heritage, formerly in the world, was paid a salary to serve as the secretary of buried in the dusty corners of sprawling libraries, is now the Manhattan A.C. which meant his expenses were covered readily available on-line. when he competed. Myers held the USA records for all the According to Fred Janssen, whose History of American sprints and middle distance races. Amateur Athletics and Aquatics (New York, 1888) is the Seven months after the strict rules were adopted in primary authority for the early days, the first attempt to con1885, during the annual wintertime boxing and wrestling duct a nationwide amateur wrestling championship was competition at the New York A.C. (which was considered by announced by the National Association of Amateur some to be a championship) competitors from the Athletes of America (“the N4A”) to be held Schuylkill Navy A.C. of Philadelphia PA somewhere in New York City on May 7, challenged the amateur status of one of 1887. The N4A meet, hosted by the the boxers. NYAC officials turned the Manhattan Athletic Club at 524 dispute about the boxer over to Fifth Avenue, kept getting postthe N4A for judgment. The poned over and over again. A association refused to get power struggle between the involved, claiming it held no Manhattan A.C. and the New jurisdiction. The Schuylkill York A.C. may have been at Navy and the NYAC were the heart of the delay. irked by the aloof attitude of Those two major clubs the N4A. They retaliated by had been prime movers in convening a meeting in the original formation of the October 1887 at a hotel in N4A in 1879 when they united Manhattan to enlist support with a dozen other clubs, located from other clubs. mostly on Long Island, Manhattan, In January 1888, the dissidents and nearby in New Jersey, intending to formed of a new, rival organization, conduct championships for runthe Amateur Athletic Union ning, jumping, and weight (“the AAU”) and began The original New York Metropolitan Opera House was the venue for throwing events. The N4A was recruiting members of the many of the early National Wrestling Championships. modeled after the IC4A, a N4A to join with them in a collegiate organization formed more rigid, more exclusive at Princeton in 1873. Although track and field meets in league. Meanwhile, the Manhattan A.C. proceeded with the warm season were the main activity of the N4A, other its 1887 plan to hold a national amateur boxing and championships also were planned for sports such as Bicycle wrestling championship for the first time. Amateur Racing and Tug-of-War. The “national” character of the N4A boxing then was very popular in the metropolitan area. was certified by the membership of the San Francisco It was the main attraction of the event. For wrestling, Olympic Club and one additional club from Boston, but it only one weight class (135 lbs.) was announced. The was primarily a New York organization. final bout of this much-delayed N4A mat championship The N4A hoped to expand its activities nationwide using meet was held January 17, 1888 at Clermont Avenue Ice telegraph contact with athletic clubs in other cities. It was a Rink in Brooklyn. The national wrestling winner was a fragile alliance. The primary issue of contention within the man named Chenoweth who represented the Pastime N4A, right from the start, was the great difficulty of defining A.C. located on E. 66th Street. 14 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 15 It is important to understand the social nature of the springtime date to a mid-winter date. The next three men’s clubs comprising the N4A and the AAU. In those early championships (1889, 1890, 1891) were held at the Met in years the average workingman had very little leisure time the month of December. Unfortunately, the opera house after a 12-hour workday, and very little extra cash to pay for suffered a destructive fire in the summer of 1892 and the a club membership. The clubs of New York were modeled building was closed for repairs. The Garden, an indoor arena after the London A.C. in England. Members were supposedly on Madison Square, 26th & Madison, had opened in 1890. It elite gentlemen who competed in sports for joy alone, for could have provided a good venue for holding an indoor exercise, or for the glory of their club, much like amateur tournament but its schedule was fully booked. As a result actors in the theatre. They did not accept any form of there was no 1892 national amateur mat championship. remuneration for their activities. A distinct odor of class The AAU’s financial plight got worse and worse. distinctions can be detected. Exclusivity of that kind is After much debate 1890-91, the AAU agreed to a total difficult to define and even more difficult to control. reorganization known as the Mills Plan, named after its James Sullivan, President of the Pastime A.C., was primary sponsor Abraham G. Mills, a sports enthusiast from unhappy with the way the N4A conducted its first amateur the NYAC better known as the man who formed baseball’s wrestling meet. His club traditionally had been a leader National League. Under the Mills plan, the AAU gave in boxing and wrestling activities. Sullivan threw up all its aims to hold championships of other his support toward the AAU. The shift by sports such as bicycling, bowling, tennis, Pastime A.C. was followed by the Staten rowing, skating, and yachting. The clubs of Island A.C. and the Detroit A.C. The new the New York City area formed a AAU organization promptly announced it new alliance called the Metropolitan would conduct its own version of a Association of the AAU. Similar national wrestling championship with coalitions were formed in other cities two weight classes (120 and 158). The including the Atlantic Assn. in finals were held April 6, 1888.on the Philadelphia, the New England Assn. in stage of the Metropolitan Opera House at Boston, the Central Assn. in Chicago, 1411 Broadway. The Met at the time was and also distant smaller groups known one of the newest social centers of the city. as the Southern and the Pacific The intent of the AAU when associations. Later, some of these were planning an indoor sporting event was to divided into two or three groups. create a gala social affair attended by The AAU itself became an association of elegant ladies and gentlemen dressed in associations. It continued to function with a evening clothes. According to the New York small staff from a rented office in Manhattan. Herald an “immense” crowd The Atlantic Assn. of the AAU witnessed the preliminary volunteered to conduct the In 1891, Dr. Edward Hitchcock Jr. published an influential book describing Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling. The book proved very popular an went matches April 3 and 4 at the January 1893 AAU boxing and through several editions NYAC. The New York Times wrestling championships at the said perhaps 3000 spectators Academy of Music in downattended the finals. Both of the first AAU wrestling champitown Philadelphia. This was the first time the meet ever was ons won by fall. At 120, John Steil, New York Turnverein, held outside New York. It was hosted by the Philadelphia pinned Frank Mueller, National Turnverein, Newark (4:36), Amateur Swimming Club whose entrants won all five At 158, Jacob Shell, Schuylkill Navy, pinned Thomas Smith, weights, largely because no one from the Metropolitan clubs Pastime A.C., (5:02). In the beginning, the fashionable social was there. The following year the meet returned to NYC at promotions of the AAU succeeded admirably, but the fad Madison Square Garden which served again as the site in didn’t last long. 1896. The tournaments of 1895 and 1897 were held at During the summer of 1888 the N4A and the AAU held Pittsburgh and Philadelphia respectively. rival national track meets. This caused a counterproductive The AAU’s financial troubles at the time of the Mills squabble. For example, the San Francisco Olympic Club sent Plan were part of a severe economic depression in the athletes all the way across the country to compete at the N4A United States 1893-1897. The slump had a major impact meet. After traveling that distance they were denied the right upon wealthy gentlemen amateurs of the athletic clubs. to compete in the AAU meet. The N4A steadily lost support. Many clubs closed. Others, such as Berkeley A.C., Finally, it collapsed. Be careful what you wish for - although morphed into social clubs. The Metropolitan AAU lost a the AAU thereby had gained complete control of amateur majority of its membership. Due to the financial difficulathletics, its ambitious aims had strained its financial backing. ties, a badly organized AAU wrestling tournament was Renting the opera house wasn’t cheap. When spectator scheduled for June 1898 but the records are garbled. The attendance fell off at the March 1889 national boxing and only bright spot for wrestling in those days was the wrestling championships, AAU leaders decided they might advent of YMCA programs combined with the expansion be able to attract a larger crowd by changing from a of new facilities such as the elaborate gym built by J.P. 15 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 16 Morgan for his church, St, George’s Episcopal, on East & Elbow, Jujitsu, and others. In November, 1897, Leonard 16th Street. wrote: “...the catch-as-catch-can style...is the least artificial and During the years leading up to the 1898 Spanish the most ancient mode, as well as the one which is American War, a rapidly-growing interest in physical destined to have the greatest popularity... no exercise brings education was taking place in the colleges and secondary into play all the muscles of the body in a more thorough schools of the United States. In 1891, a professor from manner, and none is more interesting than wrestling”. Cornell, Dr. Edward Hitchcock Jr., published an Hugh Leonard’s influence as a coach and referee influential instruction book describing the was widespread. The wrestling world lost a great Catch-As-Catch-Can style of wrestling. He had leader when he was killed accidentally by a become director of the college gym at lightning strike in the summer of 1914. Ithaca in 1884. His book was popular and The same year Leonard’s handbook was it went through several editions. He also published, Columbia hired one of “Doc” instituted some wrestling classes at Hitchcock’s disciples as gymnasium Cornell. Hitchcock’s father (known as director, a medical doctor named Watson “Doc” Hitchcock) had established the Savage. His career was similar to Dr. nation’s first college phys ed program at Anderson’s. He was an 1882 grad of Amherst. One of the many men “Doc” Amherst who studied medicine at inspired was a medical doctor from the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn Midwest named William G. Anderson before entering private practice. Dr. Dr. Anderson began working for Savage became a physical education Adelphi University in 1885. In the years enthusiast. He operated a private gym plus prior to establishment of the Nassau County a normal school for physical education campus at Garden City, Adelphi was located teachers on West 79th Street. He completely on Lafayette Street in Brooklyn. reorganized the Columbia gym Although at first it was merely programs and served as a (Above) Dr, Watson Savage was hired by Columbia University in 1894. He a small academy, primarily leader for several organizations completely re-organized the gym programs and hired Gustav Bojus (Below) to attended by women, enrollof physical education teach grappling moves to his students Together, they organized the first ment grew rapidly when Dr. professionals. He hired an intercollegiate wrestling match in 1903. The match between 4 wrestlers from Columbia and four from Yale ended in a 2-2 tie Anderson created the Brooklyn expert turnverein wrestler, Normal School for Physical Gustav Bojus, to teach grapTraining to educate gym teachpling moves and gym apparaers. In 1892, Anderson took a new job as tus skills to his students. head of the gymnasium at Yale University. Dr. Savage also was enthusiastic about He relocated his teachers’ school to the measuring the strength of every student in Yale campus at New Haven but his influschool. The compiled strength test results ence on the sport of wrestling in New were submitted competitively against York would resurface in a big way a the results from students at other decade later. schools. As of November 1899, In 1894, Hugh Leonard, the intercollegiate competition in wrestling instructor at the Manhattan Gymnastics exercises with apparatus A.C., was offered a better job by NYAC. was already underway at several colleges He switched employers and became a and universities in the Northeast when fixture at NYAC where he remained representatives agreed to form the employed for the next 20 years. Leonard Intercollegiate Gymnastics Association. was a skilled boxer and wrestler, gifted with When Savage hosted the first IGA national outstanding teaching skills. Backed by some championship competition at Columbia March funding from NYAC members, he created a series 23, 1900, his team emerged as winners, edging of photographs with another teaching professional Yale University for the title. from Manhattan, George Bothner, which he combined In March 1903, the annual IGA gymnastics into a 265-page textbook. Those wonderful images were for championships were scheduled to be held at NYU. Dr. many years displayed at the NYAC but now they seem to Savage and Prof. Bojus (or both?) came up with a unique have disappeared. Lucky for us, Google Books recently idea. While preparing their gym team for its successful digitized Leonard’s volume and made it available online. It is confrontation against the defending gymnastics champs by far the best wrestling book ever written prior to 1900. (Yale), they communicated with Dr. Anderson at New Haven Prior to formation of the N4A in 1879, at least a halfto open the door for a novel proposal: a team of four student dozen different styles of wrestling had been seen in New wrestlers from Columbia would issue a challenge to an equal York including Cumberland, GrecoRoman, Side Hold, Collar number of Yale students. Dr. Anderson thought it was a 16 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 17 wonderful notion. At the time he was in the process of Harold Milbank, YU “but the superior strength and stamscheduling an intramural wrestling tournament. Four ina of his opponent proved too much for him”. C. T. Neal intramural winners at Yale accepted Columbia’s challenge. of Yale was unable to make the train trip, allowing Columbia Spectator reported March 20, 1903: “Under Columbia to claim a win by forfeit for William Hennen at the auspices of the Gymnastics Association the first interheavyweight. One week later a return match took place university wrestling championships ever held in this at New Haven consisting of three weights country will take place in the gym tonight (no heavyweight) which Yale won 2-1. between Columbia and Yale...The men who Unfortunately, Columbia University will make up the wrestling team are in good again reorganized its gymnasium in June condition and have been training hard for 1903. Dr. Savage departed and Gustav tonight’s event. During the past two Bojus went with him, temporarily haltweeks Mr. Bojus has been putting them ing the CU wrestling team. Although through the holds and breaks, and spent Bojus continued to coach the CU the greater part of yesterday morning in gym team as an unpaid teaching the men the finer points of the volunteer for several years, he game.” Twenty-five cents admission became more famous for introducing was charged for the event. The program physical education in the Elizabeth included two minor basketball games in and Jersey City public school systems. addition to the dual. He died in 1926. The Savage training This first-ever college dual meet resultschool for physical ed ucation teachers ed in a 2-2 tie. The bouts were decided by later was absorbed by NYU. Dr. Savage two out of three falls. J. Sheldon (135) CU, died in 1931. got two quick falls, each in less than two We owe a lot to these early leaders, minutes. Jacob Lindenberger coaches, and competitors. I (145) CU “kept on the defense hope their efforts can Dr. William Anderson was at Yale University in 1903. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the initial wrestling match between most of the time and lacked become more recognized, Columbia University and Yale University. The match featuring aggressiveness”. Two fast falls and the heritage of wrestling four wrestlers from each school ended in a 2-2 tie “were won pretty easily” by on Long Island and Manhattan Carrington A. Phelps of Yale. At can become better known 158, Thomas Cook, CU “put up a hard fight” against throughout the rest of the country. This image, from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper April 14, 1888 shows the 158-lb preliminary in the gym at the New York Athletic Club when Thomas Smith, Pastime AC, pinned L. Sweet of the San Francisco Olympic Club in 11 min 22 sec. It is probably the oldest illustration of amateur wrestling in America. Three days later in the AAU national championship finals at the Metropolitan Opera House, Smith was pinned by Jacob Shell, Schuylkill Navy AC, in 5 min 2 sec. 17 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 18 The Al Bevilacqua WRESTLING ROOM I want to thank everyone who has made this room possible. We have lists of donors on a plaque outside of the room. I want to emphasize my gratitude to a particular group of people: I would like to thank the parents whom I have become great friends with through this sport and the Friends of Massapequa Wrestling. I never had to ask twice to get the parents to help at any of the numerous tournaments we run. When the “Chiefs” won their second consecutive Dual Meet Championship, I received a text from a coach from another team, which said, “I loved watching The Massapequa Family sitting together, cheering for every kid, supporting every one win or lose. It was obvious that your group had a common goal and everyone had a role. There was no politics no BS. You should be proud of the program”. So, as this room has come together, I’ve gotten that feeling again. Together, we did something wonderful that will never be erased. Thank you for letting me be a part of it. Thanks for everything Bev. Al Bevilacqua with two of his grandsons cutting the ribbon to officially open the new wrestling room at Massapequa High School named in his honor. Funding for the Al Bevilacqua Wrestling Room came exclusively from former students and associates of Al Bevilacqua. The design, delivery and installation of the RESILITE wall and floor mats was done by TW Promotions, Inc. of Ronkonkoma NY. The following speech was given by Friends of Massapequa Wrestling President, Dan Wetzel at the dedication of the Al Bevilacqua wrestling room at Massapequa High School October 5, 2012: Well, the day has come. We are finally able to show everyone the new Al Bevilacqua Wrestling Room. The room is being dedicated to a man who has been a part of Massapequa wrestling from the beginning. Al has been a student, a wrestler, a coach, a teacher, and a mentor for so many people in his 60+ years of association with Massapequa. While he has moved on to bigger stages in the national and international circles, he has never been far from his Massapequa roots. His passion for the sport has reached 100s of 1000s. The Beat the Streets Program of which Al is the founding father has put wrestling into the inner city. The program, which has been growing exponentially, gives kids an opportunity to meet great mentors and compete in a safe environment. As Coach Bevilacqua has said, “The wrestling room is the greatest teacher of kids”. In the room, wrestlers are taught many life skills, independence, preparation discipline, and the indomitable spirit to never lie down, never quit. The reality of “you can’t win em all” is abundantly clear. You can prepare extensively and still lose. This happens in life. You need to get up and prepare and make adjustments for the next match. Life gives you many curve balls, if you quit, you lose. Not only is this room a dedication to a great mentor, but it is also an ever-changing museum of wrestling history in Massapequa (Massapequa HS and Berner HS). From the beginning of Massapequa wrestling in the basement & cafeteria, to wrestling in this state of the art facility, the history of Massapequa HS is etched on the walls. Today’s kids can look up and find someone to emulate or aspire to be like. Massapequa wrestling is as rich in history as any other HS in the state. Now all you have to do is look up to find inspiration. The dramatic change in the wrestling room is evident in these before and after photos. The Massapequa wrestling team now can enjoy one of the finest facilities on Long Island. Photos courtesy of Joe DAquila—phototrens.com 18 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 19 19 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 20 A Wrestling Family’s’ Success Stories THE FOXENS By Jamie Moffet The two phone calls came in rapid succession in the fall Captain of NYAC athletics, Chris Cassell, who was the of 2011. leading figure on their search committee. I met with Chris “Dad, the wrestling program at Brown is saved. Our first and his team three or four times. They asked me a lot of tournament is next month in Binghamton. Hope you can be questions - from wanting to know if I had the time to do a there.” proper job, to how I’d go about recruiting elite wrestlers to “Dave, the Wrestling Chairman’s job at the New York the Club. I must have done okay; they gave me the job.” Athletic Club is opening up. Do you have an interest?” As the wrestling season progressed during the second Dave Foxen, a familiar figure to Long Island wrestlers semester, David still was not having an easy time winning and fans, didn’t realize it but he was about to embark on a matches, but he was starting to show that he could be six-month ‘ride of his life’. competitive with all the others in his weight class in the East. It goes without saying that the position of the New York “The big turnaround for David came in late January when Athletic Club (NYAC) Wrestling he went up to Cornell and beat their Program Chairman is one of the most 174 pounder in the dual. Cornell was prestigious jobs in amateur wrestling— ranked in the top 5 in the country and and has been over the last six decades. beating their #1 guy in his weight was Dave talks about the opportunity. a big confidence booster,” says Dave. “I was very familiar with the club “The coaches started to encourage him since I’d been active with their more as his training program picked wrestling program for over 35 years. I up. He helped Brown win the dual wrestled for Bill Farrell and Sonny against Princeton with a pin over the Greenhalgh for 10 years and have Tiger wrestler who had defeated him helped Sonny with odd jobs ever since. earlier in the season. He won some I knew that the position would take an more bouts along the way, but enormous amount of time and dropped the last two matches of the attention to minutia on my part. But, dual season to Brown of Lehigh and sure, why wouldn’t I be interested? I West of Columbia.” figured, realistically, that I was the most Dave assumed his NYAC leaderqualified person for the job. I had the ship position on January 25, 2012. With time available since I was no longer his new responsibilities at the NYAC working full-time. I couldn’t sit back. I Unseeded David Foxen capped of his wrestling career at plus his coaching job with the wrestling Brown University winning the EIWA 174 lb. title applied for the position.” team at Port Washington high school, with a series of stunning upsets. Meanwhile, the college wrestling Dave only caught about half season for Brown University and Dave’s son, David, opened of his son’s dual meet matches. “The NYAC job is all in November with little fanfare. David won the starting spot encompassing. While it is very prestigious, it requires a lot at 174, his sixth different weight class while competing at of detail. I personally make all the travel arrangements for Brown. However, David took his lumps to start his senior our wrestlers. I talk to them all— Freestylers, Greco guys year. His father explains. and the women—on the phone to discuss expense money “David is a serious student as well as a wrestler and he and travel plans. I contact the college coaches like Sean needed to pay close attention to his strenuous academic Bormet, Rob Koll, Tom Ryan, all former NYAC competitors, requirements. His major is Electrical Engineering and he’d to make sure their best wrestlers represent the NYAC. I go regularly pull all-nighters just to keep up with the course down to the practice room several times a month to see how work. He wrestled in the Binghamton Open and the workouts are going. I work with Captain Cassell to make the Keystone Classic in November and in the Wilkes sure he’s updated on our plans and budget. Thankfully, I tournament over the Christmas holidays. He lost most of formed a committee with a great group of guys, like Rafael those matches. While I never gave up on him, I figured that Soto, Paul Kieblitz, Nick Catana and Hooman Tavakianon, David might as well consider the wrestling season as being who help me whenever I need it.” practically over with and that his best bet would be to focus With the EIWAs approaching at Princeton, young David on his studies and graduation.” stepped up his training pace and was able to take a break Even though Dave was a well-known figure to the from his rigorous academic schedule. Dave remarks, NYAC powers-that-be, he still needed to go through the “He started getting a regular night’s sleep every night and formal candidate selection process. He recalls, “I knew the the difference became apparent on the mat. I knew that he 20 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 21 could go with the guys in his weight class and had the time. He went for and got the deciding takedown. He was ability to possibly win the tournament. I thought he’d now in the finals. “ likely win some matches and then fall out —on a bad call So, in the 174 pound finals it was the unseeded David or some other misfortune. I was hoping he’d wrestle well Foxen against Navy’s 4th seeded Oscar Huntley. .Could the but wasn’t at all sure what to expect.” underdog from chronically wrestling-deprived Brown David was not seeded in the top eight at 174 University run the table and upset his fourth consecutive due to his unimpressive record, opponent? Yes. Emphatically, yes! particularly from the early part of Again relying on his superior conthe season. In the first round he ditioning, David scored a winning drew the #6 seed, McPeek from takedown towards the end of the Bucknell. Dave recalls, “McPeek is 3rd period to win the championship, tough and they had a back and 3-2. It was the first time since 1963 forth match till near the end. that an unseeded wrestler won an Dave’s conditioning paid off in EIWA title. the third period and David ended “I just couldn’t believe it”, says up winning, 9-3. He then had to father Dave. “I got so emotional. I wrestle the #3 seed, Columbia’s saw where he always wrestled West, who defeated him two hard but never caught a break. weeks earlier. David came out Now at the end of the season it all strong, got the opening takedown, finally came together. He had four was in control the whole time and tough, tight matches and he had won in an upset, 5-2. Up to that the right attitude and conditioning point, this was probably his best to win them all to become the match of the year.” Easterns champion. He told me The EIWA semi-finals saw that the best bus ride of his life things break David’s way. was the one that Sunday night “David’s opponent was the 2nd from Princeton back to Brown.” seeded wrestler from Lehigh who Watching his son wrestle had defeated him in overtime in in college is no longer on Dave the dual. I think that loss inspired Foxen’s ‘to-do’ list, but his duties David into knowing that he was David Foxen receives a hearty congratulation from his coach Dave at the NYAC continue to build. “To going to win this time around, no Clark after his victory in the EWIA finals me, being responsible for all matter what. We both felt it was NYAC wrestling is an important job. payback time. Again, it was a very close bout, going into We are a huge part of the elite amateur wrestling world. The overtime. In the sudden death period, David wasted no NYAC needs to be represented the right way and I intend to do (Left) David has his hand raised in victory after his final bout. (Right) David on the podium at the award ceremony. He became the first unseeded wrestler to win an EIWA championship since 1963. His dedication to a vigorous training program paid off as he scored four upset wins on his way to eventual victory. 21 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 22 It started simply enough. In March, National high school wrestling champion Dylan Palacio of Long Beach, NY asked Rocky Point coach Anthony Ciolino to try to put a team together for the AAU’s Disney Duals wrestling tournament at the ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando, FL. Coach Cio, as he is called, had put many teams for events like this together so he figured it would be no different than before. “Cio” started making the usual phone calls to find the best kids he could. He also needed a coaching team. He looked no further than Steve Hromada and Max Bacerro, two other Rocky Point coaches. The last piece was a team administrator as required by AAU. Kim Leo McClaugherty, jumped at the opportunity. The team consisted of kids from different parts of the state of New York, most of whom had never met each other or the adults who would be with them for the 5 days of the tournament. Sixteen kids settled into rooms of four and started to get to know their new teammates and coaches. Everyone weighed-in on Friday morning and went to spend the rest of the day playing at the pool or in one of the Disney parks. A coaches meeting in the early evening brought Kim and Anthony back to the sports complex, getting team rosters and the schedule for the first day of wrestling. An hour after the meeting, they were called back to the arena to get the devastating news that several of their wrestlers would be ineligible to be considered for team scoring purposes because of AAU districting guidelines. When all was said and done, 12 of the 16 wrestlers brought down could be counted. Those not officially scoring could wrestle but would be considered a forfeit for scoring purposes. This left the team with a 12 point deficit at the start of every match and no back up plan if anyone was injured. In a tournament this tough, things were not looking good. Day one had 3 matches. Having no practices together and no warm up opportunity at the tournament, the team showed up ready to see what they could do, eager to get the feel of the coaches and their teammates. The fit of everyone was apparent from the start. The kids were quick to support each other and easy to coach. The first team, from Ohio, and the second, from Michigan, know what hit them. Neither team won a single bout within the match. Had it not been for the 2 weight classes forfeited, the matches would have been complete shut outs. The third team, also from Ohio, fared a bit better winning 2 of the twelve actually wrestled. The team bond was becoming obvious. The second day would not be so easy. First team up was Diesel, a well known powerhouse from PA. The solid NY line up fell, losing all but three bouts that match. Five of the matches were lost by one point. The next 2 matches allowed the team to regroup and come back strong, winning both decisively. The only downside of the day was a trip to the hospital by the heavyweight El Shaddai Gilmore, where he was treated for dehydration and released. The third day brought two more wins before being faced with the MAWA team, reputed to be the best there. After looking at the brackets and knowing a win would not be possible because of the 12 point deficit, the team voted to forfeit the match. They headed back to the hotel to rest for the four matches they would face on the last day. The final day was long. Looking around the arena, everyone was tired and there were a lot of bruised and injured wrestlers. Two wins and two loses for the day had them finishing the tournament in 8th place. In a field of 42 teams and with only 12 of 14 weight classes scoring, the finish was impressive. The team received their medals and rushed off to catch flights home, but not before hugs, handshakes and phone number exchanges. This event brought them together and everyone involved will be changed forever because of the time spent. This was supposed to be a one-time event, but kids and coaches are already saying “next year...” The team consisted of Lucas Malmberg, Jimmy Overhiser, Justin Cooksey, William Koll, Nick Kelley, Dylan Cohen, Alec Dierna, Corey Rasheed, Nick Hall, Dylan Palacio, Tristan Hamner, Nick Mitchell, Jake Berkowitz, Austin Hayes, Max Anton and El Shaddai Gilmore. 22 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 23 23 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 24 Lifetime Service Award Winners Harold Earl, 1995 Al Muller, 1995 AI Bevilacqua, 1996 Joe Campo, 1996 Joe Russo, 1996 Bob Bury, 1997 James Davey, 1997 Reggie Jones, 1997 “Jumper” Leggio, 1997 Bill Linkner, 1998 Ted Petersen, 1998 Jerry Seckler, 1998 Terry Haise, 1999 Ken Hunte, 1999 Ed Luksik, 1999 Nick Gallo, 2000 Ed Rooney, 2000 John Schaefer, 2000 Ken Cellan, 2007 Robert “Doc” Fallot, 2007 Bob Goldberg, 2007 Gary Mims, 2007 Sam Boone, 2001 Cliff Clarke, 2001 Lonnie Kittle, 2001 Guy Guccione, 2002 Walter Stewart, 2002 Joseph Valla, 2002 John Walter, 2002 Gary Abbott, 2008 Neil Duncan, 2008 Bob Gerbino, 2008 George Munnich, 2008 Don Snyder, 2008 Bill Starke, 2008 Irv Apgar, 2003 Ed Hubbard, 2003 Matt Sanzone, 2003 Paul Brodmerkel, 2009 Kevin Murphy. 2009 Richard Smith, 2009 Pete Venier, 2009 Sonny Greenhalgh, 2004 Don Jackson, 2004 Ed Reinisch, 2004 Bob Armstrong, 2010 Roger Bogsted, 2010 Larry Cantor, 2010 Bill DeSario, 2010 Chris Edmond, 2010 John Hamilton, 2010 Jack Mahoney, 2005 Steve Shippos, 2005 “Brick” Stone, 2005 Bob Busby, 2006 Paul Gillespie, 2006 Tony Mellino, 2006 Mike Davey, 2011 Mike Fitzgerald, 2011 Paul Kieblesz, 2011 Bill Knapp, 2011 Terry Phelan, 2011 Fred Recher, 2011 Michael DerGarabedian, 2012 Howie Greenblatt, 2012 Chris Messina, 2012 Joe Patrovich. 2012 Bill Santoro, 2012 Gary Ventimiglia, 2012 Bill Brennen, 2013 Sal DiFazio, 2013 Dick Doherty, 2013 George “Doppy”Doherty, 2013 George Dlugolonski, 2013 Reggie Jones, Jr., 2013 Norm Maisel, 2013 Distinguished Members Henry Wittenberg, 1977 Dr. Vince Zuaro, 1984 Frank “Sprig”Gardner,1986 William Farrell, 1987 Lou Giani, 2003 Outstanding Americans Roone Arledge, 1992 Steve Friedman, 1993 David Pottruck, 1994 Arthur C. Rutzen,1994 William Baldwin, 2003 Pascal Perri, 2006 Setrak Agonian, 2007 Outstanding Officials Pascal Perri, 1995 Mark S. Piven, 1997 Medal of Courage Recipiants Rohan Murphy, 2001 Charles Gadson, 2005 Pat Augustine, 2007 24 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 25 his health failing in his last few The wrestling legend of the years of life. His presence alone late Bill Farrell is one the National created a joyous reunion Wrestling Hall of Fame acknowledged for those requesting to sit in his in 1987 with his enshrinement as a section of Hall of Fame seating. He Distinguished Member. What is was active in fundraising events extraordinarily unique about Bill and worked at maintaining is that he was so multi-talented, communications and relationships he contributed to the sport in with so many people in the sport a variety of ways. In fact, he that he befriended and mentored, would have qualified for induction including myself. in two other Hall of Fame categories, Perhaps the best example I can the Order of Merit and think of in highlighting Bill Outstanding American. Farrell’s legacy was in his own In a sport that requires backyard, through his “commitment so much focus, Bill exemplified of service” and his “camaraderie of that it’s possible to be a multispirit” with the members of the dimensional person who can be New York Athletic Club, Friends of good at many things in life. He Long Island Wrestling and the left us with many values to pass Downstate Chapter of the NWHOF. along to future generations. To Bill Farrell indeed left a blueprint start with, he beat the odds by for what our Hall of Fame should taking up the sport competitively Before serving as Executive Director of the National be, and that is to make sure and at 26 years of age. He let it be Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum, Lee Roy Smith was the coach preserve the legacy of Bill Farrell for known that it’s never too late of the Arizona State wrestling team from 1992-2001, and was recognized four times as the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. future generations. to get in the race if you have As a competitor, Lee Roy was a two-time Oklahoma Prep passion and are willing to compete. State Champion and two-time Junior National Champion. He He balanced a successful business was also a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State and Executive Director career with his coaching duties by earned four Big Eight individual titles. In 1980 , Lee Roy won bringing a set of communication and an NCAA title wrestling at 140 lbs. management skills that successfully brought the best out of his wrestlers while also promoting the sport to both the media Bill Farrell became one of the most and the public. successful freestyle wrestlers to ever Bill’s engagement in the sport went well beyond his come from Long Island. He became an All-American and World active wrestling and coaching days. While building his Team member. company TW Promotions Inc., he continued to advance the As coach of the 1972 USA sport with his support of USA Wrestling and Fila. Not only Olympic freestyle wrestling team he did he ensure that the sport prospered on the national and led the squad to a record six medals,including three gold. Bill international platforms, but also he led the way bestowing was inducted into the National financial endorsements for our nation’s best wrestlers. Wrestling Hall of Fame as a It became very apparent that Bill appreciated this sport distinguished Member in 1985. like no other. He did everything he could to be present at the annual NCAA DI Wrestling Championships even with Lee Roy Smith 25 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 26 THE FRIENDS OF LONG ISLAND WRESTLING & THE DOWNSTATE NEW YORK CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME WELCOME A GREAT WRESTLER HOME TO LONG ISLAND 26 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 27 You are cordially invited to The Nineteenth Annual Downstate New York Chapter National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum Awards Banquet Friday, April 19, 2013 Villa Lombardi 877 Main Street Holbrook, NY 11741 Join old friends and competitors at this special annual reunion honoring the 2013 inductees Bill Brennen • Sal DiFazio George Dlugolonski • George Doherty Dick Doherty • Reggie Jones Jr. Norm Maisel For Information contact: The Friends of Long Island Wrestling 775 Wantagh Avenue Wantagh, N.Y. (516) 804-8676 www.friendsoflongislandwrestling.com www.foliw.com 27 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 28 It was 1980 when Bill made a phone call to the sectional wrestling chairman that began a new direction in his life. All Bill wanted to know was how could he find a wrestling schedule for the Nassau County tournament. For years he had been frustrated by the lack of information about wrestling There was little newspaper coverage or any other way for an interested spectator to plan on seeing a good match or tournament. He loved the sport and enjoyed watching the matches. A simple reason that expanded to over 30 years of intense work in the sport of wrestling. Bill’s journey began as a spectator, trying to follow results of the wrestlers from his Alma matter at Mepham High School. It didn’t take long before he began attending Nassau & Suffolk County dual meets and county tournaments. Attending the State Championships meant a five-hour early morning drive, a full day of watching the tournament, and a late night drive back home. He did this for many years. Bill also regularly inquired if there was anything he could do for the various wrestling programs on Long Island. Eventually he was invited to assist at meets. That developed into other duties at the county tournaments. Each duty quickly helped Bill became a significant member of the sectional wrestling tournament committee. He began assisting the head table and produced the wall brackets at many tournaments. (Left) Bill working on the 2013 edition of Long Island Wrestling. Previous covers are displayed on the wall behind. (Below) Bill with the 2011-2012 wrestling schedule poster he designed for the Hofstra Wrestling program 28 Once wrestling coaches discovered that Bill was a graduate of Pratt Institute and a partner in a New York design firm that worked on design projects for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and the New York Islanders hockey team, it became obvious that he had much more to give to wrestling. During the ensuing 20 years Bill annually designed and produced the program for the Nassau County tournament. He also created the brackets for tournaments, designed flyers, Tshirts and posters. Each effort fulfilled a need of the wrestling community. His design skills coupled with his real working knowledge of program design, advertising and wrestling allowed him to promote the sport with class and style. Wrestling coaches were busy coaching, parents were busy being parents. However it was Bill who promoted wrestling throughout the county. It was his signature work that showcased the quality wrestling programs that existed. Of course he remained a steadfast fan and an innovative supporter of wrestling. At a wrestling dinner Bill was asked to join the fledgling group known as the “Friends of Long Island Wrestling” by President Jerry Seckler. Seckler had a dream of producing a publication that would both market Long Island wrestling and showcase the history of the sport on Long Island. It was clear that Bill was the man to approach. In 1990 Bill Brennan became a charter member of the “Friends Of Long Island Wrestling” and was placed on the Board of Directors. After several years of producing periodic newsletters, The “Friends” began to publish an annual magazine. Bill became the designer and head of the editorial staff of that publication, “Long Island Wrestling”, celebrating its 14th anniversary this year.. In 1994 The Friends of Long Island Wrestling became a chapter representative of the National Wrestling Hall Of Fame and Bill has had an active roll in the chapters’ efforts to help wrestling grow. He serves on several committees and has been a representative at the National Hall of Fame Annual Chapters Conference. His generosity with his talents and his time make him the perfect candidate for the prestigious award of a “lifetime service to wrestling” 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 29 29 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 30 30 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 31 31 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 32 32 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 33 Salvatore DiFazio traveled an unusual route to wrestling excellence. Attending Mepham High School as an All-League baseball player, he graduated from Ithaca College and served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1957. He attended Columbia University and received his master’s degree in 1960. Sal began his teaching career in the Half Hollow Hills School District in 1960; he coached baseball for 12 years and taught business education for 28 years. But everything changed in 1961, when at the request of his athletic director, Sal DiFazio was hired as the school’s very first wrestling coach. Although Sal was unsure about the new position, he was determined to succeed. Armed only with his strong athletic background, Sal taught himself how to wrestle by reading books and attending clinics by Sprig Gardner and others. For the next 27 years, Salvatore DiFazio had a new passion — wrestling. Coach DiFazio began the wrestling program at the junior high level for one year, and in 1962, Half Hollow Hills had its very first varsity wrestling team. When the school expanded, Coach DiFazio had the school design the wrestling room that Half Hallow Hills wrestlers use today. To motivate his new wrestlers, Coach DiFazio started the HHH Wall of Fame. Sal’s teams competed with powerhouse Brentwood High School. In 1975, in front of a packed gym of more than 2,000 people, Half Hollow Hills ended Brentwood’s 79-match winning streak and their quest for a 10th straight league title by winning the dual meet 22-18. The win also earned Half Hallow Hills the League I Title. In 1971, Half Hollow Hills became the first team in New York State to field two varsity and junior varsity wrestling teams. For the next ten years, the “black” and “red” teams had 48 student-athletes wrestle every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It was a lot of hard work, but Coach DiFazio felt that the best way to keep students interested in the sport was to give them matches every week. Many teams today follow the same format, creating “B” teams to keep students involved. He did this with the help of only two assistant coaches, Tom Finn and Joe Goonan. In 1978, Coach DiFazio led Half Hollow Hills to its first and only Suffolk County title, edging rival Huntington High School by five points. Half Hallow Hills crowned one county champion, Mike Rogers, and had four place winners. For his efforts, he was awarded the Suffolk County Coach of the Year for 1978. Salvatore DiFazio retired in 1988 and was awarded the Grand Master Award by the Suffolk County Coaches Association. Coach DiFazio finished his coaching career with 239 varsity dual meet wins, three league championships and the 1978 county championship. He coached 22 league champions, 24 Suffolk County place winners, five county champions, and two New York State place winners. More importantly, Coach DiFazio’s wrestlers learned the importance of hard work, goal setting, accountability, dealing with failure, and how important is is to have a passion in life. He expected his wrestlers to conduct themselves in a professional manner, “show humility in victory and be gracious in defeat.” He made sure his athletes respected their teammates, opponents and coaches. Coach DiFazio always led by example and was a great role model to his wrestlers. Eight of his wrestlers and assistants went on to become teachers and head wrestling coaches. For 55 years Sal has been married to his lovely wife, Mary Lou. They raised five children and spend time with their 14 grandchildren. He now enjoys his retirement spending time in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania and Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Sal DiFazio is known as the father of Half Hallow Hills wrestling. His commitment to the sport of wrestling and to teaching his wrestlers to act like champions on and off the mat have earned him a place in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for Lifetime Service to wrestling. (Left) Sal intently watching his Half Hollow Hills team in action He had 239 career dual meet wins. (Below) Sal is shown in the wrestling room with some of his team working on a pinning combination. 33 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 34 34 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 35 DOING WHAT HE DID BEST 35 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 36 36 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 37 37 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 38 Coach George Dlugolonski, or Coach “Dugo” as he is known, has led his Chaminade High School team and his wrestlers to outstanding achievements since 1973. Further, Coach Dugo has demonstrated incredible longevity and continuity in his commitment to developing young high school wrestlers. Not only has he taught wrestling skills, he has shared lessons with his and integrity. George Dlugolonski has an enormous heart and is always willing to go the extra mile for his wrestlers and their families. He is extraordinarily selfless and always puts his athletes first. Approximately 100 to 150 boys participate in Chaminade wrestling, spread across the novice, junior varsity and varsity teams. Many of these wrestlers have not had the benefit of youth or middle school wrestling programs, and those who have wrestled before represent the full range of preparation and programs. Coach Dugo welcomes all. Despite the difficulties of coaching a wide pool of participants with varying skills, Coach Dugo demonstrates a very serious commitment to participation. Chaminade wrestling has had great success under George Dlugolonski, but his program is not solely about winning. He chooses not to cut athletes from the team, and works hard for all his wrestlers, from the most talented to the ones who may never achieve a win. Coach Dugo knows that the life lessons of wrestling — perseverance, character, dedication in pursuit of a goal, teamwork, commitment, courage, and self-confidence — are just as valuable, maybe more valuable, for the boy with the least amount of natural talent compared to the wrestler who enjoys a wealth of natural ability and skill. Coach Dugo also served as chairman of the CHSAA Wrestling League from 1980 to present. It’s a position that comes with significant administrative, fundraising and time commitments. During his tenure as chairman, the league grew meaningfully in scale and size. Dugo also led the admission of the private school league as a section in the New York Public School State Championship Tournament. He has not only taken on, but excelled in these additional responsibilities, despite the depth and breadth of his commitments at Chaminade. George Dlugolonski qualifies for admission in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame because of his integrity and commitment to doing things the right way. On almost a daily basis, he is presented with opportunities to make the right choices and to teach his wrestlers how to behave and how to act. He knows how to win — and also how to lose — with dignity. He disciplines captains and all-state wrestlers equally with second- and third-string wrestlers. George teaches respect for the sport and respect for officials; his own behavior and attitude continuously demonstrate this for the young, impressionable wrestlers in his program. Chaminade wrestlers compete hard, but are clean wrestlers. They do not showboat or flaunt their wins, and they do not make excuses or throw tantrums when they lose. It is no surprise that Chaminade wrestling teams are perennial Sportsmanship Award winners and that Chaminade wrestling alumni have gone on to great achievements in their personal and professional lives. (right) George shows his enthusiasm coaching one of his Chaminade wrestlers. (below) George and assistant coach, Tony Nordland offer encouragement at the state tournament. 38 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:25 AM Page 39 39 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 40 40 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 41 41 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 42 42 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 43 George “Doppy” Doherty Upon graduation in and his younger brother 1950, Dick enlisted in Richard “Dick” Doherty the United States Navy, began their illustrious and later attended wrestling careers long Millersville State Teachers before stepping onto the College. While wrestling wrestling mat to represent at Millersville, Dick Amityville High School. competed for Coach The Doherty household Rupp, whose teams included eight children, compiled an overall five of them boys. This record of 29 wins, 7 likely meant that there losses, and 1 tie. Dick was some grappling taking finished his career at place prior to lacing up Millersville having placed their own wrestling shoes. two times in the But it was not until the Pennsylvania State Athletic mid to late 1940s that championships. But it their wrestling careers — and their dedication to the sport — was not until after college though that Dick Doherty truly made really took off. his mark in the wrestling world as a coach and mentor to many Doppy wrestled for Hall of Fame coaches Lonnie Kittle and student athletes. Joe Valla at Amityville High School from 1945 to 1949, where Together, he and his brother Doppy started the wrestling he amassed a winning record and captured two Long Island program at Berner High School in 1963 while they were championships. In addition, he earned a New York State AAU teachers in the Massapequa School District. Dick would Freestyle wrestling championship. Upon graduation from high eventually assume the responsibility of the head coaching job school, Doppy took his wrestling prowess to the state of at Berner following the unfortunate and untimely death of Pennsylvania, where he attended Millersville State Teachers Doppy in 1974 at the age of 44. College. While there, under the tutelage of legendary coach Ted This selfless coaching duo dedicated a big part of their lives Rupp, he posted a career record of 30 wins and only 2 to the sport of wrestling and helped inspire young athletes to losses, including 13 victories by pin. become fine men. While Doppy and Dicky were incredible Doppy would go on to win three Pennsylvania State athletes in their own right, their real gift was their ability to Athletic Conference Championships as well as an AAU Mid inspire so many ordinary athletes to greatness. They had an Atlantic Freestyle championship in 1951. Following the comuncanny ability to see potential and cultivate it. It was because pletion of his varsity career in 1953, Doppy received the of this ability to build self-esteem that so many young men were Theodore H. Rupp award for the most outstanding wrestler at led to believe in themselves and excel, not only in the sport of Millersville. In 2003, he was inducted into the Millersville wrestling, but in life. University Hall of Fame. His nominating sponsor expressed Their dedication, motivation, and love for the sport of wrestling admiration for Doppy by writing, “He was by any standard the enabled them to amass an impressive list of coaching achievements. first ‘big time’ wrestler that Millersville ever had. His record Together, they coached Berner High School Wrestling from 1963speaks for itself, but more than that he was a great leader and 1982 for a combined total of 19 years, and during this time they a fine example of sportsmanship throughout his career. In those produced two New York State champions, 10 New York State placefour years (1949 to 1953), George was winners, 10 Nassau County champions, chiefly responsible for bringing including two outstanding wrestlers and 36 Millersville into national prominence as a Nassau County place winners. They won wrestling powerhouse.” an impressive 18 high school tournament Dick Doherty wrestled from 1946 championships and compiled a combined to 1950 at Amityville High School for overall dual meet record of 182 wins, 56 coaches Lonnie Kittle and Joe Valla. Like losses, and 2 ties. In addition, Dick was his brother, he compiled a winning runner-up for the Nassau County Coach of record during his high school career, the Year award in 1981, and both he and capped off by a second place finish in Doppy were recipients of the prestigious the Long Island championships. Legends of Nassau County Wrestling Dick was instrumental in leading Award in 1992 and 1994, respectively. The the Amityville wrestling team to two conDoherty brothers were posthumously secutive runner-up finishes in the Suffolk “Doppy” and Dick started the wrestling program at Berner inducted into the New York State H.S. and produced an impressive record of 182-56-2 County tournament in 1949 and 1950. Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1996. 43 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 44 44 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 45 45 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 46 46 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 47 47 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 48 Reggie Jones Jr. exemplifies the phrase “Lifetime Service to Wrestling.” Born into a prominent wrestling family, Reggie has spent his life in the sport. In both junior and senior high school, Reggie competed at Bellmore’s John F. Kennedy H. S., where he developed an impressive competitive record. During this formative period, Reggie was exposed to several Hall of Fame coaches, including Don Jackson, John Schaefer and Ken Hunte. He earned a scholarship to Westchester State College in Pennsylvania and while there, wrestled for Milt Collier. During his college career, Reggie defeated most of the outstanding wrestlers in his league and distinguished himself in Pennsylvania college wrestling circles. Upon graduation, Reggie became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Kennedy High, then moved on to Long Beach High School, where he began working with his college teammate, Paul Gillespie. Together, while at Long Beach, the coaching team of Jones and Gillespie earned 17 team titles and two state championships.Both Reggie and Paul dominated New York State high school wrestling and Long Island wrestling for 20 years. Afterward, Reggie went on to become one of the top wrestling officials in New York; he was selected to officiate the New York State Championships eight times. With his tremendous background and legendary coaches behind him, Reggie Jones Jr. was destined to make his mark in wrestling. After 28 years in the sport, he has returned as an assistant coach once again, with his college teammate, Paul Gillespie, to coach the Wantagh High School program. They have quickly moved that program into contention for state recognition. As an assistant coach, Reggie has been teaching and drilling the fundamentals, while placing an emphasis on strength and conditioning. His insistence on discipline and detail has helped him to be an effective teacher of “folk style” wrestling. Reggie’s command of wrestling and his quiet professionalism have been an inspiration to athletes, coaches, wrestlers and spectators. He continues to be a favorite official at the college level, and is known for his integrity and dedication to the youth of our community and the sport of wrestling. In addition to his achievements in wrestling, Reggie Jones, Jr. continues to work as an ocean lifeguard supervisor and is an EMT working with the Nassau County Lifeguard Examination Board. Reggie Jones Jr. has spent half a century in wrestling. He is one of the great people in our sport and in our community. He is most deserving of his honor to “Lifetime Service to Wrestling.” (left) Reggie coaching at Long Beach High School were he spent 20 years as assistant coach to paul Gillespie. (right) Reggie has become one of the top officials in New York State at both the high school and collegiate levels. He has officiated at the New York State Tournament on eight occasions. 48 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 49 49 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 50 50 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 51 51 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 52 52 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 53 2011-2012 ...A Banner Year For WANTAGH “WARRIORS” WRESTLING During the course of the past season, the Wantagh Warriors captured their first ever New York State Dual Meet Championship walking out the Albany arena with a perfect record of 29-0 and were ranked number one in New York State. In 2009, the team also won the New York State individual tournament. The Wantagh Team won the Long Beach Tournament, New York Civil War Duals at Shenendahowa High School, David Blum, Patchouge-Medford, Ted Peterson, Nassau Team Championship, Nassau County Qualifying Tournament, and The Nassau County Title. The team was led by Jose Rodriquez, the 99 lb. Champion and New York State finalist and Danny McDevitt, 138 lbs., who captured the the Nassau County title and finished 5th in New York State. Chris Araoz, 130 lbs. and Vinny Turano, 126 lbs. both finished 2nd in Nassau County. Kyle Quinn, 106 lbs, .Nick Vines, 132 lbs. and Chris Loew, 170 lbs. all took third in Nassau County. James Corbett captured fourth place at 182 lbs. as did Sean Tomlinson at 195 lbs. Finishing out the All-County standings in fifth place were Doug Rogers at 152 lbs. and Alex Wedell at 182 lbs. Steven English finished in 6th place at 285 lbs. The graduating class included Chris Lowe who is attending Columbia University, Alex Wedell at Cornell University, Doug Rogers and Kyle Fogiletta at Hofstra University, and Steven English at Stroudsburg University. The Head Coach was Paul Gillespie, a National Hall of Fame member, Reggie Jones, Jr., a recently nominated National Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Hanley Jr. and Pat Daddino. The Wantagh team is working with a strong foundation using a kids program which is in it’s fifteenth year as well as a good middle school program. The Wantagh Club is open all year round and welcomes other towns and athletes. Wantagh “Warriors in Action! Starting from top row left to right: Chris Aroz, Chris Lowe, James Corbett, Kyle Quinn, Gary Sidoti, Dan McDevitt All photos courtesy of: Joe D'Aquila / phototrens.com 53 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 54 Norman Maisel grew up in Camp Hill, a small town in central Pennsylvania. He attended West Shore High School, where he lettered in three sports. He attended Gettysburg College, where he majored in psychology and graduated with honors, and earned letters in football, wrestling and track. His first job after college was as a teacher and head football coach at Hallifax High School. Probably the most influential event in Norm’s wrestling career occurred when he returned to Gettysburg to earn advanced degrees, coach freshman football and act as assistant wrestling coach. The legendary Frank “Sprig” Gardner was the head wrestling coach at Gettysburg, and Norm had the experience of studying wrestling with the master. Following his year at Gettysburg, Norm became a coach at East Meadow High School, and soon after, he was named head wrestling coach at Amityville High School, a position he held for the next 25 years. During his years at Amityville, his teams had a record of 261 wins, 85 losses, and 2 ties. This record includes 15 League titles, and 3 Section XI Class B titles. During his tenure, there were two state champions, 10 Section XI winners, and 53 individual place winners. Under his reign, 87 wrestlers achieved the title of league champion. Both his first and last teams were undefeated (along with two others). Norm was chosen League Coach of the Year eight times and Suffolk County Grand Master. The Amityville wrestling room was named after him, and he was recently inducted into the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame. Norm was instrumental in helping to set up the Town of Babylon youth wrestling program, and he was also very involved in Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling. Many outstanding high school coaches have come out of Norm’s Amityville program — among the best are Steve Gaydosh, the most outstanding wrestling coach in Alabama; Ken Maisel, the coach of University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia, a perennial top ten finisher in the West Virginia State Tournament; Tony Walters, who has built the St. Anthony’s program to one of the best in New York State; and Bill Maisel, whose 2003 team won the overall Section XI title. Norm left Amityville in the 1990s to accept a job as athletic academic coordinator at Michigan State University. (left) Norm competing at Gettysburg College. He later returned and was assistant wrestling coach under “Sprig: Gardner. (Center) Norm and wife Jan. (Right) Norm cheering on Tony Walters who is now wrestling coach at St. Anthonys. Many of Norms wrestlers have become successful coaches. 54 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 55 55 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 56 56 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 57 COACH & CHEERLEADER 57 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 58 58 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 59 The Cedar Brook Golf Club is located in Old Brookville, one of the most exclusive communities on Long Island’s Gold Coast. Golfers include Olympians, national champions and celebrities The annual golf outing Is the major yearly fund raising event we hold to pay for all the programs we sponsor to assist wrestling SAve the date and help Us.... help wrestling Call for details: The Friends Of Long Island Wrestling (516) 804-8676 Our 2012 Host Was Rob Anspach, Head Wrestling Coach of Hofstra University. 59 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 60 By: Pascal Perri It takes a very special person to become an outstanding wrestling official. Great Coaches and/or wrestling champions do not necessarily make the grade.During more than 70 years in wrestling, I have seen great officials, and I can state with complete confidence that there has never been a better one than Mark Piven. Mark is a Long Island native. He was an outstanding high school wrestler coached by wrestling legends, Sprig Gardner and Ken Hunte at Mepham High School. During his high school career he won numerous titles including the prestigious Long Island Championship. At Penn State he was coached by another wrestling legend, Charlie Spidel. Mark was a mainstay for three years on a very strong P.S.U. team. He topped off his college career with a 3rd place finish at 130 pounds in the 1964 NCAA Division 1 Championships at Cornell. After graduation, he won several AAU championships and in 1968 he took 3rd place in the Final Olympic trials in Ames, Iowa at 125.5 pounds when he was forced to default in the final round robin due to an injury. After graduation Mark spent several years coaching at the high school and college levels. All of his wrestling activities prepared him for the next step in his wrestling career. He was now ready to buy a whistle and stripped shirt and step onto the mats as a “Rookie” Referee. Mark had learned his trade well. In a very few years he built a reputation as one of the most outstanding mat officials in the nation. It was not long before he was invited to officiate many of the “spotlight” duals and championships. By the end of his officiating career, he had refereed 19 NCAA Division 1 National Championships, 24 EIWA Conference finals, The Big 10 Championships, the National Duals, the Virginia Duals, the NWCA East/West Meet, the NWCA All Star Meet, and many more college, open, and high school championships. In 1997, Mark Piven was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma as an outstanding official. This was a fitting tribute to one of wrestling’s greatest officials. Wrestling for Mepham High School in 1960, Mark Piven became Ken Hunte’s first Long Island Champion. In 1964, wrestling for Penn State, Mark finished third at the NCAA tournament, losing only to 3-time NCAA Champion & 2-time Olympic Champion, Yojiro Uetake 60 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 61 NASSAU COUNTY WRESTLING OFFICIALS AT THE 2012 SECTION 8 TOURNAMENT Back row: (left to right) Ken Richards, Avi Shmuley, Matt Fiala, Jerry Armengau Vincent Paolano, Roy Scott Kneeling (left to right) Bill Starke, Pat Sullivan, John Hamilton, Rob Aquilina Bill Young, Nick D’Anna NASSAU COUNTY WRESTLING OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION President: BILL YOUNG Vice President: JIM HALL Secretary/Treasurer: GERRY ARMENGAU Interpreter: BILL STARKE 61 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 62 SUFFOLK COUNTY WRESTLING OFFICIALS AT THE 2012 SECTION 11 TOURNAMENT Back row:(left to right) Rich Boscarino, Greg Mazzola, Chad Smith, John Trucello Front row: Sean Broking, Dan Harrell SUFFOLK COUNTY WRESTLING OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION President: CHAD SMITH Secretary/Treasurer: ROY SCOTT Interpreter: JOHN TRUCELLO 62 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 63 years, 3,000 seizures, and every possible drug, my seizures were still uncontrolled and getting worse. I was a candidate for surgery and a portion of my brain was removed. I remember thinking,, better me than my two brothers going through this experience! I had to win, and would. Today I’ve been 100 months seizure free without side effects. I pinned epilepsy! Richard Shane is a former Baldwin High School wrestler who battled epilepsy for many years before successful surgery ended the crippling seizures. What follows is Shanes’ story in his own words. Having wrestled at Baldwin Harbor Junior High School and then at Baldwin High School, prepared me for my biggest match...me vs. epilepsy. Epilepsy has a winning record, typically demoralizing its opponents. A feeling of despair and defeatism frequently felt by people. When my first seizures began at 22, I told myself “get back to the gym. Too much partying in college, go back to the gym and work this thing out of me”. The match went into overtime, but after 22 years and some 3,000 seizures, I beat epilepsy! It was mano a mano, just like in high school. Someone has to win, why not me? If I ran longer than my opponent, worked harder, I could be the victor. At Baldwin, I probably had about an 80% winning record. I was a division runner-up, losing in overtime in the finals. Two coaches influenced me: Tom Lamendola at Baldwin Harbor Jr. High and, of all people, the boys varsity basketball coach, Mike Cohen. I was told he used me as an example during halftime of a game, saying to the team: “You guys have to work harder. Look at Shane. He doesn’t have the greatest ability in the world but he works harder than anyone else, so he wins.” That’s the attitude I brought with me into the wrestling room and against epilepsy; Determination to win. So after those 22 Richard Shane was an inspiration to many athletes at Baldwin High School. He is pictured above competing as a varsity wrestler. He finished as a division runner-up after a overtime loss. After a long bout with epilepsy, he had surgery and is now free of seizures. 63 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 64 Proof that size dosen’t always matter JOHN GLENN “Knights” WRESTLING By: T. J. Brocking The John Glenn Knights have been considered one of NYS. The team only graduated two seniors from the the premier wrestling programs on Long Island and NY State previous year, and had a lineup full of All Suffolk County, since 2007, and they arguably have had the best run of any and All league kids. The team had so much depth that their small school in Suffolk County history.Led by Head Coach "B" team competed in many tournaments and dual meets T.J. Brocking and assistant coach Bill Davey their run began which they also had a lot of success. "The 2009 team was by capturing the Division 2 still a growing year for us. We Suffolk County Championship went into that Suffolk County in 2007 and finished ranked tournament not knowing if eleventh in NYS D2. They we were going to be able to finished their first post-season win the whole thing. That tournament with 7 champions always has been the goal, but and 4 other finalists; all of I was still looking to the 2010 which were returning for the season when our core group following year. When asked were going to be seniors. We about what he thought about wrestled very well and were his first year as the head varable to come out on top of a sity coach, Brocking said "We couple of very good teams in knew that we had a real speHauppauge and Longwood." cial group. They came up said Brocking through our very successful In 2010 the team had youth program; the Blue (Above) The 2010 John Glenn team is shown celebrating their second consecutive a season that many coaches Wave, led by Tom Giaramita, Section XI Championship. They were also ranked number one in New York State. dream about, they won their and our middle school team (Below) Nick Meinson. 2010 New York State champion. He helped the “Knights” second consecutive Suffolk led by Darren Szokoli. It was record their third consecutive undefeated season. County Division 1 Championship, not clear how good we were finished undefeated for the going to be over the next third year in a row and couple of years, but we saw a finished the season ranked lot of potential" first in NYS. The team was led After a successful season, by New York State champion and with so many athletes Nick Meinsen, and a handful coming back the Knights of other current college decided to move out of wrestlers. When Brocking Division 2 and up to Division was asked about that year he 1 for the 2007- 2008 season. said "That season was so With a team loaded with special I was so lucky to have underclassmen the Knights kids that wanted to be the were able to earn a very best. And they did everything respectable 4th place finish in they could to reach their the County tournament. More team and individual goals." importantly the season helped After graduating one of the develop the young talent against the better competition, such a successful senior class in the 2010 team , the team which helped lead to the success over the next responded great as the 2011 Knights placed second in couple of years. Brocking said "looking back now it was a Suffolk County (behind Longwood) crowning 3 individual great move for our program, it really helped us to motivate champions (most in tournament) and finished 5th in NYS. the kids to get better. It was a test for all of us to see if we They also won their 5th consecutive League Dual Meet and could wrestle with the the best." Tournament titles. " I am still a little upset about the county The team rolled into the 2009 season with confidence and tournament in 2011, I felt if we wrestled our best we could captured the Suffolk County Division 1 Championship; the have pulled it off. Unfortunately for us, Longwood wrestled first in school history and finished the season ranked 4th in great and we just couldn't make up the point difference. 64 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 65 meets, where we just can not find However, to have some of the kids at certain weights. We have guys that helped build our probeen fortunate enough to develop gram go out with Suffolk County kids that have been able to fill titles, and All State honors made gaps to help our team be successme feel a lot better " Brocking ful. And more importantly our said. individuals have really been able Many considered the John to excel." Glenn team to be finished with During Coach Brockings run their run in 2012. What people they ran up a 64 dual meet win thought of as a rebuilding year streak which is currently the 3rd turned out to be another longest in Suffolk history . Since successful season for the Knights. 2007 the team has crowned 3 In 2012 the Knights NYS Champions and has had a finished 5th in Suffolk and total of 13 All State wrestlers. At crowned 2 NYS Champions (James the Suffolk County level , which Dekrone, and Nick Bellanza). The only teams that finished ahead of has been the dominant section John Glenn in the team race were in New York for over a decade, much larger schools. Brocking said 36 Knights have earned when talking about school size "I Division 1 All County wrestlers try to use it as a positive for our in the last 5 seasons. "The program small town. I am lucky that I was set up to be successful can develop a relationship with because we had so much support from the Superintendent, the every kid in the district from In 2012, James DeKrone (above) and Nick Bellanza finished the kindergarten to high school. season as New York State Champions. The John Glenn team as a whole, Athletic Director, Board of Education, youth coaches, middle Everyone knows that I am going to were very successful, finishing 5th in the Section XI tournament school coaches and of course the parents and kids. push for the best athletes to be wrestlers, and be a part of They wanted to be the best, and it worked out" our team. Being such a small school hurts us more in dual LYNBROOK YOUTH ASSOCIATION Hilary Becker • Bob Becker • Kevin Murphy Salute the 2013 Inductees Into The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Bill Brennen • Sal Difazio • George Dlugolonski George & Richard Doherty Reggie Jones. Jr. • Norm Maisel As Well As Friends of Long Island Wrestling Jerry Seckler, President Hofstra Wrestling Rob Anspach Head Coach 65 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 66 SUFFOLK COUNTY COACHES ASSOCIATION SALUTES THE 2012 DIVISION 1 NEW YORK STATE & SECTION XI CHAMPIONS Front Row (left to right) ALEX TANZMAN, Westhampton Beach; NICK PICCINNI, Ward Melville COREY JAMISON, Huntington; MATT LESHINGER, Sayville; MAVERICK PASSARO, Eastport-South Manor NICK MAURIELLO, Hauppauge; MALIK RASHEED, Longwood; COREY RASHEED, Longwood Back Row (left to right) NICK HALL, Longwood; TYLER GRIMALDI, Half Hollow Hills West DYLAN SEBOLT, Longwood; GIO SANTIAGO, Sachem North; ZACK CONNOR, Islip; DAVID RUBINO, Commack; MICHAEL HUGHES, Smithtown West NEW YORK STATE PLACEWINNERS CHAMPIONS: NICK PICCINNI; SEAN McCABE, Connetquot; MAVERICK PASSARO; JAMES DEKRONE, John Glenn NICK BELLANZA, John Glenn RUNNER-UPS: ALEXIS BLANCO, Brentwood; COREY RASHEED, NICK HALL, TYLER GRIMALDI THIRD PLACE: ALEX TANZMAN, MATT LESHINGER, DYLAN SEBOLT FOURTH PLACE: JJ FABIAN, Shoreham Wading River; GIOVANNI SANCHEZ, Central Islip; NICK MAURIELLO MALIK RASHEED, JOE CALDERONE, Walt Whitman FIFTH PLACE: NICK LUPI, Huntington SIXTH PLACE: ANTHONY PISTONE, Sachem East; GIO SANTIAGO, ZACK CONNOR, MICHAEL HUGHES 66 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 67 SUFFOLK COUNTY COACHES ASSOCIATION SALUTES THE 2012 DIVISION 2 SECTION XI CHAMPIONS AND NYS PlACEWINNERS Front Row (left to right) LUCAS WEBB, Mattituck; MICHAEL MENZER, Center Moriches HUNTER HULSE, Stony Brook; JUSTIN UNDERWOOD, Bayport-Blue Point SEAN KELLY, Babylon; RYAN HAKE, BAyport-Blue Point DYLAN ROBERTS, Port Jefferson; DOM EVANGELISTA, Port Jefferson Back Row (left to right) PAUL CAVANAUGH, Port Jefferson; TRAVIS BASKERVILLE, Center Moriches TOMASZ FLIPKOWSKI, Mattituck; BRIAN LOSCAMP, Babylon; CHRIS BAGLIVI, Mattituck KEVIN GIRON, Hampton Bays; HARRISON DeSOUSA, Bayport-Blue Point NEW YORK STATE PLACEWINNERS FOURTH PLACE: HARRISON DeSOUSA FIFTH PLACE: TRAVIS BASKERVILLE 67 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 68 SANDY WASN’T DANDY FOR NASSAU CC’s WRESTLERS By Mike Candel All of which left Schmidt scratching his head. For 17 days, Nassau’s wrestling team could not get into its own practice facility. But that wasn’t the only problem. Some team members lost their homes. Others were living in frigid homes with no power. Still others had no means of transportation. So even if they could’ve found a way to get to practice, there would’ve been no place to practice. Schmidt, who has guided the Lions to five national junior college championships was forced to make some hard and unhappy decisions. “We dropped out of some meets that have been a regular part of our schedule for years,” the coach said. “We basically became a spring semester sport this season. Our first meet (Wilkes Open, Dec. 28) comes after the fall semester ends.” The Merchant Marine dual meet. Out. The New York State championships. Out. The Bob Quade Open in New Jersey. Out. Not only were the Lions out of the Long Island Open, but the event which has been hosted by Nassau CC for more than 30 years, had to be moved to Kings Point. “We won’t wrestle at home the entire season,” Schmidt said. “We’re going to be road warriors.” It has been a difficult pill to swallow for one of the country’s elite wrestling programs. “I’m chomping at the bit to get going because on paper we have an outstanding team,” the coach said. Indeed, the Lions have five former state high school champions and numerous county titleholders on their 38-man roster. The picture is muddled at 125 where Stephen Drew (Connetquot), John Pelligrino (Levittown) and Andrew Traficante (Lindenhurst) are battling to win the starting nod. At 133lbs John Miller (Shirley), who laid out last year after earning all-American honors two years ago will be one of the favorites to win a National Championship. Nine grapplers are competing at 141 where former state champion James DeKrone (John Glenn) appears to have the edge if he can make weight. If he can’t, it could open the door for Santiago Valdez, a Virginia state titlist. If DeKrone is forced to move up a weight class, he will have to get past another state champion, Kyle Wade (Islip). As if Anthony Herring (Freeport) and Adam DeJesus (Long Beach) didn’t have enough trouble competing against each other at 157, both have been displaced from their homes. DeJesus, who lives in Long Beach, stays with his aunt Marie in Freeport three days a week. “The other four days,” DeJesus said, “I stay in our apartment in Long Beach but it’s really cold.” DeJesus still can’t get over the sight of water pouring into the apartment where he lives with his parents, two brothers and two sisters. “We couldn’t control it,” he said. “We tried to keep it out but there was nothing we could do about it. We figured it would stop eventually but it never did.” Needless to say, transportation to Nassau CC for classes and practice sessions has been a nightmare for DeJesus. “When I’m in Long Beach I take two buses and it takes at least two hours to get to Nassau. I have to catch a 6:45 bus in the morning to get to the college by 9.” That’s more than two hours to Battling through adversity has always been an integral part of athletics. A basketball team is losing by 10 points with two minutes to go and rallies to win at the buzzer. A runner trails by five yards in the closing moments of a quarter-mile race but comes from behind to win at the finish line. An exhausted wrestler is losing by one point with less than 15 seconds remaining in the final period yet digs deep into himself and gets a reversal to gain a one-point victory as time runs out. Those are some of the usual adverse situations athletes must face. However, the coaches and wrestlers at Nassau Community College had no way to anticipate the kind of adversity they would be up against this season. “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said the Lions longtime coach Paul Schmidt. “Hurricane Sandy has thrown our team, in fact all of Nassau’s teams, into chaos.” That’s because Nassau’s Physical Education and Athletic Complex became a shelter for literally hundreds of people who lost house and home in the storm. Everywhere you looked there were cots; in the Field House, in the Main Gym and even in the hallways, to say nothing of the army of staff people from the county, the police department and the Red Cross who took over the building. In spite of the terrible conditions on Long Island after hurricane Sandy, the members of the Nassau Community team worked hard at practice to prepare for a drastically altered season. They are optimistic about their chances for another national championship. 68 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:26 AM Page 69 negotiate a trip that ordinarily would take 35 minutes. “Since the hurricane, public transportation is all over the place. You never know if a bus is going to be on time or if it’s going to show up. Not surprisingly, all the traveling and living in two different places has taken a toll on DeJesus. “I’m not well rested, so I’m wrestling tired,” he said. “You can’t work as hard (on the mat) when there’s so much other stuff going on in your life. Just living is a fulltime job right now.” Still, DeJesus and his teammates persevere. “These kids love to wrestle,” Schmidt said. “It keeps them going.” The Lions appear to be strong in the upper weight classes, too. Juan Carlos-Diaz (Levittown) is attempting to drop down from 174 to 165. If he can’t do it, the starter looks like Miguel Ponce (Elmont). Former state champion Chanse Menendez (Hauppauge) has the inside track at 174 and Frank Merante (Sachem), a national qualifier last year is solid at 184. “Merante didn’t place at the nationals,” Schmidt said. “But he got there and that’s a significant achievement. We expect big things from him this season.” Ian MacIneirghe (East Islip) is the leader at 197 and 285pound Yaseen Mudassar (Levittown), an all-American last year, will try to improve on his fifth place national finish. Mudassar is ranked second in the NJCAA preseason ratings. The challenge for this particular Nassau team is obvious. Despite the fact that all that talent has been displaced, delayed and held at a near standstill thanks to Hurricane Sandy, the goal remains the same: climb to the top of the junior college mountain again. “We’re going to be real good by the end of the season,” said Schmidt. “We should be peaking at tournament time. This year, especially, I’d love to see us come home with a national championship.” And wouldn’t that be something. VOUGAR OROUDJOV Two-time World Champion Joins Long Island Wrestling Community national reputation in America. He displayed an exceptional knowledge of wrestling and a perfect style of demonstrating various wrestling moves. Vougar worked with the Nassau Community College team and in the summers coordinated a training program clinic for all those who wanted to improve their wrestling technique. At present, Vougar has been married to Zhanna for the past 22 years and is the proud father of 3 sons, Nick 20, Vitale 13, and George 9. Nick is currently competing for Cornell University.Vougar’s most recent assignment has been Team Leader of the American Men’s Freestyle World Cup Wresting Team which incidentally took place in Vougar’s home country of Azerbaijan this year. Vougar Oroudjov comes from Baku, Azerbaijan, which was a part of the USSR. Vougar, considered one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, immigrated to America in the late 1990’s. When asked what made him decide to leave his home he summed it up in one word, “freedom”. He further added it was also the family opportunities available as an American.Oroudjov was a World Champion in 1991, 3rd place Olympian in 1992 and World Champion in 1995. Upon arriving in California, Vougar landed a job as an assistant coach at Lamson Junior College. After a 3 year stint, he moved to New York and approached Paul Schmidt, the Head Wrestling Coach at Nassau Community College. It was at Nassau where he began to develop his (Left) Coaches Paul Schmidt and Vougar Oroudjov bring a world of knowledge to the Nassau Community wrestling program, making it one of the most successful in the United States. (Above) Vouugar demonstrates a move with one of the Nassau wrestlers. He is considered one of the most accomplished technicians in the world and the results can be seen in the success of the Nassau team. 69 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 70 NASSAU COUNTY COACHES ASSOCIATION SALUTES THE 2012 DIVISION 1 SECTION VIII & NYS CHAMPIONS & PLACEWINNERS Front Row (left to right) J. RODRIQUEZ, Wantagh; J. COOKSEY, MacArthur; M. RAGHUNANDAN, Long Beach; J. LANZILLOTTI, Roslyn; M. LOFRESE, Garden City M. IRBY, Freeport; D. McDEVITT, Wantagh; L. HERNANDEZ, Mepham Back Row (left to right) D. TRACY, Mepham; D. PALACIO, Long Beach; D. SPURGEON, Plainedge A. JONES, Plainedge; R. ZORN, Sewanhaka East; A. COLE, Uniondale; D. SALKEY, Uniondale NEW YORK STATE PLACEWINNERS CHAMPIONS: D. PALACIO • D. SPURGEON RUNNER-UP: J. RODRIQEZ • J. COOKSEY THIRD PLACE: K. SEWKUMAR, Long Beach FOURTH PLACE: A. JONES FIFTH PLACE: R. PERSON, Bellmore JFK • D. McDEVITT • R. ZORN • D. SALKEY SIXTH PLACE: M LOFRESE 70 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 71 NASSAU COUNTY COACHES ASSOCIATION SALUTES THE 2012 DIVISION 2 SECTION VIII CHAMPIONS & NYS PLACEWINNER Front Row (left to right) N. CASELLA, Locust Valley; H. DUSOLD, Locust Valley; C. EXUM, Oyster Bay R. ARNEL, Oyster Bay; R. HENEY, Locust Valley; M. LONG, Mineola; J. FORMICOLA, Locust Valley Back Row (left to right) B. MEYER, Oyster Bay; J. MASSARO, Mineola; R MORGAN, Oyster Bay D. RANKIN, Oyster Bay; D. GORRY, Mineola; I ESTEVEZ, Oyster Bay; R SALINAS, Carle Place NEW YORK STATE PLACEWINNER RUNNER-UP: NICK CASSELLA 71 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 72 “HAUPPAUGE A FEW YEARS AWAY” By Chris Messina The Hauppauge wrestling team has been hit hard the past few years graduating a good number of seniors year after year. 2011-12 was no different with Hauppauge saying goodbye to eight veteran starters. With the eight in place, the 2011-12 “Eagles” went 11-1 winning the League IV dual meet and tournament crowns. This team was responsible for winning over 80 matches in the past four years along with four league dual meet titles and three league tournament championships, not to mention several top ten finishes in the NYS team rankings. Hauppauge finished sixth in the Suffolk County Championship with four individual place winners. Nick Mauriello, capped an outstanding career winning the 132 lb. Suffolk County title, placing fourth in the NYS tournament. division at the NHSCA National tournament held in Virginia. Chris has already grown to compete at 126 or 132 this year and has his eye on breaking the Hauppauge history books. Seniors, Jake Cherkes, Tal Granot, Max Chin, Seungsoo Im, Mike Rizzo and Joe Calabrese, all will be adding much needed depth in the middle and upper weights. Jake won the league tournament at 195lbs. and was one match away from a Suffolk County placement. Granot, and Chin both placed 4th in the league tournament. Juniors will be led by 3rd place league finishers, Mike Byrus, Austin Munro, Ralph Cazzetta and Connor Kelly. Cazzetta, spent a month at the J Robinson Intensive camp in Minnesota and is ready for the next level. All have worked very hard in the off-season and will be Nick finished his career with 128 wins, placing In the Suffolk Championship 3 X’s and winning two league championships along the way. He is attending Binghamton hoping to break into the lineup in 2012-13. Graduate, Sam Schwartzapfel, finished a nice career for Hauppauge as a two time Suffolk place winner, finishing fourth this past year, ending with 112 career wins. Sam is attending Hofstra. Returning for the Hauppauge team is 2010 NYS champion, Mark West. Mark entering his senior year has currently amassed 119 varsity wins along with three Suffolk County placing’s. He won his 3rd League championship this past year, including several individual tournaments. He is looking to win his second Suffolk and NYS title’s at 120-126 lbs. Freshman sensation, Chris Mauriello, also has his eye on a Suffolk and NYS title. Entering his freshman year as a 2X All-County and 2X League Champion, Chris has accumulated 72 varsity wins. In 2012, he was crowned the 2012 National Champion in his looking for a place in the Suffolk tournament. Juniors, Dominick Holder, Vinny Drago and James Louison, should add some more depth in the upper weights. Much of the future talent could be found in the sophomore class. League place winners, Dan Murphy and Francisco Bisono, lead a list of several very talented wrestlers. Dan Smith, Nick Kurz, John Donahue, Ricky Panciroli, Mason Ezring and Anthony Ottaviano, all have had some varsity experience and could break into the line-up. Hauppauge may also get some help from middle school wrestlers, Jake Silverstein and Ben Tepperman both having success on the national level. The season will prove to be very exciting with several tough teams in league four. Half Hollow Hills West, East Islip and Riverhead all are returning very talented and experienced teams. Hauppauge’s strength will once again be in the individual tournaments. Hopefully the “Eagles” can find a way to soar once again. 72 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 73 “A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS” By Chris Messina Over the years coaches face many obstacles in developing a contributed to Nick making it thru this deadly infection beginning team and sometimes lose sight as to what’s really important. How do with the outstanding care given at the hospital and the tremendous we measure our successes and failures regarding our team, our support he received all over Long Island and New York State, but individuals, and ourselves? Do we count wins and losses or none more than the fact that he was in terrific shape as a result of him individual achievement at the post season tournaments? Have we being a wrestler. Twelve days on life support thousands of prayers taught our wrestlers any messages for life? I’m sure everyone has their and his family by his side, Nick finally showed the ability to breathe own opinions but sometimes fate puts on his own and signs of improvement. everything in perspective. Such is the case of Although his body showed the effects of the Hauppauge’s own Nick Mauriello, who illness, losing 25 lbs., Nicks long road to Nick had all the makings of a true recovery was about to take place. Most of champion spending years coming thru the the physicians on hand did not know what ranks of the youth program at Hauppauge effects the illness had on his body but all starting to make his name on the national were in agreement the chances of him level. Nick began wrestling varsity as a wrestling again were slim to none. But then ninth grader and immediately made a again not many people truly understand the tremendous impact on the Hauppauge mind of a wrestler or the power the one program. He won several tournaments possesses when competing at such a high during the year at 96lbs., including the level. Nick knew from the moment he League V Championship. He finished the opened his eyes that he would not be denied year at 31-3 and although was seeded first in the opportunity to fulfill his dream of becoming the Suffolk county tournament unfortunately a Suffolk and New York State champion. came down with bronchitis the week of the From his early days of using a walker to his counties and had to settle for fifth. His sophlong hours of rehab only his family and those omore year proved to be as of us in the wrestling community knew it difficult. Starting the year at 103 lbs. Nick was only a matter of time when he would quickly grew out of the weight and moved return to probably the most demanding sport up to 112lbs. by the time the in high school today. After months of tournaments came around, although small weightlifting and conditioning Nick came for the weight, Nick placed second in back to Hauppauge as a senior ready to take the leagues and fourth in the county on the world. Much to the surprise of the tournament. He finished with a 21-6 record. Medical field who witnessed his illness, Nick Spending considerable time over the started the season on fire. He won the summer preparing to have a legitimate shot Bellport, East Hampton and Massapequa at a Suffolk and NYS title, Nick began his tournaments and was voted the MVP of the junior year on fire winning the Bellport and Massapequa tournament. He placed second Massapequa tournaments and placing third in the Eastern States Classic and won his Nick Mauriello is shown winning the Suffolk County barely in the prestigious Eastern States Classic. His a year after being stricken with an illness that threatened second League tournament and given MVP record up to that point was 31-2. He was not only his wrestling career, but his life. honors. His dream of becoming a Suffolk focused and ready to take on the League County champion was realized approximateand County tournament when a pain in his neck would not go away. ly one year after he was stricken with the infection. Immediately after With the league dual meet title on the line with Islip and the his victory, the crowd of close to five thousand coaches, wrestlers and Newburgh Duals a few days away Nick was given a few days rest to spectators jumped to their feet to give Nick and his achievement a see if his muscle pain would subside. Missing the Islip match and standing ovation. Not because of the win in the finals but due to his Newburgh tournaments did not sit well with Nick but he stayed home unbelievable courage and will to realize his goals regardless of the and was sent to a Chiropractor and then an orthopedic specialist. The path that was given to him. Although he did not complete his quest orthopedic physician first put him on pain relievers then decided to to become a New York State champion, Nick placed fourth to add his take him off of the medication when little change occurred. place in the history books at Hauppauge. Apparently the medication was masking the symptoms of a deadly As his coach, even to discuss Nick’s junior year is very difficult. disease that soon found Nick being rushed to the hospital with a 200 After thirty five years of coaching, winning the leagues and counties plus heart rate and a staggering high blood pressure. He was moved seemed so meaningless when confronted with one of your own from one Hospital to Stony Brook where he was tested for various wrestler’s life. All that our staff, district and community wanted was infections. Nick was soon on life support, suffering from a combination of to get Nick back and healthy, everything else was placed on a back MURSA and a rare disease called Lemeire’s syndrome. Apparently, burner. Now, one year later, to witness the miracle of life and the infection starting in the muscles of the neck, invaded the carotid triumph, we have all added another attribute of wrestling to the long artery, spreading throughout his organs and body. Many things list that exists today. 73 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 74 By Yar Smada Dylan Palacio had one of the great seasons in New York State Wrestling history in 2012. His hard work and determination catapulted him to a perfect senior campaign. When it was all said and done his resume was second to none: 2012 National Champion, 2012 New York State Champion, 2012 Nassau County Champion, 2012 Eastern States Champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler. It was a great ride and a season packed with exciting wins over nationally ranked opponents. In January at the Eastern State Championships, Palacio dropped down to 152 pounds to challenge defending State Champion and freestyle National Champion Brian Realbuto of Somers (Section 1). Before a packed house, Palacio scored an 8-5 win over Realbuto. He was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler for his win. After securing his third Nassau County title with an impressive win over highly regarded Joe Cataldo of MacArthur, it was off to the New York State Championships in Albany. Four members of the Palacio family have won Nassau County titles: Al Palacio (4), Dylan (3), Leo and Luis. In three previous trips to the states, Dylan had been denied the elusive New York State title. In his sophomore and junior years he dropped his semi-final match. He battled back to take 4th in 2010 and 3rd in 2011. This year would be different. He defeated highly regarded Frank Affronti of Wayne (Section 5) in the semi-finals to reach the finals. In the championship round, Palacio would face Tyler Grimaldi of Half Hollow Hills West (Section 11) at 160 lbs. Dylan did not let up as he defeated Grimaldi 11-4 to capture the coveted title of New York State Champion. He became the tenth New York State Champion in the history of the Long Beach Wrestling Program. He joins his uncle, Al Palacio (3x State Champion) on the Long Beach Wall of State Champions along with Richard Santana, Scotty Graham, Aldy Teran, Kevin Haggerty, Eduardo Delgado and P.J. Gillespie. After Albany, his season was still not over. His next goal was to be a National Champion in April at the N.H.S.C.A. Senior Nationals. In a charity event called Pinning Down Autism in March, an All-Star team from New York wrestled an all-star team from New Jersey. Palacio (41-0) squared off against undefeated New Jersey State Champion Raamiah Bethea. In an exciting match, Palacio would secure a fall on Bethea in the third period to help Team NY to an exciting win over the Garden State. Palacio was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the event. The next stop was Virginia Beach for the National High School Coaches Association National Championships in early April. Palacio would not be denied as he ran off seven straight wins to capture the 152 lb. National Championship. In the semi-finals, he scored at 15-4 win over Ben Sullivan of national powerhouse Apple Valley in Minnesota. In the finals, he scored a dominant 6-2 victory over multiple- time Georgia State Champion Austin Trott. He became the second Senior National Champion in the last twelve years, joining Jonathan Masa (2000) for the Long Beach Marines. You would think that his high school career would come to an end with this victory...think again! Palacio would then go on to win the New York State titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle. He was voted the Outstanding Wrestler in the GrecoRoman tournament. These victories helped him to win the New York State “Triple Crown” of Wrestling. He wrestled in the Flowrestling National Club Duals with Team Excel, went undefeated and helped Excel win the team national title. A key win was over Pennsylvania State Champion Garrett Peppelman. In June he wrestled with Team NY at the Disney Duals and went undefeated. With that came the end of a great career and a perfect senior season. Palacio will continue his wrestling career at Cornell under the direction of Head Coach Rob Koll. In addition, to Palacio, two other Long Beach wrestlers earned All-American honors at the N.H.S.C.A. National Championships in Virginia Beach. Krishna Sewkumar (106) and Mark Raghunandan (113) both earned All-American honors by finishing fifth in the nation. Long Beach became the first team in New York State to have three senior All-Americans in one year. Sewkumar was Nassau County Champion and two-time All-State finisher and Raghunandan was a two-time Nassau County Champion, three time All-State finisher. Raghunandan will continue his career at S.U.N.Y. at Brockport. This year, the Marines of Long Beach will be young and will look to its four seniors for leadership. Steven Sewkumar, second in Nassau County last year will lead the way and look to capture the Nassau County and State title. Also look to Joe Sweeney, Walter Ulloa and Zamarr Allen for big points. Junior Jaemen Connelly, third in Nassau County last season, will look to climb to the top of the podium this year. Top newcomers include: Alan Teemer, Mike Alcivar, Tyler O’Conner, Tyler Ostrander and Marke Sutton. This years schedule will be loaded again as the Marines will compete in the “Battle at the Beach”, Baldwin Tournament, Grapple at the Garden, and the Eastern States. 74 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 75 Continuing a Tradition of Excellence BALDWIN WRESTLING The inception of Baldwin Wrestling Program by Coach Ed Program recalls walking into the county tournament unseeded and Reinisch in 1941 has been followed by many decades of pulling off several upsets to earn All- County Honors. These alumni success. Over the years, there have been numerous influential exemplify the Baldwin Wrestling legacy of hard work and success on wrestlers. Here’s a decade by decade look at some of them. the mat. The 1940s were the era of National Wrestling Hall of Fame After an 11th place finish in Nassau County last season, the member; Reggie Jones Sr.. He was a Long Island Champion and coBaldwin Bruins Wrestling Program is determined to elevate the team Captain of the 1946 Bruins Team that gave Mepham High School their to new heights. The Bruins aspire to uphold a legacy of first loss after 100 consecutive wins. Reggie Jones Sr continued his success which dates back to 1941. A dedicated coaching staff, led by wrestling career by coaching at Garden City Jr High and refereeing second year Head Coach James Murphy and Assistant Coaches Mike across Long Island. Janosko, Tom Daddino, Paul Stuart, Tom Llewellyn and Tyshawn The 1950’s featured heavyweight wrester Tom Megale, who Scarlett, have established a culture of accountability, motivation and continued the Baldwin way of commitment by coaching at Tresper commitment both on and off the mat. Several key strategies have W. Clarke High School. B.A Schoen is one of three been implemented this season to instill these important values into the brothers who were Captains of the team in the 1960s. He is an example young wrestlers. of the dedication and commitment The value of responsibility that goes hand in hand with is demonstrated though a strict being a Bruin. Mr. Schoen practice- uniform policy which coached youth wrestling with requires each wrestler to have other alumni, Steve Shippos and headgear, white socks and a Chris Jackson and was the designated color shirt in order to Baldwin Junior High Coach with participate in practice. A new Alum, Nick Dinisio. mandatory attendance policy, that During the 1979 season, immediately punishes truant Mike DerGarabedian helped set a wrestlers, keeps practice record for Baldwin by winning a numbers elevated. The Baldwin county championship with two Coaching Staff and Athletic other teammates. Even a fractured Director Ed Ramirez, frequently leg during his senior season could use the term “ student - athlete” to not deter DerGarabedian from emphasize that high academic achieving his victory. standards must be met before B.A. Schoen presents Bruin Senior Quin Knauer with the Steve Shippos “Champion DerGarabedian advises all of Champions Award” at this year’s Bruin Cup. The award is sponsored by NWHOF athletic competition. Each Bruins Bruins Wrestlers to stay with the Executive Board Member Michael DerGarabedian, like Schoen a Baldwin alum. Coach uses their past learning sport no matter how difficult it experiences derived from may be. He also believes that “Baldwin Wrestlers stand out from other collegiate wrestling, football and even the Navy, to schools because, other wrestlers aim to win with the strength of arms provide inspirational anecdotes that motivate wrestlers. Off season and legs, while Bruins look to win with their heads and their hearts”. open- mats, demanding summer track workouts and trips to Granby Bruin Alum, Mike Robinson attributes Baldwin’s Wrestling Camp prove the commitment level of the entire Baldwin accomplishments of the 1980’s to the camaraderie of teammates. The Program. Our team’s effort will be put to the test with upcoming dual competition for starting jobs and intense practices helped formed a meets against formidable opponents Brooklyn Tech, Sachem North fraternity of Baldwin brothers that lasts a lifetime. Under Coach Steve and Shenendehowa. During the first practice of the season, the Shippos, the Bruins won the county dual meet coaches discussed the distinction between a goal and dream. After tournament in Robinson’s junior season. explaining that goals are achieved though a series of positive The 90’s featured the career of Kevin Shippos, the winningest proactive steps and dreams are useless fantasies, each wrestler was wrestler in Baldwin history. Kevin was a New York state champ as required to formulate a list of personal goals. The coaches well as a member of the USA Wrestling World Team that encouraged the team to include a state championship on our team’s traveled to Europe when he was a “Kid” wrestler. Shippos is aspirations. A novice wrestler may view a state championship as a currently the Head Football and Assistant Wrestling Coach at lofty ambition, but the Baldwin Coaching Staff stressed that each Massapequa High School. journey begins with one step. With these sentiments in mind, during The new millennium Bruins were led by the “All-American “, every practice, match and tournament, the Baldwin Bruins Wrestling Chris Weidman, Baldwin’s fourth State Champion. Chris is called the Team takes one step closer on our march towards victory. “All American” because he has been at one at every level he competed at: Kids, High School, Junior College (Nassau Community The above was written by Michael White, winner of last year’s Stan Bishop Prize. College) and Hofstra University. He is now an undefeated UFC fighter. Mike is a Senior and a member of the Baldwin Bruin Wrestling Team. As we go to Most recently, five year varsity wrestler Dylan Cohen advises press, Mike has not decided where he will be next year but he has applied to Penn State current Bruins to stay with wrestling because of the inherent life lesalong with several other universities. sons of hard work and goal setting. The latest graduate of the Baldwin 75 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 76 By Jim Sheehan Coming off a record-setting season for a first-year wrestling Championships to earn All-American honors. Brilliant both on the coach in school history, Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Rob mat and off, Bonanno was also named the CAA Wrestling ScholarAnspach will be looking for an encore performance from his Pride Athlete of the Year, named to the Capital One-CoSIDA Academic grapplers in 2012-13. Anspach, a All-American At-Large second team, long-time assistant under both Tom and the NWCA All-Academic team. Ryan and Tom Shifflet, took the Bonanno is looked upon as a reins of the Hofstra program legitimate national title contender as following the 2010-11 season. his preseason rankings as high as In his first season in charge, the fourth will attest. “If all goes as we Pride recorded a 12-3 dual match expect, we sincerely believe that record, a 5-1 mark in the Colonial Steve Bonanno could finish in Athletic Association, Hofstra’s the top two in the country,” second consecutive CAA title and Anspach says. the 11th conference title in the past Returning to a starting role at 12 years and a 23rd-place finish with 133-pounds this season is two All-Americans at the NCAA junior Jamie Franco (Monroe, NY), Division I Wrestling Championships who also had a career-best season a in St. Louis. Anspach’s .800 winning year ago. He posted a 21-13 record, Coach Rob Anspach is starting his second yearn coming off a season that percentage was the best by a firstadvanced to the CAA finals for the saw his team win the CAA tournament and have two all-Americans year coach in program history. He first time and earned his first bid to was also the first new coach in Pride wrestling the NCAA Championships. Franco’s hard-work last season and in history to win his first 10 dual matches. the preseason this year has earned him a top 20 ranking in some But the new season brings new challenges and Anspach and of the preseason polls. “Jamie made a huge jump on the mat from the Pride will be faced with many as Hofstra will face, arguably, the his freshman to sophomore seasons,” Anspach says. “He gained a most difficult schedule in program history facing such notable lot of valuable experience and we expect him to build upon that national powers like Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio State, Oklahoma, success this season.” Cornell, Wisconsin, Lehigh, the CAA Duals, and appearances in the The 141-pound weight class is one of five divisions with three Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in December and the National or wrestlers competing. But this class is led by returning starter, Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals at Cornell in February. Anspach and staff will be armed with the biggest roster in recent years although a good many are young and inexperienced on the Division I level. Included in that roster are 15 returnees and eight starters. Among the returning starters are two returning All-Americans in senior Steve Bonanno at 125 and senior Justin Accordino at 149. Bonanno is one of two CAA champions returning from 2012 along with junior Luke Vaith at 141 while senior Paul Snyder, who was a conference champion in 2011, gives the Pride three CAA champions on the roster. While the roster is large, there will be several weight classes that are deep in numbers but short on experience with many expected to red-shirt. Other weight classes are short on depth but sometimes deep in talent. “Our biggest hope this season is that we don’t get hit by the injury bug,” Anspach says. Senior Steve Bonanno achieved All-American status last season with an 8th place “But if we do the guys understand that this is a team sports and they finish at the NCAA Tournament. He is a threat to improve on that this year. may have to move up or down a weight to help make us the best possible team we can be.” junior Luke Vaith (Hastings, MN), whose star continues to rise and The 125-pound weight class is one of those weight classes that shine brightly. Another one of the Pride wrestlers to record a careeris short on depth but deep in talent with the return of All-American, best season in 2011-12, Vaith recorded a 23-10 record including a senior Steve Bonanno (Wantagh, NY). The three-time NCAA 12-3 mark in duals and a 5-1 record in the CAA. He captured his qualifier had a career-best season as a junior, posting a 31-9 record first conference title and earned his first NCAA Championship bid. including 14-1 in duals and 6-0 in conference matches. He captured His work the past two seasons has him destined to get to the Allhis first CAA title last season after two previous trips to the title American podium in the near future. As Anspach explained. “We match and then went on to place eighth in the NCAA are looking for Luke to make a statement nationally and he is 76 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 77 posted a 3-3 record at 157 in two open tournaments last year after recording a 13-11 mark in the same class in 2010-11. “We expect big things from Nick this season,” Anspach said. “He has a lot of talent and is very quick. He just needs to be more consistent in his wrestling.” The Hofstra 174-pound weight class returns its starter in 201213 in sophomore Jermaine John (Brooklyn, NY). John was thrust into the starting line-up after the graduation of Ryan Patrovich and posted a 9-17 record as a freshman. The former three-time AllNassau County selection and All-New York State pick, is better prepared for the battles ahead this season. “Jermaine gained valuable experience as a freshman starter,” Anspach commented. “We look for him to continue to improve and become more consistent this season.” Like at 165 pounds, the graduation of two-time CAA champion and three-time NCAA qualifier Ben Clymer has left a void at 184 pounds for the Pride. But senior Taras Luzhnyy (Kiev, Ukraine) is expected to fill the void in 2012-13. Luzhnyy, who attended the National University of the Ukraine, has impressive Junior Luke Vath earned his first conference title last season along with a trip to the NCAA tournament. He is looking to achieve All-American status this year. certainly capable to do that,” If ever Hofstra should have won a national Comeback Wrestler of the Year Award it should have happened last season for Justin Accordino (Wilkes-Barre, PA). The returning All-American and starter was granted a sixth year of eligibility after missing most if not all of the 200910 and 2010-11 seasons with knee injuries. Accordino battled back and recorded a career-best season last year, posting a 26-14 record with a 12-3 mark in duals and a 5-1 record in the CAA. He was a first-time conference finalist and earned his second NCAA Championship bid. He didn’t disappoint at nationals, defeating the 12th-seed and the fifth-seed before losing to three top-10 seeds to place sixth and earn All-American honors. “We are looking for Justin to continue his late season run from a year ago that led him to the All-American podium,” Anspach said. The 157-pound weight class returns another starter in senior Tyler Banks (Griswold, CT). Banks, who has wrestled in 96 matches during his Hofstra career, posted a 12-13 mark at 157 pounds as a junior after recording a 21-16 mark at three weight Paul Snyder, expected to start for the fourth consecutive season, hopes to win back the CAA title he earned as a sophomore and go onto the NCCA tournament. international freestyle credentials but very few in college circles. He placed second at the 2010 World University Championships at 84kg and finished third in the Cup of the Ukraine Senior Championships. Luzhnyy also took home the gold at the Ukrainian Nationals in 2010. “Taras brings a wealth of international experience and a lot of success,” Anspach says. “He is very talented on his feet and is a tireless worker. I expect good things from him by the end of the season.” The 197-lb. starter from a year ago returns in 2012-13 in junior Tim Murphy (Nazareth, PA). The two-year Hofstra letterman, who came to Long Island after one year at Edinboro University, posted a 10-22 record as a red-shirt sophomore. “Tim gained a lot of experience and helped us out a lot last year,” Anspach commented. “He worked very hard over the summer and has made some big improvements in his wrestling coming into the season.” Senior Paul Snyder (Greensburg, PA) is the Pride’s eighth and final starter who is returning to the line-up in 2012-13. A CAA champion and NCAA qualifier as a sophomore when he posted a 2516 record, he was 19-13 as a junior a year ago. The durable Snyder, who is expected to start for the fourth consecutive season, brings a wealth of experience to the weight class as he has wrestled in 110 matches over his three years in a Pride singlet. “We think Paul can be the top wrestler in the CAA this season,” Anspach said. “He too put in a great summer and worked real hard. We are looking for him to close out his career with a conference title and do something at nationals.” Sophomore Jermaine John, gained a world of experience as a freshman and should be a big asset to the team as the 174 lb. starter . classes as a sophomore including an 18-15 slate at 157. “Tyler continues to get better every year,” Anspach said. “We expect him to make that jump to a consistent wrestler who can contend for a conference title.” Following the graduation of two-time CAA champion, four-time NCAA qualifier and 2011 All-American, P.J. Gillespie, the 165-pound weight class is one of those divisions with numbers but not a great deal of college experience. Red-shirt sophomore Nick Terdick (East Northport, NY) appears to be the front-runner in this class. He 77 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 78 By Glenn Jochum Coach Shaun Lally is conducting a tour of the space the 28 Lally explains that lack of television coverage, a complex wrestlers in his newly formed wrestling club use as their scoring system and other factors have taken their toll on the sport practice room at the Pritchard Gymnasium from 6 to 8 pm on of folkstyle wrestling, which has been enjoyed by high school weeknights. It’s long been used as a racquetball court or a place and college students and their fans since the dawn of the 20th where wrestlers or martial arts buffs can work out their moves. century. The space is tiny for 28 people. But that’s okay, Lally But Lally doesn’t dwell on the negative. “We are very lucky says, because not everyone can make every practice due to to have a budget and a charter and a place to wrestle,” he says. scheduling conflicts.Lally keeps tabs on who attends each A former collegiate wrestler at the University of Pittsburgh, Lally session with an accountability chart posted on a wall in the praclived in New York until the age of five when his immigrant tice room. As long the wrestlers make as many practices as they parents joined a wave of Long Islanders moving to the Pocono can, there is a place for them on the team, he explains. Mountains in the early 1990s. He almost gave up on the sport The Stony Brook Wrestling Club will field 11 weight after suffering a neck injury at the age of 23. “I herniated a disc classes ranging from 125 to 285 and have a metal plate with four pounds. Most of the club’s wrestlers screws in my neck,” he says. are from Nassau and Suffolk Eventually over time he couldn’t Counties, but it also features students turn his back on the sport that from upstate New York, New York he loved so much. “I started City, New Jersey, Arizona and volunteering to coach at Parkland Russia. “We have talent here at the High School in Allentown, PA, University that hasn’t even been where I went to high school,” he tapped into,” said Lally. said.He then moved back to New As Lally and his squad await the York in 2008, to accept a position purchase of a $10,000 mat, which as junior high school coach in Port will eventually find a home in the Jefferson. He followed that up state-of-the-art Campus Recreation with a head wrestling coaching Center that opened next door to position at Nazareth High School Pritchard on October 19, he grapples in Brooklyn from 2009-2010 to Photo:Courtesy of John Griffin with the dilemma of how to stretch become a high school wrestling the $3,000 allotted to his club by the Coach Shaun Lally and his new Stony Brook team have high hopes for referee. He also volunteered to Undergraduate Student Government the growth and success of the wrestling program that will compete in a participate in Beat the Streets for this year to cover costs such as league governed by the National Collegiate Wrestling Association one year, a program aimed at equipment and travel. establishing a wrestling program in every New York City school. In his first year as wrestling coach, Lally says he hopes Missing Long Island, Lally returned in 2011 to put down roots to hold a golf outing and find other ways to help pay for the mat. and start a family. He contemplated building a wrestling program Prior to this year, Stony Brook students who wanted to wrestle were at the community college level but realized that the constant part of a loose-knit fraternity of athletes who used the space whenturnover would disrupt continuity. Instead he approached ever it was available. As a result of Lally’s vision and then Manager of Intramurals and Sports Clubs Dave Hairston at recruiting, now, for the first time, the club is part of a league, Stony Brook at the Department of Campus Recreation and was governed by the National Collegiate Wrestling Association. encouraged to join the National Collegiate Wrestling Association. The club is set to embark on its first full season of competition, “We’re excited,” says Lally “This program has the potential to turn which begins with a dual meet on Saturday, November 10, at 12 pm out an All-American or a National Champion. With no alumni or against the University of New Haven in New Haven, Connecticut. history I’m excited to see who will be the first one atop the Because there is no home facility, for now, all the Stony Brook podium,” a term that Lally explained includes the top eight AllWrestling Club’s meets will be away. But that doesn’t Americans. Lally pauses, smiling broadly. “Perhaps you’ve heard discourage Lally, who says he is grateful to finally have a of a coach here named Matt Senk,” he says. “He began a “structure, a system, leadership and a model.”Fortunately, the 29-yearbaseball program here 22 years ago and took it from there to old Lally, who is volunteering his time as coach, isn’t Division 1 until he reached the Collegiate World Series this year. shouldering all of this alone. Club President senior Bobby I would like to be that kind of a coach.” Beneventano handles University protocol, including rosters and other For more information, contact coach Lally at (610) 703-4974 paperwork. or [email protected]. 78 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 79 Dear Friend of Wrestling Would you like to sit in on a skull session with Cael Sanderson? Or play a round of golf with Dan Gable as your host? How about attending dinner with the Legends of Long Island Coaches? Enjoy discussing a controversial call with the best officials in the nation, while simultaneously supporting the great youth, high school and college programs offered on Long Island and the Metropolitan area. You can accomplish any of the above by sending in your 2013 membership today. The dues paid for membership are used 100% in support of wrestling programs and we are a “Not for Profit Corporation”, developed to assist in the education and support of active programs and in marketing the sport of wrestling. Since all of the funds we receive in membership are used in these activities, you will have a tax deduction for the total amount provided. Wrestling needs your support. Please return your membership check in the amount of $50.00 or more today! 79 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 80 Friends of Long Island Wrestling, Inc. STATEMENT OF WHAT WE DO We are the Downstate New York Chapter of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame We actively and financially support: Hofstra University • Columbia University U.S. Merchant Marine Academy- Kings Point Nassau Community College New York Athletic Club Holiday Tournament & Russia USA Dual Meet Friends of Long Island Wrestling, Inc.- Facebook Distribution of our national publication Long Island Wrestling Local & metropolitan wrestling programs Annual Hall of Fame Induction & Reunion Dinner (To Date, inducted 80 National Hall of Famers) Annual golf outing Rules & Interpretation clinic for coaches & officials Nassau & Suffolk County Outstanding Wrestler Trophy Financially support county tournaments Stan Bishop Literary Scholarship Award Friends of Long Island Wrestling, Inc. Website Mayors Cup Wrestling Tournament Downstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Provide financial assistance to high school/college austerity programs Revisit & present schools with a replica plaque honoring their Hall of Fame Members And, much, much more..... 80 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 81 Friends of Long Island Wrestling HONOR ROLL The following pages are dedicated to those individuals who have actively supported the mission of the Friends of Long Island Wrestling and The Downstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame 2012 Honor Roll Members Ron Abatelli Josh Abbey Gary Abott Joseph Acerra Ray Adams Set Agonian Ken Ahern Kevin Akner Mike Albano Joseph Amaalfitano Peter Amaroso Rich Anderson Rob Anspach Irv Apgar Mr & Mrs Rob Aquilina Joe Aquilina Steve Arcuri Jerry Armengau Robert Attonito Patrick Augustine Konstantine Avdeev Rich Avingone Paul Aviza Doug Axman William Baldwin Frank Barbuto Leonard Barone William Barrett Peter Barros Nickenson Bazelais Hilary Becker Dr. Paul Bedell Phil Bellisari Robert Bennett Dennis Bermudez Al Bevilacqua Matt Bielo James Bishop Mr. & Mr.s. Mark Blankmeyer Mike Bloom Tom Bobal Nick Boccard Paul Boccia Roger Bogsted Peter Bongiorno DR. Jap Boosman Rich Boscarino Sean Bradely Dan Bragoli Mr. & Mrs. William H. Brennen William J. Brennen Sean Breves Craig Brodmerkel Paul Brodmerkel Kevin Brodsky Mr. & Mrs. Jason Bross Mike Buonagurio Robert Bury Richard Bury Robert Busby Jr. Jorge Cabrales Bruce Campbell Steve Candela Larry Cantor Rudy Carastro Sal Carillo Mr. & Mrs, Richard Carroll The Castelli Family Jorge Castro Joe Catalanotto 81 Rob Catapano Ed Cavanagh Ken Cellan Russ & Sharon Cellan Joe Ceruli Joe Chetti Santo Ciccarello Daniel Cilla Pete Cimino Ron Coan Raymond Cody Joe Colloca Mr. & Mrs. J. Columbo Rod Conduragis Raymond Connell Mr. & Mrs. Richard Connor Russell Conti William Coogan Spencer Cook Melvin Cooper Mike Coppinger Clark & Carol Crespi Christopher Critchley Bill Crum Mr. & Mrs. John Cummings Lou Curra Arturo Curtis Mark Czachor Steve Dalberth Michael Daly Alfred Daniello Stephen Dansi Nicholas D’Anna David Darrow Michael Davey 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Page 82 Bill Davey, Sr. Jay Davis Mr. & Mrs. Anthony DeFendis Joseph DeForca Brian Degaetano Domnick Delvecchio George DeMatteo Richard DeMott Craig DeNicola Michael DerGarabedian Bill Desario Carl & Debbie DeStefanis Nick DiFranco Ted DePasquale Pete Dirlam Dan DiSalvo George Dlugolonski Joseph Doherty Carlos Dolmo Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Donatelli Kevin Donohue Michael Dowlig Peter Doyle Phillip Drago David Drew Owen Dugan Neil Duncan Dennis Dunne, Jr. Jim Durso James Earl David Edelman Christopher Edmond, Jr. Mike Emmert Robert & Eveln Emmons Jack Endee Joe Enea Pete Erber Steve Erber James Ernst Christian Espinosu Mrs, Michelle Ivy Esquenazi Jim Farrel Denis Farrell Bill Farrell Umbert Fasolino Sharon Faucett Mr. Larry Faucie Lorrie & Jeff Faulhaber Tom Fauvell Chris Feder Scott Feldman Mike Ferruggiari Matt Fala Mike Fitzgerald William Fitzgerald Michael Fokas Cliff Forziat Dave Foxen Michael Franco Julian Frank Jack Friedman Steve Friedman Charlie Gadson Frank Gagliardi Nick & Patti Gallo Damian Garcia Ken Garcia Matt Gaynor Jason Gerondale Lou Giani Tom Giaramita Paul Gillespi Randy Gilmore Joe Giulintano Tim Godoy Fred Goepfert Bob Goldberg John F. 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Hiller Chris Holder Fred Holle Kevin Horner Ed Hubbard Tom Hudson Gregory Isgro Don Jackson Adam James Mike Jimenez John Justice Johnson Reggie Jones, Jr. Reggie Jones, Sr. Horace Jordan Dan Kakits Joan & David Kaplan Jim Keen Robert Kelly Jon Kesler Paul Kieblesz Bobby Kizis Kenny Klein Rich Knazik Pete Kopecky Zach Korman James Kraus Kenneth Kronke John Laddomada Lou Lago Joe/Ben Lamanita Mitchell Langsam James LaVinne, MD Skip Lawrence Robert & Elizabeth Lee Guy Leggio Jumper Leggio Barry Lemily Bill Lentino Michael Leonard Rober LaVein Edward Lewandowski Willam Ligouri Mike Limmer Lindenhurst Wrestling Club Bud Linkner Mellisa Locast Ben Lore Mike Lorenzen Rich Lorenzo Sal LoStrappo Mike Luckert 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Dominick & Ilene Macchia Mike Macchia Chris McDonald Doug Macleod Gordon Macleod Mr. & Mrs. Tom Maddock Mike Mafia Jack Mahoney Norm Maisel Shahad Malik Tom Mangan John Mankowich Paul Mankowich Anthony Marcigliano John Markwalter Peter Marques Richard Martinez Arty & Karen Martinez Frank Massaro Anthony Massone Mr. & Mrs. Masters Anthony May Greg Mazzola Charles Mazzoni Darren McAlonie Austn McCann Paul McCarthy Ian McConnell Patrick McGovern Shaun McGowin Brian McKee P Michael McKenna Cardon McKenzie Mike McLaughlin Thomas McLaughlin Cory McNamara Anthony Mecca Todd Medeiros Izzey Medina Bryan Meehan Tony Melito Mr. & Mrs. Tony Mellino Tony Melosci Robert Mentz James Mercante Fred Messina Philip Messina Chris Messina Ed Metzger Eric Mikkelson Ray Mills Page 83 Gary & Barbara Mims Wayne Miranda Anthony Mirra Kieran Mock Mark Montgomery Mr. Rick Morales Tim Moran Margie & Don Mosher John Moss Billy Muir Audrey Muller Mike Mullick George Munnich III Kevin Murphy Rohan Murphy Jim Murphy Mike Murtha Mike Muscara Greg Muscarella Jim Nanos John Nappy Mike Nastri Ira Nathel Patrick Nesdill Kevin Nichols Mike Nicoll N. Shore Razor Wrestling Club Michael Novogratz Terry O’Brien Patrick O’Donnell Damilola Ojo Sean O’Malley Jim O’Rourke Patrick O’Sullivan Leo Palacio Steven Palacios Rob Paletta Mr. & Mrs. R Panariello Michael Panico Vincent Paolano John Pappas Nick Parker Robert Parker Chris Pascucci Joe Patrovich Ryan Patrovich Billy Patton Nicholas Pecora Mike Pellitta Joe Penna John Perkins 83 Pascal Perri Florence Perri John Perugini Eileen Petersen Dane & Joyce Petersen Glen & Laurel Petersen Richard Petracca Matt Pheffer Terry Phelan Don Pike Ryan Pingitore Mark Piven Robert Plaia Chris Pollin David Pottruck John Price Ryan Proce Joe Puma Gregg Quilty Kurt Rahner Eduardo Ramirez Richard Ranalli Richard Ranalli Jr. Rick Ranno Chris Re Fred Recher Jim Regan Rich Renz Ben Resnick Tom Reynolds Jim Rheaumi Tom Riccio Alan Rice Ken Richards Peggy Richling Frank Rinaudo Justin Ripley Michael Ripley Michael Robinson James Edson Rooney James Rooney Dan Roper Charles Ross Jason Rubenstein Joseph Russo Dan Ryan Joseph Sabbatino George Sable Stephon Sair Kevin Sampson Roy Samuelson 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:27 AM Joe Sanfillipo Bill Santoro Matt Sanzone Frank Saracino Mike Savello Reid Scalfani Joe Scandura John Schaefer Anthony Schettino Philip Schlitz Spencer Schmerzler Joe Schmidt Paul Schmidt Peter Schmitt Robert Schoen Fred Schult Harvey Schumacher Roy Scott Frank Seckler Jerry Seckler Ron Serrano Joe Settineri Frank & Tom Sforza Harvey & Sheilla Shane Rob Shaver Steve Shippos Aviram Shmulely Jim Shotter Terrance Shourts Matt Shwom Barry Silverstein John Slokovitz Mike Smith Fred Smith Richard Smith Lee Roy Smith Chad Smith Page 84 Rich Smith Donald Snyder Lawrence Spasojevich Harry St. Leger Fran Stanek Arthur Stanton William G. 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