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There is one thing you can always say about the Friar Wrestling program, the intensity of our schedule is second to none. That was proven in our opening week of the season. The first match pitted the Friars against the defending State Champions, Wantagh High School. The Warriors proved why they were the State Champions as they defeated the Friars 40-16. 2 days later we faced off against highly regarded John Glenn, who happens to be the defending Suffolk County Champions, and an extremely high favorite to repeat this season. The Friars would be soundly defeated by a score of 50-20, however they would look ahead to rebound 2 days later at the Amityville Tournament. And rebound they did. As defending tournament champions the team would cruise through each round and take home the team title again. There were 9 finalists, with 5 Champions, Senior Captain Chris Brienza - Champion @ 112 lbs, Junior Grant Greene @ 119 lbs, Junior Andreas Vanegas - Champion @ 125 lbs, Junior Tom Scurti - Champion @ 130 lbs, Senior Paul Kelly @ 140 lbs, Senior Captain Brandon Meisner - Champion @ 160 lbs, Junior John Guarino @ 171 lbs, Junior Paul Alessandrini - Champion @ 189 lbs and Senior Jason Sullivan at 215 lbs.  Appearing in their first ever finals were Vanegas, Scurti, Kelly, Guarino, Alessandrini and Sullivan. Andreas Vanegas was named the Team's Outstanding Wrestler for the his performance in the tournament. The time he put in during the off-season; training and competing in any tournament he could, is truly beginning to pay off. Lost in the Friars dominating performance was the act of one wrestler, Grant Greene, after his match. The pressure of being the defending State Champion is not an easy task for someone to endure through an entire season. In the finals Grant faced off against a West Viriginia State Finalist, the match was dominated by Grant for the majority of the time. However in the final minute he would make a pivotal mistake that would cost him the match. After shaking hands, the anger and frustration could be seen all over his face as he disappeared from the gym. After only about 5 minutes, he would reappear. It was only after all finals were completed that Grant would explain his actions. He apologized for abandoning everyone and realized that he was not bigger than the team and that it was simply selfish of him to leave the gym while his teammates were wrestling in the finals. The following Monday at practice he would openly convey this message to his teammates. It is not uncommon for a wrestler of such stature to feel that he is "bigger" than his team, Grant proved that he is not one of those wrestlers. He is someone that is beginning to embody what it means to be a true teammate and a Friar Wrestler. Lonnie Kittle Tournament at Amityville
December 12, 2009
Team Scores
St Anthony's 424
Lindenhurst 372.5
University High School 329.5
West Islip 310
Amityville 169
Hempstead 24
Championship Finals
96 - Tyler Walsh (WI) pinned Nick Gennaro (WI), ?
103 - Bobby Lang (WI) dec. Cody Salamone (UHS), 3-2 SV
112 - Chris Brienza (StA) dec. Mico Wong (Am), 7-0
119 - Jesse Schiffbauer (UHS) dec. Grant Greene (StA), 10-6
125 - Andreas Venegas (StA) dec. Andrew Traficante (Lind), 6-3
130 - Tom Scurti (StA) dec. Robert Farley (UHS), 7-6 TB
135 - Rob Diggle (WI) pinned Joe Napoleon (Lind), 5:41
140 - Mark Jerrick (Am) dec. Paul Kelly (StA), 6-3
145 - Kyle Delgado (Lind) pinned Bill Cortes (Lind), 3:27
152 - Nate Constante (UHS) pinned Phillip King (UHS), * (DEC 7-2)*
160 - Brandon Meisner (StA) pinned Mike Grieco (Lind), 1:12
171 - Chris Pentaleri (Lind) dec. John Guarino (StA), 6-2
189 - Paul Alessandrini (StA) dec. Kevin Szczech (Lind), 7-1
215 - Evan Wildberger (Lind) pinned Jason Sullivan (StA), 1:41
285 - Jeff Weng (UHS) dec. Sean Walsh (Lind), 6-2
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Jesse Schiffbauer (University HS 119)
Champion of Champions: Jesse Schiffbauer (University HS 119)
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