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| Deja Vu...
"It seems that every year at Catholic States when the dust settles and the last award has been given out, you just sit there and scratch your head wondering what happened." (Quoted from last years Catholic States Newsletter). This team barred a striking resemblance to the team a year ago, riding high off an impressive showing at Leagues. A team that seemed destined to take home the Catholic State Team Championship. A team one could compare to a runaway train, destroying everything in its path. After winning the League Tournament by over 100 points, a feat that I honestly can not recall when it last happened, or if it ever did (perhaps one of our older alumni can recall), the team once again felt that it was our tournament to lose. This year was no secret, the team title would belong to the Friars or the Lions. With Monsignor Farrell boasting the best team they have ever had, it was well known that this year would be a 2 team race for the title. The first day of competition saw lead changes that were exchanged on a match by match basis. Heading into the last 3 Quarter Final matches (2 of which were St. Anthony's vs Farrell), the Lions held a 7.5 point lead. The Friars would rebound by winning these last 3 matches all by pin and taking a 2.5 point lead after day 1. Heading into the second day both teams knew that every match would count, Farrell had 10 Semi-Finalists, we had 11, they had 4 still alive in the wrestle backs, we had 3. Unfortunately the Friars would stumble through the semi-finals. The first 3 wrestlers, Chris Brienza (96 lbs), Jimmy Morris (103 lbs) and Grant Greene (112 lbs) would all win in dominating fashion, while Brandon Ayala (135 lbs) would win a thriller in overtime. However after the next 7 wrestlers took the mat, only 1 would reach the finals (Nick Auriemma at 285 lbs). It was a deflating time for a team that seemed destined to leave Buffalo with the team title firmly in hand. The finals would boost team morale as St. Anthony's would do what we do best.... dominate. At 96 lbs Junior Chris Brienza took another step toward becoming only the sixth 3x Catholic State Champion in St. Anthony's history. Chris would successfully defend his Catholic State Crown by "tech pinning" his opponent in 4:26. His teammate, Sophomore Jimmy Morris would take the stage in the next match at 103 lbs. Jimmy would face off against a highly touted Justin Ranallo from Canisus (Ranallo lost in double OT in the 103 lbs final last year). With the match dead even and a minute left in the third period, Jimmy would take his opponent down to his back, securing the fall with only 30 seconds left in the match. If there was anyone more excited about the victory than the normally emotion-less Jimmy, it was his father, who could be seen smiling for the next 24 hours straight. Jimmy joined an exclusive club as being only the second St. Anthony's wrestler (to my knowledge) to win a Catholic State Championship in only his second year wrestling. Jimmy Morris and Keith Eckert each proved in their Sophomore seasons how off season training, hard work, determination and a simple will to win can vastly improve a wrestler in one year. Another Sophomore, Grant Greene, would make it a hat trick in the first 3 weight classes for the Friars, by winning the Catholic State Crown at 112 lbs. Greene's victory was extra sweet after suffering a devastating loss in the finals last season. At 135 lbs Senior Brandon Ayala faced the reigning NY State Champion, Andrew Lenzi of Fordham Prep. Ayala wrestled tough but was overmatched. Leaving it all on the mat, Brandon was able to walk away with his head held high. In the final match of the night, Senior Captain Nick Auriemma would earn his first Catholic State Championship by the rarely seen heavyweight technical fall. Nick's victory was also extra sweet after he to suffered a tough loss in last years finals. Out of the St. Anthony's record 18 wrestlers entered, there were 15 that earned All Catholic Honors for the Friars. At 103 lbs Sophomore Mike Gangarossa would finish in fifth place. Mike was happy to end his season by avenging a loss to Zach Indovino from Kellenburg, Indovino defeated Mike twice during the season, however the third time was not a charm as Mike pinned Indovino in 2:26. At 112 lbs Freshman Tom Peguillan would finish in fifth place, defeating Glenn McKenna from Chaminade, who was seeded fifth in the tournament. A freshman who was behind Grant Greene all season, Tom has a very bright future for the Friars. At 119 lbs Sophomore Tom Penza dropped a tough quarter final match to the eventual champ. Tom would wrestle back tough and despite losing on a very, very controversial call in the wrestle backs, he would finish in fifth place. At 130 lbs Junior Paul Kelly would finish in fifth place. Paul's only 2 losses were to the eventual champ and to a finalist from last year. At 140 lbs Senior Kevin Gallagher would finish his high school wrestling career with a fourth place finish. At 145 lbs Junior Brandon Meisner dropped a tough semi final match and would then lose another tough match, finishing in fourth place. Brandon entered this tournament for the third straight year with extremely high hopes and came up short, he will be a force next year. At 152 lbs Senior Ricky Randazzo ended his high school career with a fourth place finish. He ended with a battle, a match that would need 3 OTs to decide. A four year starter for St. Anthony's Ricky etched his place in the record books by finishing in 6th on the all time wins list. At 171 lbs Senior Captain Colin Pryor lost in overtime in the semi finals, however Colin would storm through the wrestle backs and finish in third place. At 215 lbs Senior Anthony LaCalamita would end his wrestling career with a pin and a fifth place finish. At 285 lbs Sophomore, yes I said Sophomore, Jon Desir would lose a close match in the semi finals and then lose a few other tough matches on his way to a sixth place finish. Having very little wrestling experience entering this year Jonathan possess the type of talent that opponents fear will be developed in years to come. Please follow and rout on our 4 Catholic State Champions as we go on to the NY State Tournament in Albany February 27th & 28th. These 4 men; Chris Brienza, Jimmy Morris, Grant Greene, and Nick Auriemma have very high goals for this tournament in which they plan on making history, St. Anthony's history, Catholic School History and New York State History. The most State Champions in 1 year for the Catholic Schools is only 1, imagine 4 ...Do You Believe ???
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