St. Anthony's Wrestling

       Anybody that knows Coach Walters or myself knows that we liken our teams to historical events of this great nation.  This season is no different as it continuously echoes one of the most memorable dates in US History, December 7, 1941... The Attack on Pearl Harbor.  It seems that teams are always trying to find a way to "bring us down," much like the Japanese attacks at Pearl Harbor.  Two years ago it was during a dual meet when numerous key wrestlers of the opposing team had their foreheads suspiciously wrapped in tape with equally suspicious "skin clearance" forms in hand.  Last year during Catholic States it was the aggressive removal of a top wrestler from the tournament, based on his own actions, which we will not get into.  The wrestler was not just disqualified form the match but from the entire tournament, resulting in the loss of numerous points that would have kept the team in contention for the title.  This past weekend at our League tournament clocks were being controlled by teammates.....and siblings..... of wrestlers we would face off against.  After we questioned the integrity of the table workers, the home school's coach childishly declared that our "St. Anthony's Wrestling" Banner be taken down.  The same banner that has been hung at every single tournament, match, and awards dinner since its inception 3 years ago.  After quickly retrieving the banner from a non-member of the St. Anthony's Wrestling Community that removed it, the banner was raised again behind the army that is the St. Anthony's Wrestling Family.  The Friars would go on to lose a mere 4 matches to that same team the remainder of the day.  The opposing coach was unaware of the motivation he just provided to a team that was already foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog, waiting for it's dinner.  The team score remained a tight race.........until the quarterfinals began.  The quarterfinals could be summed up in one word, Dominance.  The Friars sent 18 wrestlers through the quarters into the semis.  Out of those 18 wrestlers one wrestler won by a score of 8-0, another by a technical fall 17-2, and the other 16 by pin.  The title was put so far out of reach that no team would be able to catch us.  The semis brought upon a few set backs as only 10 of the 18 wrestlers would reach the finals.  Out of those 8 wrestlers who suffered defeat in the semis, only 2 would not reach the 3rd place match (a top 4 placement qualifies a wrestler for the Catholic State tournament).  One of those 2 wrestlers suffered defeat at the hands of his own teammate. 
     The Friars will be sending a St Anthony's record of 18 wrestlers to the Catholic State Tournament, February 15-16 in Buffalo.  The previous record of 15 wrestlers was set last year.  The Friars put an exclamation point on the day by sweeping the awards ceremony.  Senior Ricky Randazzo would win "Champion of Champions" and "Most Pins in the Least Time (4 in 6:28).  Randazzo also earned his 108th career victory, moving him into 6th place on the Friars career wins list.  Junior Chris Brienza would be voted the tournaments "Most Outstanding Wrestler."  The League dual meet title belonged to the Friars after dominating all opponents, and the League Tournament would be won in the same fashion.  The Friars would win the team title with a score of 428 points.  We could barely see the second place team, Chaminade, who amassed a total of 317 points.  There is a famous saying that corresponds with the attacks on Pearl Harbor.  The words were spoken by Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto as his opinion on the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.


I fear that opposing teams and coaches are not yet aware of the full potential our wrestlers.  However come February 16th at 8:00pm reality will be setting in, much like it did for the Japanese after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.........


St. Anthony's Wrestlers Qualifying for Catholic States
Wrestlers with an * next to their name qualified for the first time

 96 - Chris Brienza - League Champion - Junior (2nd Title)
103 - Jimmy Morris - League Champion - Sophomore (1st Title)
103 - *Mike Gangarossa - 3rd Place Finish - Sophomore
112 - Grant Greene - League Champion - Sophomore (2nd Title)
119 - *Tom Penza - 3rd Place Finish - Sophomore
119 - *Andreas Vanegas - 4th Place Finish - Sophomore
125 - *Phil Bizzaro - 4th Place Finish - Senior
130 - *Paul Kelly - 3rd Place Finish - Junior
135 - Brandon Ayala - League Finalist - Senior
140 - Kevin Gallagher - League Finalist - Senior
145 - Brandon Meisner - League Champion - Junior (2nd Title)
152 - Ricky Randazzo - League Champion - Senior (2nd Title)
160 - *Paul Alessandrini - 4th Place Finish - Sophomore
171 - Colin Pryor - League Champion - Senior (1st Title)
215 - Anthony LaCalamita - 3rd Place Finish - Senior
285 - Nick Auriemma - League Champions - Senior (1st Title)
285 - *Jonathan Desir - League Finalist - Sophomore


Mat Notes:
In the quarterfinals unseeded Sophomore Andreas Vanegas (119 lbs) faced off against the defending League Champ & top seeded John Tanner (Kellenburg).  Andreas would rise to the occasion and take the match to Tanner.  With less than a minute left in the match and down by 1 point, Andreas would reverse Tanner to his back, securing the fall with only 23 seconds left.  Andreas would drop a tough decision in the semis before losing in overtime to his teammate, Sophomore Tom Penza, in the 3rd place match.  Penza would face off against Tanner in the wrestle backs in the qualifying round for Catholic States.  He would also secure a fall on Tanner, ending the defending champs season and extending his own.  Another unseeded Sophomore, Jonathan Desir (285 lbs) would rise to the occasion, reaching the finals in his first ever league appearance.  Jonathan's only loss on the day would be at the hands of his teammate and workout partner, Senior Captain Nick Auriemma.  Auriemma would win his first league crown in his second appearance in the finals.  Senior Captain Colin Pryor (171 lbs) avenged a tough early season loss to Matt Deluca of Holy Trinity.  Deluca defeated Pryor with a late takedown in the third period during our dual meet.  However Pryor would rise to the occasion, dominating Deluca by a score of 6-1, earning his first League title in his first trip to the League Finals.  Sophmore Jimmy Morris (103 lbs) would earn his first league title after placing 3rd at 103 lbs last season.  Successfully defending their titles were Junior Chris Brienza (96 lbs), Sophomore Grant Greene (112 lbs), and Junior Brandon Meisner (145 lbs).  Senior Ricky Randazzo (152 lbs) would earn his 2nd League title, his first came as a Sophomore.  During both title runs Randazzo pinned all opponents he faced in the tournament.  Senior Phil Bizzaro (125 lbs) earns his first trip to the Catholic State tournament in his four year career.