STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
Brackets expand to Sweet 16
Wild-card entries added to state tourney for first time in 45 years
Click here to find out more!
BY ANDY SLAWSON
March 2, 2007
"Walk On The Wild Side" might be the theme for this year's state high school wrestling championships today and tomorrow at the Times Union Center in Albany.
In one of the boldest changes in the 45-year history of the event, the state wrestling committee added four wild-card entries to each weight class so each bracket now has 16 competitors. There were four byes in each weight class under the old system.
"It's a step in the right direction," Islip coach Joe Patrovich said.
The Buccaneers won their second Suffolk Division I title in the last three years and crowned three individual champions at the Suffolk Tournament Feb. 16-17. The powerful Bucs will have a fourth addition to the state tournament in wild-card entry Lance Wade at 152 pounds.
"The concept is good," Patrovich said, "but [it] needs a few changes."
Suffolk gained 11 at-large entries, including 10 in Division I and one in Division II. Nassau has all six of its at-large berths in Division I. The CHSAA and the PSAL (New York City) are not eligible for at-large berths.
The new system is based on criteria such as this season's win-loss differential and past placements in sectional and state tournaments. A total of 120 additional athletes get a chance to earn All-State status.
Hauppauge coach Chris Messina, who is president of the Suffolk Wrestling Coaches Association, said, "It's great to have so many more quality kids going to the states."
Both the Nassau and Suffolk Division I squads should be strong again this year. Suffolk has won more sectional team titles (16) than any section of the state. Nassau is second with 10. Section V (Rochester) in Division I and Section III (Syracuse) in Division II are the defending sectional team champions. Islip is the defending school team champion in Division I.
Long Island returns four state champs in Wantagh's Paul Liguori (112), Islip's Tyler Mashkow (125), Shoreham-Wading River's Corey Jantzen (135) and Long Beach's Eduardo Delgado (152). Islip's Lance Wade (152) and Herricks' Maciej Jochym (215) were both runner-ups a year ago. Jantzen was the Most Outstanding Wrestler in Division I.
In Division II, Glenn appears to have a strong chance at the school team title with its eight qualifiers. Junior Mike Castellano (125) is making his fourth trek to the states and looks to earn a medal after failing to do so last year. He took sixth in 2005. Mike Gomez of Locust Valley (112) hopes to win a title this year after finishing third in each of the last two years.
"It's good for the kids," Messina said, "and for wrestling."
WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Long Island wrestlers with the best chance of winning a state title (in weight-class order):
96: Steven Keith, Shoreham-Wading River. Experience is every thing at this weight.
96: Jose Vazquez, Huntington. Could be coach Lou Giani's 24th state champ.
112: Paul Liguori, Wantagh. Defending champ moves up two weight classes.
112: John Reyes, West Babylon. Won Suffolk's toughest weight class and looks to do the same at the states.
112: Mike Gomez, Locust Valley. Looks to win title after finishing third for the last two years.
119: Stephen Dutton, Hauppauge. Talented freshman could surprise.
125: Tyler Mashkow, Islip. Defending champ looks to repeat.
135: Corey Jantzen, Shoreham-Wading River. Defending champ has won 82 consecutive matches.
140: Paul Vaeth, Islip. Injuries kept him from a possible title a year ago.
145: P.J. Gillespie, Long Beach. Wants only a title after finishing third three straight years.
152: Eduardo Delgado, Long Beach. Defending champ will have to get through a ferocious upper bracket to repeat.
152: Lance Wade, Islip. Has what it takes to get back to the finals.
152: Jim Kaden, Whitman. Has to prove that winning the Suffolk title was no fluke.
215: Maciej Jochym, Herricks. Returning runner-up looks to take one more step.
215: Ian MacIneirghe, East Islip. Has a record of 31-0 with 24 pins.
275: Christian Wintons, Islip. Is very quick and agile for a super-heavyweight.
Note: All wrestlers are in Division I except Mike Gomez.
Compiled by Andy Slawson
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.