Arlington excels at Mid-Hudson

Friday, December 29, 2006
Arlington excels at Mid-Hudson
Clarke grabs title at 215

By Nancy Haggerty
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

A supporter patted him on the shoulder, then muttered "disgusting."

Nick Simmons will take that as a compliment.

Simmons, a senior at Arlington High School, was bloodied but not bullied during the 171-pound finals of the 41st annual Mid-Hudson Wrestling Tournament held at Arlington yesterday.

Winning 1-0 early in the second period, Larry LoRusso of Long Island's Rocky Point High School bloodied Simmons' nose, forcing an injury timeout.

The same thing occurred in the third period with the score the same.

But when Simmons returned to the mat this time, he wasn't just cleaned up but fired up and immediately recorded a two-point reversal to take the lead with 1:17 left.

After LoRusso tied it with 50 seconds to go, Simmons went ahead to stay with a takedown 20 seconds later, finally winning the match 6-4, after another short delay for more bleeding.

"He got me going," Simmons said of his comeback. "He kept trying to hit my nose."

If LoRusso hadn't, Simmons said, the outcome might have been different.

"It's really important to me," Simmons said of winning the tournament.

"It's going to give me some fire for sectionals."

Teammate Noel Clarke, named the tournament's Most Outstanding Senior, is already looking beyond that. He improved his season record to 19-0, pinning Pine Bush's Brendan Bruinix in just 69 seconds to capture the 215-pound title.

That was his fourth pin of the tournament.

"I just wanted to get it over with, get it done," Clarke said, smiling.

After competing in states as a sophomore but not qualifying last year, Clarke's goal is a state championship this year.

"He's pretty much got the entire package. He's strong, quick and knows what he's doing," Arlington assistant coach John Baudochka said.

Baudochka and the rest of the Arlington contingent should be pleased. Arlington, which finished seventh in the tournament last year, was fourth with 153 points.

Rocky Point prevails

Rocky Point took top honors with 198; Newburgh Free Academy was second with 183.5; and Mahopac fourth with 180.5.

Rounding out the 14-team field, Kingston was fifth; Red Hook sixth; Cornwall seventh; Baldwin (Long Island) eighth; Pine Bush ninth; Beacon 10th; R.C. Ketcham 11th; John Jay-East Fishkill 12th; Highland 13th; and Onteora 14th.

"If you place high in this tournament or win, people throughout the state know you're good," said Baudochka.

In addition to Clarke, outstanding wrestler awards went to Newburgh junior Kyle Piaquadio, who upset Mahopac's Dom Oddo for the 125-pound championship; Baldwin sophomore Vinny Pecora, who captured the 103-pound class; and Rocky Point freshman Anthony Volpe, who won the 112-pound class.

Winning the 160-pound class, Max O'Meara contributed in a big way to the solid showing by Red Hook, which saw 140-pounder Jordan Tiberio capture second; and 171-pounder John Kravic and 215-pounder Paul Rauch get third.

O'Meara dominated Arlington's Tom Tolli in the finals, 12-2.

"I was trying to be really defensive and not let him get anything going, while maintaining my offense," said O'Meara, a junior.

"My goal this year is to place at states. Hopefully, all this experience this year will help me do that," O'Meara said.