Kohl tournament: Zurla adds to trophy trove
Kohl tournament: Zurla adds to trophy trove
By Tony Pinciaro
The Journal News
SUFFERN -Marc Zurla has a list of accomplishments that can fill a three-subject notebook.
The North Rockland senior is a two-time sectional champion, he was a 2005 state finalist, has amassed more than 120 wins and has won numerous tournament titles. However, Zurla admitted to something missing when discussing the Kohl tournament.
"This has been kind of an elusive tournament for me," Zurla said.
While Zurla had been to four finals, he came away with the top prize once -in 2005. This has irked Zurla, so he entered yesterday's Kohl tournament looking to push himself.
"I wanted to test myself and also come out and make a statement," Zurla said.
Zurla accomplished this and more. He pinned Warwick's Mike Santalla at the 1:27 mark of the 125-pound final and earned most outstanding wrestler honors at Suffern.
Teammate Joe Slane was the 103-pound titlist and Nyack's Zeke Stambovsky took the 160-pound crown.
Suffern, with runners-up Derek Phillips (215), Andrew Koudlai (189) and Corey Campbell (140), finished fourth behind champion Huntington. North Rockland was fifth, Sleepy Hollow 10th, Nyack 11th and East Ramapo, led by 112-runner-up Djimitry Georges, finished 12th.
Zurla wasted little time asserting himself against Santalla, who is Section 9's second-ranked 125-pounder. Zurla jacked Santalla up with a double and drove him to the mat. From there on, Zurla began punishing Santalla from the top.
Zurla tilted Santalla for three points and began setting up the cradle. Once Zurla locked air-tight, it was lights out for Santalla.
"I wanted to be aggressive from the start and not let him know what hit him," Zurla said. "The first time I went for the cradle, he blocked it, but I came back and I was able to lock it up."
Zurla laughed when he recalled the only other meeting between the two wrestlers.
"I wrestled him when I was in seventh grade at the George Fuge tournament and he beat me in double overtime," Zurla said. "Winning today makes me feel great, but it will make me work even harder because there is still a lot to be done if I want to continue wrestling at this level."
Stambovsky recalled attending the tournament when he was in eighth grade. He said from that point on his goal was to win the Kohl. He achieved this with a 3-2 win over Jimmie Rivera of Ramsey (N.J.)
Stambovsky's defense was excellent, blocking Rivera's shot attempts consistently.
"I noticed that he would put his leg too far forward when he shot, so I would just down-block him," Stambovsky said. "I changed to a leaned-over stance after the first period and made him take shots that wouldn't work."
Rivera's last shot attempt proved to be a costly mistake, as Stambovsky countered, stepped over and was awarded a takedown with 30 seconds remaining in the match.
"I cut the corner on him," said Stambovsky of his decisive move. "I'm completely in shock. This is a level up from any other normal tournaments with teams from Section 9 and Long Island."
Nyack's Bill Sullivan (135) and Sal Marchese (152) wrestled well, both finishing third.
Slane is now 2 for 2 at the Kohl. The freshman, who was the 96-pound champ last year, pinned Brian Chin of Woodbridge (N.J.) with a cradle in the first period.
Slane registered a quick takedown, then ran a tilt. After Chin fought out of it, Slane saw the cradle opening.
"After the tilt I was looking for anything that opened up and then he clammed up," Slane said. "To win this two times in a row gives me a boost of confidence."
Sleepy Hollow's Jean Patino (130), Dennis Bencosme (160) and Connor Tompkins (189) each finished fourth.
Reach Tony Pinciaro at apinciar@lohud.com or 914-696-8234