North Rockland, Suffern collide again at county championships

North Rockland, Suffern collide again at county championships
By Tony Pinciaro
The Journal News

Each season, when North Rockland receives its wrestling schedule, the Red Raiders always highlight the last Saturday in January.

The final January Saturday brings the Rockland County Championships and North Rockland's annual battle with Suffern.

Last year, North Rockland broke the Suffern stranglehold on the first-place trophy. The Mounties had made it an annual habit to leave the gymnasium with the top prize.

Suffern, North Rockland, Clarkstown North, East Ramapo, Nanuet, Nyack, Pearl River and Tappan Zee will converge on host Clarkstown South for the 10 a.m. start. The finals are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

"Two years ago, Suffern wrestled really well in the wrestlebacks and we didn't wrestle well," North Rockland senior 140-pounder Joe Rodriguez said. "Last year, we wrestled well in the finals and in the wrestlebacks. The guys who didn't win in the semis, wrestled back and got us the points that we needed."

North Rockland would like to complete the daily double after defeating Suffern in a dual earlier this month.

"We're prepared for this tournament," Rodriguez said. "Coach (Andy Guccione) has been working us really hard. This is what we've been waiting for after we won Shoreline."

Rodriguez is also hoping for a rematch with Suffern 140-pounder Corey Campbell. Campbell pinned Rodriguez in the dual meet.

Besides a possible Campbell-Rodriguez meeting in the final, the 215-pound title bout might match Suffern's Derek Phillips and North Rockland's J.J. Morales.

Dambra pins all: Suffern's Craig Dambra was in a pinning mood at the Gary Freis Duals in Fort Meyers, Fla.

The senior 145-pounder pinned his seven opponents as Suffern went 5-3 and finished third.

Derek Phillips (215 pounds) and Adam DeStefano (125) both went 7-1, and Andrew Koudlai (189) went 6-1.

Phillips has 98 career wins entering the Rockland County Championships tomorrow. Phillips could hit the century mark in the semifinals.

February's first Friday: Clarkstown North will host Clarkstown South in their annual tussle on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.

That same Friday in Westchester, John Jay, which is 16-4 and undefeated against Section 1 opponents, will face undefeated Fox Lane. The Foxes will host the 4:30 p.m. match.

On Feb. 3, Nanuet coach Brenden Rogers and his team will host the inaugural Golden Knights Classic.

Takedowns: Clarkstown North senior Nick Cifuni won the 171-pound title at the Beacon tournament. Andrew Greenberg (103 pounds) was a runner-up, Steven Ramos (135) took third, Rob Kantrowitz (112) finished fourth and Joe Paolini (140) was fifth. ...Tappan Zee's Mike Marucci (215) and Andrew Faraon (112) both finished fifth at the Beacon tournament. ... Nanuet's Rich Berkowitz and his 150 career wins are second all-time in school history behind Ryan Conklin, who finished with 171.

The vote is in: Here is the latest Section 1 Wrestling Coaches Association poll:

Division I (large school): 1. Carmel; 2. Fox Lane; 3. North Rockland; 4. Suffern; 5. Mahopac.

Division II (small school): 1. Nanuet; 2. Ardsley; 3. Sleepy Hollow; 4. Pearl River; 5. Dobbs Ferry.

Tony Pinciaro writes a weekly wrestling notebook. Reach him at apinciar@lohud.com or 914-696-8234.