Rockland notebook: Rams reach goal, take third

Rockland notebook: Rams reach goal, take third
By Tony Pinciaro
The Journal News

Clarkstown North coach Tony Mellino did not want to say it regarding the Rockland County Championships, so he left it up to his wrestlers.

"I knew going in that we had a legitimate shot at taking third," Mellino said. "We knew first or second was beyond our reach this year, but I felt we could place many of our kids high if we wrestled up to our potential."

The Rams proved Mellino correct, with 10 top-six place finishers, led by 171-pound champion Nick Cifuni. The Rams amassed 157.5 points to finish third behind champion North Rockland and runner-up Suffern.

Clarkstown North finalists included Andrew Greenberg (103 pounds), Rob Kantrowitz (112) and Steven Ramos (135).

Mellino pointed out that his team's performance in the wrestle-back rounds fueled Clarkstown North to third. The Rams went 8-3, including seven pins.

"I told our guys that many others would be feeling sorry for themselves because they lost, but that we had to want to be out there and go after the pin for bonus points for the team," Mellino said.

Mellino cited the performance of Brian Clifford. The 130-pounder lost to North Rockland's Ted Eccleston in a dual match and in a first-round bout, but rebounded to beat him 8-7 in the third-place match.

Golden Knights Classic: After Nanuet hosted a small-school divisional two years ago, coach Brenden Rogers and his wrestlers began preparing.

"We always kind of kidded about hosting our own tournament," senior Rich Berkowitz said. "Coach Rogers said we should get a tournament. He got us pumped about it."

Nanuet is now on the tournament schedule, hosting the Golden Knights Classic beginning tomorrow at 9 a.m. The finals are on the clock for 5:45 p.m.

The 10-team field includes Copiague (Section 11), East Ramapo, Eastchester, Edgemont, Monticello (Section 9), Nyack, Port Chester, Roslyn (Section 8), R.C. Ketcham, Valley Central (Section 9), Warwick (Section 9) and Nanuet.

"He told all of us the first day of practice about the tournament," Berkowitz said. "Everyone was pretty happy.

"We're ready for this. This is a high-caliber field. Coach always wants the best competition for us and he has high hopes for us."

Coffey wins 100th: Pearl River junior John Coffey (145 pounds) registered his 100th career win with a pin against Irvington.

Coffey, the current Rockland County 145-pound titlist, is 30-1 on the year and 101-38 in his career.

Takedowns: Former Suffern coach Mickey DeSimone and Rockland County wrestling chairman Chuck Scarpulla each received the Julius D'Agostino Rockland County Wrestling Service Award. They were presented with this honor by tournament director John Laurenzi prior to the Rockland County Championships finals. ... North Rockland's Jeff Pierre-Louis (171 pounds) pinned in the R.C. Ketcham match for his first varsity win. Teammate Marc Zurla is 25-0 and 149-23 in his career. Zurla surpassed former teammate Manny Alayon (147 wins) and is second behind former teammate C.J. Rodriguez (155 wins). ... The Clarkstown intradistrict rivalry is on tonight at 7 as Clarkstown North hosts Clarkstown South. ... Nyack junior Zeke Stambovsky (160) is 24-3 on the season. Nyack finished fifth at the Rockland County Championships behind Stambovsky and fellow finalists Udit Thakur (130), Billy Sullivan (140) and Sal Marchese (152).

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

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

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.