Olympia's Ricci bides his time, wins 177 class
By John Moriello
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

It may have taken becoming a patient to do it, but Anthony Ricci has finally learned the fine art of patience.

The Greece Olympia senior, a fast starter who admittedly faded even faster during post-season competition in years past, atoned for past mistakes last night, winning the 177-pound position on the Section 5 wrestling team that will go to the state meet.

Ricci scored an 8-7 decision over Newark junior Corey Comer before an estimated 2,000 fans at Webster Junior High School.

The tournament consisted almost exclusively of top four finishers from last week's four Section 5 tournaments. Ricci was the exception, having been limited to nothing but running by his doctor for the better part of the month.

He suffered a late-season sprain that kept him out of sectionals but was allowed in to the state qualifier under the injury-exception rule designed to protect outstanding wrestlers in just such a situation.

"I injured my right shoulder three weeks ago," Ricci said, "and I missed about three full weeks of wrestling."

"My problem in the past years was that I'd peak in the middle of the season instead of the end, which is wrong. I took it gradually this year, and maybe the injury helped me. I'm peaking now. "

"I planned it right this year."

Now is the perfect time to peak. Ricci will be one of 14 area wrestlers representing the section next weekend in the New York State Public School Athletic Association championship at Syracuse.

Ricci, 28-2 this season and 67-16-2 for his career, will be a first-time participant at New York's biggest meet.

"That was my ultimate goal," he said. "My other long-term goal is to place at states. I may not win, but they won't get by me very easily."

Competitors in five classes were seeking their second trip to states. One final actually involved two veterans, with former 105-pound rep Andy Antonucci of Hilton edging Spencerport's Chris Bannister, the 112-pounder of a year ago, by a 5-2 score at 119.

Antonucci was almost apologetic after raising his season record to 36-0-1 and avenging the only mark on his record, a dual-meet tie with the Spencerport senior.

"I really should be in a lighter class," he said, "but I grew quite a bit in the last year, about 3 1/2 inches. It happened."

Joe LoPresti of Spencerport also moved up from a year ago. The former 119 rep met Brockport's Scott Daly in a rematch of the Class A 126-pound final and scored a 3-0 decision. LoPresti has won last week by a 4-2 margin.

Canandaigua's Jon Welch defended his 167-pound spot against Marion's Jerry Newby in convincing style, moving out to a 7-1 lead and finishing with an 11-6 triumph.

Two others, members of the 1987 state delegation which suffered pre-states elimination last winter, have made it back to Syracuse.

Shawn Knisley of Waterloo, a four-time sectional Class B champion, survived overtime to edge Jon Raines of Spencerport 3-1 at 105 pounds. Kerry Foster of Canandaigua followed in the 112 bracket with a 6-5 victory against LeRoy junior Dan Shirley.

Others never even made it to the final after helping Section 5 to sixth place at the 1988 state meet.

Bill Opett of Bloomfield, last year's 91-pound rep, lost his 105-pound semifinal via a 5-0 decision to Waterloo's Knisley. Rich O'lena was also a victim of the loaded 105 division, losing to Raines in the quarterfinals, 5-1.

Champions from last weekend's four Section 5 meets took 20 of a possible 28 spots in the finals, and four besides LoPresti competed against the wrestler that he beat in sectionals finals.

The winner in each case turned out to be the runner-up of the previous week.

At 91 pounds, Brighton freshman Alex Croog made up for an 8-5 loss by edging Don Spaulding of Hilton 4-2. At 145, Steve Taylor also turned the tables, edging Scott Reddick, the Monroe County Division I wrestler of the year, won by a 9-6 score last week.

At 21, Fairport's Jerry Pelusio faced Webster's Rob Kessler and scored a 3-1 decision, and 250-pounder Sean Pancoast of Victor upended Newark junior Pablo Rojas, 2-1.

The night's other champions were Barry Barklund of Bloomfield, who will wear the 98-pound singlet a year after falling one victory short; Brighton's 132-pound John Hill, who topped Steve LaFountain of Hilton to improve to 33-4 for the season; North Rose-Wolcott senior John Brooks, 37-0-1 at 138 pounds; and Bloomfield's Terry Lucero, a 155-pound junior.