.: Welcome to Spencerport Wrestling... The Home of the Rangers :.

(Thursday, January 8, 1998) There was a band to give the evening a pep rally feel.

There was the capacity crowd of about 1,200 spectators, jammed into the bleachers to watch two state-ranked teams square off.

There was the Spencerport wrestling team, which was used to performing in an atmosphere like this.

The Rangers took control of their Monroe County West dual match with Brockport and never lost it, winning 52-12 last night at Spencerport.

"The Spencerport atmosphere causes us to step it up a notch," said Joe Campopiano, a winner by pin over Nick Masiello at 130 pounds.

The Rangers (6-0), ranked fifth among class A-B schools in the State, took possession of first place in the division by improving to 5-0 in the league. They took the first seven matches from ninth-ranked Brockport (6-1,5-1).

"It's a tough place to wrestle," Brockport coach James Cannon said. "But you know what, you don't wrestle the band, you don't wrestle the crowd.

"It's just our guy and their guy. When we learn that we will be OK. It’s a long season. We're not done yet."

Jason Brongo locked up the Spencerport win by pinning Matt Gursslin in 55 seconds in the 140-pound match. Brongo, 14-4 with two losses to state champion Don Carlo-Clauss of Greece Olympia, scored a quick single leg takedown. Brongo allowed Gursslin to escape and hit his opponent with a high-crotch cradle, to lead to the pin. "We are always ready for the big matches," Brongo said. "All of our heroes are Rangers."

Spencerport started with a 6-0 lead when Shawn Hibbs was awarded the 103-pound match via forfeit. Gary Borrelli, at 112, got the Spencerport half of the crowd going by pinning Jim Keable in the second period.

Borrelli was ahead 2-0 when Keable missed a takedown attempt and was pancaked on to his back for a stunning pin with 40 seconds to go.

"He tried to slow me down by wrestling defensively," Borrelli said. "He made a mistake and I took advantage of it."

Bill Merle produced another stunning pin for Spencerport by catching Dan Lipson with one second left in the first period. Mike Wojtowicz won a 7-3 decision at 125 over Gregg Cook to bump Spencerport's lead to 21-0.

Then Campopiano, Spencerport's 130-pounder, battled Massiello to a 3-3 tie through two periods. Massiello started the final period on the bottom and almost hit a reversal with 1 minute, 20 seconds to go.

There was 23 seconds left when Campopiano pinned Massiello with the aid of a half-nelson.

"Are kids, with the crowd and what's at stake, elevate their games," Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot said. "Nobody can tell me that they don't."

"Our 135-pounder (Eric Sawyer) didn't have a winning record and he beat a good kid."

Sawyer wrestled Brian Phillips in what was a very physical match. With 1 second left in the first period, Sawyer slammed Phillips onto his neck and shoulder blades.

Sawyer was awarded two points for the takedown and two backpoints for a 4-0 lead. Phillips was injured but continued, losing 10-2.

Paul Carella picked up Brockport's first points after Phil Dodson, 5-2 at 145. Brockport's Mahnseah Boley improved to 16-1 by pinning Jerry Caruso at 215.