Success doesn't spoil Spencerport's Terenzi
By James Johnson Democrat and Chronicle

(Friday, December 21, 2001) -- Mike Terenzi won 36 wrestling matches last season.

He was named a Monroe County All-Star again and was three victories away from earning a place in the state tournament. Not bad for a freshman.

Yet, as Terenzi sits on a chair inside the Spencerport wrestling room, he tells you there is a lot to prove in his sophomore year. In his mind, that list of accomplishments should have been longer.

"There were times where I slipped up," Terenzi said. "I lost to people that I should not have lost to last year.

"All of my losses haunt me."

Terenzi is not the only Ranger who feels the team has something to prove.

It's as if the entire lineup has adopted that mentality. Spencerport lost its grip on the Section V Class A team title after 12 years last season.

"We really didn't get pounded on by people at school or anything," Terenzi said. "It was more like we let ourselves down.

"We were trained to come out on top in that situation, no matter what."

The Rangers have looked stronger than ever early this season. They turned the 35-team Jamestown Tournament last weekend into a Spencerport showcase.

The Rangers won 44 of their matches before losing one and 14 of the 15 semifinal matches included a Spencerport wrestler. Terenzi was among the four Jamestown champions and is 10-0.

"We just dominated," Terenzi said. "Some people think it was because Canandaigua wasn't there, but to me that wasn't the case.

"Our team is a lot more consistent with its effort everyday."

A team's practice "room" are where the roots for champion wrestlers can be found. Daily practices can be a grind because to learn, taking lumps is required, not optional.

"Mike is a wrestling fanatic," teammate Mike Brongo said. "That's all he talks about."

"To be a good wrestler, you have to be hard on yourself and he's looking to win."

As an eighth-grader, Terenzi was kept out of Spencerport's lineup by state champion Shawn Hibbs.

"Last year was a learning experience for me," Terenzi said. "I wasn't used to the tournament scene and having 45-some-odd matches. Believe it or not, wrestling is mental."

There's no question Terenzi is looking forward to his next bout with Gates Chili's J.P. Zengerle, who he has a 1-1 career record against after losing 4-1 in their last meeting.

Gates Chili is in Spencerport's Teike/Bernabi Tournament next Thursday and Friday. The Rangers and Spartans will have their annual dual meet of course, and there could be possible Zengerle-Terenzi matchups in the postseason tournaments.

"I could get him in any of one of those," Zengerle said. "I know it'll be a close match, because he's good."