Bryan Bourne:
Bourne Supremacy
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Friday, December 8, 2006

Teike-Bernabi:
Marianetti displays drive to win at Teike-Bernabi
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Sunday, December 31, 2006

Union Endicott Duals:
Spencerport tops U-E duals
Press Connects
Sunday, January 7, 2007

Hilton Tournament:
No. 1 Spencerport wins Barnard crown
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Sunday, January 14, 2007

Monroe County Tournament:
Brockport's Schuth stuns Lamagra
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Sunday, January 28, 2007

Section V Class AA Tournament:
High school wrestling: Spencerport keeps rolling
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Sunday, February 11, 2007

The Bourne supremacy
Spencerport junior on a mission to win a state title
www.rochesterdandc.com
James Johnson Staff writer

JEN RYNDA staff photographer Spencerport's Bryan Bourne gets introduced for Wednesday's home match. He is ranked 19th nationally at 160 pounds among high school wrestlers by Wrestling International Newsmagazine.

(December 8, 2006) SPENCERPORT -There was a moment of clarity for Bryan Bourne last December that nearly left him breathless on a wrestling mat.

Bourne felt that a victory in the Teike/Bernabi Tournament 152-pound final was within reach. There was one small problem.

As time ticked away during the match, Bourne realized that he was in no shape to win. The resulting 4-2 loss burned like his lungs.

"I thought I could survive, but that match just threw it right back in my face," said Bourne, a Spencerport junior.

It was underlined again to Bourne that his impressive won-loss record could still use a dose of more hard work. Bourne learned.

From that point, Bourne did not lose another match until the state tournament. Five months later, Bourne became a national champion and someone whom Division I colleges want on their teams.

"I just started regretting things," Bourne said. "The people who knew the sport could tell that I wasn't wrestling like I could.

"If things kept going like they were, I wasn't going to go where I wanted to be."

If Bourne and Spencerport co-captain Chris Vigliotti have their way, the Rangers will be No. 1 in the season-ending state large-schools team rankings.

Spencerport claims five of those team state titles, the last of which came after the 2003-04 season.

"That's what we aim for every year here. Less than that is a dropoff," said Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot. "Last year at this time, I was miserable. We weren't doing things that we needed to do without constant prodding and yelling.

"There is no entitlement in this sport; you deserve what you earn. Bryan and Chris come in here and grind with the best of them. It's changed the whole program."

That was not always true in Bourne's case, which is a sure way to irritate the intense Jacoutot, who has more than 300 wins as a coach.

Bourne's loss last year at Spencerport to Shenendehowa's Hunter Meys was a turning point. When Bourne walked off the mat, he had the same feeling after another memorable loss suffered as a ninth-grader.

"I knew it was because I didn't work hard enough," Bourne said. "I wasn't really connecting with my coaches or teammates, I had this tunnel vision. Every day was a drag, it was a struggle to practice.

"In the past year, (Jacoutot and I) have really connected. We know what's expected of us. We both have goals."

Bourne said that as a freshman, he thought about the number of practices ahead of him. The prospects did not excite him.

"But then I thought about it and said it's four years out of the next 80," Bourne said.

Bourne's work ethic in "the room" during practice was better after Spencerport's Teike/Bernabi Tournament than during the first half of the season. Jacoutot noticed.

Islip's Lance Wade pinned Bourne during the Division I state tournament semifinals, ending Bourne's hopes of an individual state title. Bourne regrouped to win his consolation match and finish third.

Solid training during the following months led to a historic wrestling accomplishment for Bourne in Fargo, N.D.

No other Rochester-area wrestler won a Cadet National Championship until Bourne did so at 160 pounds in July. The freestyle weight class included 62 wrestlers ages 15 and 16 years old.

Bourne's national-level victory led to him receiving recruiting letters from Michigan, Ohio State, Hofstra and reigning Division I national champion Oklahoma State.

"I trained for months and it came down to one match," Bourne said. "The mat for the final was raised about five feet off the ground. All of the lights in the arena were off except for over the center mat."

JEN RYNDA staff photographer Spencerport's Bryan Bourne said his loss at the Teike/Bernabi Tournament last season was reason enough to get back to hard work. " ... that match just threw it right back in my face," he said.

"Now I know I can wrestle with the best kids in the nation. The next step is to win the state tournament."

Bourne finished fifth at the state tournament as a 119-pound eighth-grader and placed third last year.

It is not difficult to imagine a third trip to states for Bourne.

"I've never seen anyone really score on him," said Penfield coach John Leone. "He's similar to (Webster Thomas senior and 2006 state champion Ryan) Lamagra, they know how to win.

"But it's no guarantee he'll win states. You've got this kid (Albany Academy's) Mike Chaires, who was third at junior nationals. Dave Paddock in Warsaw and (Shenendehowa's) Hunter Myes."

Jacoutot became comfortable enough with Bourne's new work habits to name him one of Spencerport's captains this winter.

"I kind of envy him," said Spencerport junior 160-pounder Sean Frens. "He already has letters from Oklahoma State.

"He's smart, athletic and fun to be around, when he wants to be. He can be serious too, that's what makes him a good leader."

Jacoutot agrees.

"I don't know what, but something happened. A blind man can see it," Jacoutot said. "He's got a mission now. Whether he wins the state title or not, he's doing all of the right things."