Spencerport shows it's still the team to beat
The Rangers dominate in a 62-6 victory over Canandaigua
www.rochesterdemocratandchronicle.com
Chris Van Horn, Staff Writer

(December 23, 2007) — The Spencerport wrestling team continued its recent domination of rival Canandaigua for the 12th straight year Saturday afternoon.

Seniors Justin Melia and Nick Terenzi each earned pins to lead the Rangers to a 62-6 victory over the Braves in a non-league dual meet at Spencerport High School.

The Rangers are the defending state champions.

Spencerport's Paul Glover set the tone in the first match of the day by pinning the Braves' Steve Wolfe in 2 minutes, 18 seconds at 215 pounds.

On a restart in the second period, Glover slammed Wolfe to his back for the count.

The rest of the day went much the same way for the Rangers.

Melia, the defending Section V Class AA champion at 96 pounds, pinned Tom Burgess in 2:26 at 112 as the Rangers built an 18-0 lead.

"I was determined and psyched up being at home," Melia said.

"I couldn't get any good shots in the first (period), and in the second I started working him up top and that's where I found success."

Terenzi's pin of Dave Bradshaw at 130 in 1:16 put Spencerport ahead 36-0.

"I just wanted to go in and do my best. My goal was to try to stay on my feet," said Terenzi, the defending Section V champion at 125 pounds.

"Once I got going, I knew I was going to go for the pin."

The most entertaining and intense match of the day featured a 5-4 decision by Canandaigua's Carl Hartwell over Spencerport's Tim Campbell at 135 pounds.

Hartwell led 2-0 after the first period and 3-2 after the second. In the third period, Campbell tied the score at 4-4 with 30 seconds remaining. Hartwell forced Campbell out of the ring with 30 seconds left and, following the restart, earned the tie-breaking point with two seconds remaining.

The victory gave Canandaigua its first points of the match, cutting Spencerport's lead to 36-3.

Canandaigua's Skyler Miller decisioned John Troina 4-0 at 160 to earn the Braves' other three.

The victory by Spencerport is its 12th straight over the Braves, who haven't beaten the Rangers since a 28-26 win in 1994.

The following year, the teams tied 25-25 and the Rangers haven't lost since.

Canandaigua is rebuilding its wrestling tradition under first year coach Eric Mullen.

The Braves were 2-0 before the meet, with wins over Newark (48-28) and Greece Olympia (33-28).

"I knew that they were down this year and transitioning, but we prepare to be ready to go all the time," said Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot.

"We're on everyone's list to beat and the kids know that so we always have to be prepared."

Spencerport's Bryan Bourne, who finished second in the state last year at 160, pinned Joel Stritt in 58 seconds with an overpowering performance.

The Rangers will host the Teike-Bernabi tournament next weekend, featuring teams from New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"The tournament will really serve as a litmus test for this team and our level of preparation," Jacoutot said.