Welcome mats rolled out for state meet
Officials revel in chance to host state's best
www.rochesterdemocratandchronicle.com
James Johnson Staff writer

KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer

Pittsford's Corey Borshoff, 125 pounds, left, and Brighton's Zack Ellis, 119, work out together as the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial was filled with wrestlers who will compete in the state meet today and tomorrow.

After almost 40 years, Rochester is once again host of the state high school wrestling championships.

Section V officials, who work under the state's high school sports sanctioning body, hope the meet takes a lot less time to return.

The next two days inside Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial will help determine that.

Action begins at 10 this morning on eight mats. A total of 480 wrestlers, including 54 from Section V schools, are in downtown Rochester to get their hands on a state title, many with relatives and friends ready to cheer them on.

The last time New York state's top wrestlers were here for the season's final meet was in 1969 at Rochester Institute of Technology.

"After 40 years, we deserve the opportunity to host this in front of our hometown fans," Section V chairman Chris Bourne said.

Bourne said that the potential for a high turnout this weekend at the War Memorial is there, because of the popularity of the sport among area fans with no direct connection to the wrestlers.

Almost 3,000 fans attended Section V's qualifier for states at RIT. There is hope that this year's attendance for the state meet approaches the record two-day total of about 17,000 two years ago on Long Island, inside Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

Bourne and other officials talk about a possible return of the state championships as early as 2010, possibly in a rotation with Albany, last year's site.

"We've tried to get it here the last three years," state wrestling chairman Don DeBadts said. "The facility is big enough. Right now, there are only three.

"One of them is Albany, the other Nassau Coliseum, but we don't prefer to go back there. Hopefully, this will be the biggest crowd we've had."

CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer

Former Kendall coach Jim Sauberan of Brockport rolls a mat Friday in preparation forfor this weekend's state wrestling meet.

The seats were empty at the arena on Friday afternoon as wrestlers and coaches walked around inside to size up the arena.

"I haven't been here in a couple of years," Pittsford Sutherland senior 125-pounder Corey Borshoff said. "It's going to be great. The bottom ring of seats is closer to the mats than I've seen at other places.

"It's going to add an edge to it. The louder it is, the more exciting. It gets you even more motivated. The best part is that they took all of the (hockey) boards down. It's going to work out well."

Ken Collado, a 103-pound sophomore at Hauppauge, made the seven-hour drive with the Section XI team from Suffolk County on Long Island.

"It went quick," Collado said of the drive. "So far, I like everything but the snow. The hotel (the Clarion) is nice."

Bourne estimated that at least 2,000 rooms in and around Rochester were needed to accommodate participants, friends and family.

Spencerport, home of the nationally ranked Rangers and the state's No. 1 ranked large-school team, is expected to show up in force.

"We're eight miles from our school," Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot said. "That's going to allow people who care about our program to come. They usually have to read about it.

"I wish they could all sit in one section. They've supported us all year and are going to be here to support five great kids."

The last time Jacoutot wore a wrestling singlet was in 1975, 33 years ago.

Yet, a brother of Jacoutot's plans to come from Atlanta and a daughter from New York City for the championships to support the coach and the Spencerport wrestlers.

"I'm sure it will spur a lot of excitement among young kids," Jacoutot said. "Long overdue.

"This area has shown the last few years that it is the best in the state, which is cyclical. Right now, the cycle is in our favor."

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com