Spinella, Mo prepare for state swim meet
SWIMMING
Spinella, Mo go to states
Dual meets, divisions and counties are over, but the work isn't over for some swimmers.
Sewanhaka's Nick Spinella, who qualified for states in seven events, is working out with his school and club teams in anticipation of the state championships.
Spinella qualified for the following: 200-yard freestyle (1 minute, 44.75 seconds), 200 individual medley (1:57.73), 50 freestyle (22.02), 100 butterfly (54.10), 100 freestyle (49.31), 500 freestyle (4:52.83) and 100 backstroke (51.84). Sewanhaka coach Glenn Nielsen said Spinella would likely be swimming the 100 back and 200 free at the states.
Spinella took fourth in the 100 backstroke (52.19) at the 2009 state championships, but he has cut more than a half second off his time. The two swimmers who finished first and second last season have graduated.
After qualifying in just three events for the 2009 states, Spinella was going for much more this season.
"I said, 'You're shooting for seven events aren't you?' " Nielsen said, laughing. "It's a good thing. You've got to show people what you're capable of."
Great Neck South's Sam Mo has qualified for six solo events and also has helped his team qualify two relays (200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay).
Mo qualified in: 200 freestyle (1:45.86), 200 IM (1:55.87), 100 butterfly (52.56), 100 freestyle (48.08), 100 backstroke (53.62) and 100 breaststroke (59.68).
WRESTLING
Wild for wild cards
Twenty-four Long Island wrestlers earned wild-card berths to next weekend's state wrestling championships in Albany. All 24 wild cards are on the Division I level (no Division II berths were given to Suffolk or Nassau wrestlers). Also, the CHSAA does not receive wild cards.
To earn a wild-card ticket to states, a wrestler must finish either second or third in his weight within his section. A section is allowed to have two wild cards per weight. In all, four wrestlers are awarded wild cards and two are alternates.
The formula to determine wild cards is based on a wrestler's record, his previous section and state place-winnings and how many state place-winners reside in the section he is from (used to aid wrestlers who face tougher competition throughout the season).
As expected, Kings Park's Mike Soria, a defending state champ, was given a wild card despite forfeiting to his brother Max in the 103-pound Suffolk final. Longwood's Malik Rasheed, an All-State performer last season, was also given a wild card despite his 9-3 loss to Nigel McNeil of Huntington in the 112-pound county final.
Wild-card qualifiers
Nassau
(Name, school, weight, grade, section place)
Joe Chamish, Jericho, 160, 12, 2nd
Nick Fitzmaurice, Wantagh, 152, 12, 2nd
Connor Horl, Garden City, 215, 12, 2nd
Mike Leonard, Clarke, 125, 11, 3rd
Will Montgomery, Seaford, 112, 11, 2nd
Yaseen Mudassar, Division, 285, 12, 2nd
Dylan Palacio, Long Beach, 140, 10, 2nd
Suffolk
Mike Bosco, Glenn, 160, 12, 3rd (first alt.)
Pete DeTore, Westhampton, 119, 12, 3rd
T.J. Fabian, SWR, 96, 9, 3rd (first alt.)
Matt Fusaro, Glenn, 145, 12, 3rd (second alt.)
Joe Giaramita, Glenn, 189, 11, 3rd
Alex Gomez, Brentwood, 119, 11, 2nd
Patrick Jennings, Longwood, 152, 11, 3rd (first alt.)
Ben Lee, Longwood, 285, 12, 2nd (first alt.)
Sean McCabe, Connetquot, 112, 10, 3rd (first alt.)
Jesse Marro, Hauppauge, 145, 12, 2nd (first alt.)
Conor O'Hara, Sachem East, 96, 9, 2nd
Edwin Perry, Riverhead, 140, 12, 2nd (first alt.)
Louis Puca, Huntington, 160, 11, 2nd
Malik Rasheed, Longwood, 112, 10, 2nd
Jake Smith, Smithtown West, 189, 12, 2nd
Mike Soria, Kings Park, 103, 12, 2nd
Kyle Wade, Islip, 152, 11, 2nd
