ESM lands three wrestlers in county semis
Eastport-South Manor's Maverick Passaro brings down Plainedge's Mike Scuttelaro with a sweep in the 125lb bout. (Jan. 23, 2011) Credit: George A. Faella
They've never finished in the top 20. They've had only one county place-winner in eight years of varsity wrestling. And they scored zero points in the county tournament a year ago.
So how did Eastport-South Manor finally emerge in the upper echelon in Suffolk Division I wrestling?
"It's been a total cultural change in our community," Eastport-South Manor coach Nick Garone said. "We have a nucleus of wrestlers that have bought into the system and fully understand what it takes to be a wrestling champion. It's all about the dedication to the sport and wrestling all year round."
Garone has guided the Eastport program for six years and believes his seven-year plan is starting to take shape. The Sharks moved three wrestlers into the county semifinals Monday morning at Stony Brook University at 10. Top-ranked freshman Travis Passaro will meet C.J. Labate of Commack at 103 pounds and try to become the first Eastport wrestler to reach the county championship.
"It's very exciting to have the opportunity to be the first wrestler from our program to make his mark," said Passaro (42-3). "I have to stay focused and work it one match at a time. You can't make mistakes in the county tournament."
Passaro's brother, Maverick, a junior at 125 pounds, also stormed into the semifinal round. He'll take his 42-5 record against Connetquot's Stephen Drew for the right to wrestle for a title.
"We've never wrestled and I had the chance to watch two of his bouts," Maverick said. "We worked out once together. He's a tough kid, but I have to go out and wrestle my match."
Ryan Cutler joins the Passaro brothers with his semifinal bout at 189.
Garone knows a little something about winning. He captured a county title in 1986 and went on to win the state championship at 132 pounds.
"I can't say how proud I am of our kids and the commitment they've made in a sport that is very difficult to master," Garone said. "We've turned the corner and we'll have three guys earn All-County. It's humbling."
Both of Suffolk's defending state champions, Mark West of Hauppauge and Nigel McNeil of Huntington, advanced to the semifinals. West will meet Cory Rasheed of Longwood at 112 pounds; the undefeated McNeil will wrestle Dave Dellavecchia of East Islip at 119.
Top-ranked Longwood qualified six wrestlers in the semifinals, as did two-time defending team champion Glenn. Longwood, which sits atop the Big 10 rankings, is undefeated in dual meets and tournament action. The Lions have four wrestlers in the wrestleback round and Glenn has two left.
Hauppauge's Chris Mauriello was the only seventh-grader in the tournament to advance. He'll meet top-seeded Nick Piccininni of Commack at 96 pounds. Mauriello won both of yesterday's bouts by decision. His emotional journey into the county tournament marches on as his older brother, junior Nick Mauriello, continues to recover from MRSA and Lemierre's syndrome at Stony Brook University Hospital.
In the Division II tournament, defending champion Bayport-Blue Point moved 16 wrestlers into the semifinals. The Phantoms scored 188 points to lead second-place Center Moriches by 71 points. Defending champion Kyle Underwood used a first-round bye and a 32-second pin to advance. He'll meet Andres Aldaz of Mattituck in the semifinal.
In the seven years of the tournament, this was the first time Divisions I and II wrestled the opening rounds in the same arena.
