Gill looks to make history for SJB
It was hard for James Gill to carry the St. John the Baptist wrestling program last year with a broken ankle.
Now healthy, the redheaded sparkplug champions the Cougars' cause. Might he even make history?
With two wins Saturday at the CHSAA state tournament at Chaminade, the 103-pounder is just one win away from becoming SJB's first CHSAA state finalist since 2004, when current assistant coach Kevin Bartoli and Morgan Ford both made an appearance.
"It'd feel great because I'd be shining more of a light on our school," Gill said about a potential trip to the final. "We're a growing program that's pushing more and more."
Gill, who is seeking to become the Cougars' first CHSAA state champion since Jason Forrest won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, still has this morning's semifinal to get past. However, that shouldn't be a problem, as he earned a technical fall over his semifinal opponent, second-seeded Blaise Rufo of Monsignor Farrell, when they met Jan. 23.
Gill made short work of his opening-round opponents Saturday, pinning Nick Martucci of St. Joseph by the Sea in 2:20 and then earning a technical fall over the No. 3 seed, Akshil Patel of Niagara Catholic.
The Smithtown native is 30-5 this season. But two of the losses came against Kellenberg's Pat Skinner, the tournament's top seed, who is Gill's friend. The two work out together in the offseason at the Ascend Wrestling Club in Hicksville.
"I feel like I can come back strong and right the wrong from the first two matches," Gill said. "But we both need to get there."
After a third-place finish in this event as a freshman, Gill missed last season's with the broken ankle. His cast was taken off about a week before the CHSAA state qualifier, but doctors didn't clear him to wrestle.
He's making up for lost time in a big way this season - just ask his coach, David Bartoli (Kevin's dad).
"He's a very tough, dedicated kid who is also a great leader," Bartoli said, before adding that Gill is on pace to be the Cougars' first wrestler to amass 100 career wins. "He's certainly helping to put our program on the map."
