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(Thursday, December 31, 1998) Once Gary Borrelli finished his victory sprint on the wrestling mat, the hugs and high-fives came in steady stream. Borrelli took them from relatives. He took them from friends. The Spencerport senior even took them from strangers.

The celebration was on after Borrelli's 5-1 win over Hornell senior Kory Holland in the 112-pound finals of the Spencerport Teike/Bernabi Tournament.

"He beat me twice last year," Borrelli said, recalling his losses in the SuperSectionals and Teike-Bernabi.

"I'll have to beat him again at the end of the season.

"He's a tough wrestler. Pulling a victory from him gives me more confidence and everything else."

Borrelli's win over the runner-up in last season's 112-pound state tournament led him to be named the meet's most outstanding wrestler.

"I've been training all year to be the best that I can be," Borrelli said.

Johnson City topped Spencerport, 202 to 164.5 for this year's team title, the second consecutive runner-up finish for the Rangers.

Three of the six Johnson City wrestlers who made it to the finals won their tournaments and plenty more provided key points.

"There can't be too many tournaments better than this one," Hilton coach Chuck Partridge said about the number of quality teams who participated.

Spencerport's Shawn Hibbs at 103 pounds and 189-pounder Dan King also won their brackets.

"They like going into the book," Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot said. "There is alot of tradition here."

There were five Rangers in finals, including Scott Baxter at 171 pounds and Mike Wojtowicz, who lost the 130 championship, 3-2 in overtime to Hornell's Randy Smith.

Borrelli finished second in last season's Teike/Bernabi, Jamestown and Cicero-North Syracuse Tournaments.

The three-time sectional and Monroe County League champion has won all three of those events this winter.

"In the past he's been the bridesmaid," Jacoutot said. "This year, he
is the bride. To me, he's the man to beat." Borrelli scored a quick takedown for a 2-0 lead and rode Holland hard through the first and second periods.
"I would've liked to have been on my feet more," Holland, a two-time sectional champion, said. "I couldn't get out, he was riding me pretty tight."

Holland was awarded a point by the two referees when they felt Borrelli was stalling with nine seconds left in the second period.

Borrelli's lead increased to 3-1 when he was allowed to his feet by Holland with 1:30 left in the match.

When Holland went for a needed a takedown a short time later, Borrelli was ready and shoved the attempt aside and picked up an additional two points.

The loss didn't devastate Holland, who figures to battle Borrelli and Pittsford's Troy Forte for a berth into the state tournament.

"I know that it's early on," Holland said.

"I am looking at it as something I can build my season on, instead of a dissapointment, which it is a little."

Shamir Rhodes and Geoff Selleck became the first wrestlers from Rush-Henrietta to win their weight divisions at this tournament. Selleck had to keep on his toes to beat Lancaster senior Brandon McCallum, 3-2.

"The kid doesn't like to shoot (for a takedown)," Selleck said. "When you shoot, he just tires to drag you into a headlock and tire you out.

"He was just trying stupid things after (he became frustrated."

Rhodes, a participant in the 1998 state tournament, pinned Hilton's Justin Sullivan in the 145-pound final.

"I guess I expect more out of myself. It's a different for me," Rhodes said.

"I do notice that (opponents) are adjusting to my style.

"I still don't worry about much. I know what I can do. It's still easy for me to stay in the zone."

Wayne's Mike Bourne left the mat with a bloody mouth but held his own in a 9-7 loss to Fredonia's Bobby Parker in the 125-pound final. Bourne finsihed sixth in last year's 103-pound state tournament.