Webster's Miller surprises
But Spencerport doesn't in winning Monroe County title for the 9th time in 10 years
Democrat and Chronicle, By James Johnson

(Sunday, January 31, 1999) Yesterday afternoon, Josh Miller pulled off an upset at the Monroe County Wrestling Championships.

The Webster junior gave Rush-Henrietta's Shamir Rhodes his first loss of the season in the 145-pound semifinals.

To make the tournament, held in his high school gym, even more memorable, he needed to get past Pittsford's Matt Agosti in the final.

Miller did it the hard way but did it, coming from behind to beat Agosti 3-1 at Webster.

While Miller winning the 145 Monroe County title was a surprise, Spencerport emerging as the top team with 243 points was not. The Rangers have won the tournament every year except one -- since 1989.

Gary Borrelli, now a four-time county champion, and Mike Wojtowicz won the 112 and 130 divisions respectively and were among six Rangers who reached finals.

For Miller, losing in the finals after beating Rhodes would have been like chewing on his wrestling shoes when he had a taste for cake.

"I would've been upset with myself," Miller said. "I would've said at least I beat Shamir, but it just wouldn't have been the same."

Agosti was awarded a penalty point in the first period after Miller clamped on a full nelson, which is illegal. Miller rallied with an escape and a takedown in the final period.

Borrelli was a 5-0 winner in his final over Penfield's Joe Lacagnina, who knocked Pittsford's Troy Forte from the championship bracket 8-6. Borrelli is 27-0.

"I've thought about losing," Borrelli said. "But the things is, I know I have to work harder."

Wojtowicz, a runner-up in the 1998 county tournament, was a 3-1 winner over Jeff Pilosi, one of six finalists from Webster. Now 26-2, Wojtowicz hasn't lost since the finals of Spencerport's Teike/Bernabi Tournament in late December.

Greece Olympia junior Joe Veltre beat Spencerport's Shawn Hibbs, the defending 103 champion, 6-5 in the final with a late takedown. In five previous matches, Veltre did not beat Hibbs, but was encouraged with his improvement against him.

"This is the biggest match so far, of my career," Veltre, a 1998 sectional runner-up at 96 pounds, said. "I wrestled this kid before and he's killed me.

"I knew if I didn't go to my back in the first period I had a good shot at winning."

R-H's Tardus Taylor also beat one of his nemesis, defending 189 sectional champion Jake Boerman of Fairport.

After edging out Boerman 3-2 in last night's final, Taylor slapped hands with both of his coaches and received big slaps of congratulations on his back.

"I think I was more mentally in the match (this time). I played his game," Taylor said. "I'm back on track mentally.

"It felt like I had an anchor on my foot before and I wasn't working to my ability."

Rhodes, undefeated until yesterday, bounced back to win his third-place match, 10-2.

-- The Miller-Rhodes semifinaal moved into overtime after Miller allowed Rhodes to his feet early in the third period, tying the score at 4-4.

Miller earned his match-winning takedown when he hustled behind Rhodes after the R-H senior couldn't finish a takedown attempt.