Pins power Spencerport over Canandaigua
The state's second-ranked wrestling team raises its dual-meet streak to 98-0-1
By James Johnson
Democrat and Chronicle

(February 9, 2003) — HOPEWELL — Matt Legas had the assignment of filling in for a sick teammate in Spencerport’s wrestling lineup earlier this season.

The junior 145-pounder’s number came up again on Saturday before the non-league dual between Spencerport and Canandaigua.

A drawing determined that Legas and his opponent would wrestle first to open what has been Section V’s most anticipated dual meet during the last decade.

“I was emotional, I was so ready,” Legas said. “I prepared for this match for a long time.”

It showed. Legas scored the first of four pins during the first six bouts that vaulted the Rangers to a 36-25 victory at Finger Lakes Community College.

Canandaigua coach Rich Romeo anticipated at least five bouts in which the outcomes would be “nip and tuck.” Instead, Spencerport (11-1) dominated for the most part, in front of about 1,800 fans.

Legas, Steve Stulpin, Sabastian Baliva and Andy Peters all scored pins that gave the Rangers a 27-3 lead halfway through the meet.

Canandaigua 152-pounder Tom Cuppernell and 140-pounder Trevor Chinn remained undefeated in the section this season, while Stulpin kept his record clean in the loss column overall at 160.

“We got a good draw,” Stulpin said. “Against them, our upper weights were our strong points.”

Canandaigua’s lightweights won three matches in a row to give the Braves (7-2-1) some hope of winning. Justin Volenweider beat Spencerport’s 119-pounder Kris MacBeth 7-5 in overtime, in between pins by eighth-grader Kyle Ingraham at 112 and Greg Gelinas at 125 for the Braves.

The six points earned by Gelinas for his fall over Nick Morbito reduced Spencerport’s lead to 30-12 with three matches remaining, but Mike Terenzi won via technical fall in the next bout for the Rangers.

Spencerport’s fast start was too much to overcome.

Legas slapped an arm bar on Josh Parsons, walked around his opponent’s shoulders and earned a pin after 1:21.

“It was the best feeling of my life,” Legas said.

“I’ve been in and out of the lineup. It was good to know that I was going to be a part of this.”

Cuppernell brushed off a fired-up Joe Morbito early in their bout, to win 9-4.

Stulpin overwhelmed Jim West and earned the first of back-to-back pins for the Rangers.

Baliva pushed Spencerport to a 18-3 lead when he finally trapped Eskei Beech with 1:25 remaining.

Beech fought off a fall during the final minute of the opening period and was badgered in the second.

Spencerport’s Alex Baxter was in control of the 189-pound match when Dan Jacobson tied the score, 2-2, in the final 15 seconds of the third period.

Baxter ended up winning on criteria when he broke Jacobson’s control just before the 30 seconds he had to work with expired.

Spencerport’s lead ballooned to 24 points after Andy Peters pinned Chris Wittlinger in the first period.

“We knew we were going to come in with an advantage after what happened to them against Fulton,” Stulpin said of Canandaigua. “They lost to (Fulton), we beat Fulton pretty good.”

Spencerport has a record of 98-0-1 in dual meets against Section V teams.

Canandaigua handed the Rangers their last local loss in 1994.

The Rangers beat out the Braves at last season’s Class A tournament and hope to finish No. 1 among large schools in the state for the third straight year.

Spencerport is ranked second behind Johnson City of Section IV (Binghamton-area), the only team to beat the Rangers head-to-head this season.

E-mail address: jjohnson@DemocratandChronicle.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spencerport 36, Canandaigua 25
103 pounds: Josh Fuller (S) decisioned Rocco Catalfamo, 5-1; 112: Kyle Ingraham (C) pinned Brett Woodward, 1:21. 119: Justin Volenweider (C) dec. Kris MacBeth, 7-5 overtime; 125: Greg Gelinas (C) pinned Nick Morbito, 3:06; 130: Mike Terenzi (S) defeated Merrick Hare, via technical fall, 20-5. 135: Trevor Chinn (C) def. Mike Brongo, major decision, 13-4; 140: Kevin Morrice (C) dec. Chuck Zimmerman, 4-1; 145: Matt Legas (S) pinned Josh Parsons, 1:21. 152: Tom Cuppernell (C) dec. Joe Morbito, 9-4; 160: Steve Stulpin (S) pinned Jim West, 1:17; 171: Sabastian Baliva (S) pinned Eskei Beech, 4:35. 189: Alex Baxter (S) defeated Dan Jacobson, 3-2 overtime criteria; 215: Andy Peters (S) pinned Chris Wittlinger, 1:49.