Wrestling: JC finishes second in U-E tournament
Spencerport prevails in final

BY MIKE MANGAN
Press & Sun-Bulletin

ENDICOTT -- Johnson City's quest for a state team championship in wrestling will have to wait another season.

The Wildcats rallied from a 15-point deficit to take a late lead, but Section 5's Spencerport battled back for a 29-22 victory Saturday in the championship match of the Union-Endicott Dual Meet Tournament.

The Rangers secured the title with Don Zimmerman's 9-4 victory over Ryan Kuzel at 160 pounds. It was the final bout of the 10-team tournament.

Spencerport will likely retain the top ranking among large-school teams, as selected by the New York State Sports Writers Association.

JC (11-1), which last won the large-school state title three years ago and was ranked fourth in the state entering the U-E tournament, is likely out of championship consideration.

"The team part is done -- now we worry about getting guys to Syracuse," said JC coach Pete Capone, referring to the state tournament in March. "There were matches we should have gotten pins and we didn't, and matches we should have won and we didn't."

JC rallied from an 18-3 deficit to take a 22-20 lead with two matches remaining.

Vince Heneker and Andy Tobias started the comeback with convincing victories. Heneker earned his by technical fall over Kris MacBeth, 15-0, in 4:33 at 125 pounds. MacBeth was called for a technical violation early in the match -- his shoelaces weren't taped up -- which cost Spencerport a team point.

Tobias then beat Don France 10-2 at 130, cutting Spencerport's lead to 17-13.

Spencerport's Mike Bronco increased the lead to 20-13, scoring a takedown with 30 seconds left in the third period for a 3-1 decision over Ryan Felton at 135.

The Wildcats responded with a pair of wins. Josh Glenn applied a headlock for a takedown as time expired in his 5-4 victory over Chuck Zimmerman at 140. Joe Sacco beat Joe Mirabito by technical fall, 17-2, in four minutes at 145, giving JC a two-point edge.

However, Steve Stulpin regained the lead for Spencerport, 26-22, by pinning Adam Harendza in 5:08 at 152 pounds.

"We were in it until the last match," Capone said. "We needed an eight-point win from Kuzel, though, in that last match, which would have been tough.

"If only we had gotten some more pins earlier. If you don't pin, you don't win."

Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot felt his wrestlers' ability on their feet was the difference.

"I thought our takedowns were better," said Jacoutot, whose team reached the final with a 43-16 victory over Section 3's Baldwinsville. "We have [kids with good positioning], and that was key because [Johnson City is] a very good team that moves around well."

JC's road to the final was tough. The Wildcats had to beat third-ranked Fulton of Section 3 in the semifinals, and they did so by a 27-21 margin. Kuzel's 7-2 victory over Nate Drake at 160 sealed the outcome.

"Our goal was to beat Spencerport, and we had to get through Fulton to do that," Capone said. "We had everything we wanted -- we just didn't get it done in the finals."

Fulton defeated Baldwinsville 34-22 for third place, and Iroquois beat Queensbury 33-21 in the fifth-place match.