Spencerport cruises to Barnard title
The Rangers had 10 finalists to clinch the championship after the semifinal round
JJOHNSO@DemocratandChronicle.com
Democrat and Chronicle

(January 18, 2004) — HILTON — Patience is needed to prepare fine food.

Matt Legas knows that, as a person interested in the culinary arts.

Sometimes a wrestler has to wait for success. Legas, a senior at Spencerport, has lived that.

Legas improved his record to 23-0 this season after he finished first in the 160-pound division at the Clayton Barnard Tournament at Hilton on Saturday.

This is year No. 2 on the Spencerport varsity for Legas. He moved in and out of the team’s lineup last season. As a captain, his grasp on a starting spot is pretty firm these days.

“I just wanted it this year,” said Legas, who was 27-11 last season as a 140- and 145-pounder for the Rangers. “That’s it. It feels great.

“I didn’t feel like I was a better wrestler this year per se, I had more confidence.”

The Rangers should feel pretty good as a team.

Once again, they are ranked No. 1 in the state among large schools. The team scoring at Hilton was a runaway race, as Spencerport had 300.5 points, more than double the total for runner-up Fairport (148).

With 10 finalists, the Rangers clinched the team title after the semifinals.

Undefeated 189-pounder Alex Baxter (24-0) and Legas were among Spencerport’s four weight division champions.

Legas defeated West Seneca West’s Cory Turner, 5-2, at 160.

A takedown was the difference in the score, 3-1, through two periods. Turner earned a point with an escape but a failed takedown attempt led to another two points for Legas.

“I’m a very technical wrestler,” Legas said. “I’m not very big, so I’m not too intimidating.

“I stay in good position, and that’s it.”

Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot calls Legas “a program kid.”

“They get better each year,” he added. “Then, their senior year, they could end up in the state championships.

“In this sport, you grow in inches, not in feet. He just gets every ounce out of what he has.”

What Legas, a National Honor Society member with a 3.9 grade-point average, has is sweet success in his senior season.

Kendall’s Donald Williams edged Spencerport’s Mike Terenzi, 5-4, in the 145 final in one of the night’s most exciting matches. Williams was named most outstanding wrestler.

Geneva senior Kyle Blancke defeated Hilton junior Joe Ranzenbach, 5-1 in the 119 final. Ranzenbach was 25-0 before he met Blancke (19-1).

There was a lot of sweat and hustle to keep the tournament on track. Hilton’s schools were closed on Friday, which forced the postponement of that day’s tournament schedule.

All of the action took place Saturday.

“We only lost one team (North Rose-Wolcott),” Hilton coach Chuck Partridge said. “It was a lot of phone calls, a lot of anxiety not knowing what the weather was going to be.

“I had a lot of support and help from the administration in the district. It was tiring.”