H.S. wrestling roundup: Ranzenbach brothers both win for Hilton
JJOHNSO@DemocratandChronicle.com
Democrat and Chronicle

(February 1, 2004) — WEBSTER — Mark Ranzenbach wrestled first, nervous before and during his debut in a Monroe County league tournament final.

It was really time for the Hilton freshman to worry after he finished and his older brother’s championship match began.

Joe Ranzenbach, a Hilton junior, had two previous appearances in county finals and no wins to show for it. That changed on Saturday at Webster Schroeder.

Mark Ranzenbach edged Schroeder’s Torsten Gillespie 2-0 in the 96-pound final and watched Joe beat Eric Ziegler, another Warrior, 6-4 in the 112 final.

“I do get nervous when I watch him wrestle,” said Mark Ranzenbach. “I look up to him.”

Joe Ranzenbach, who won his 100th varsity match this season, was proud of his at-home workout partner.

“I see him go through the same things I went through at his age,” said Joe Ranzenbach, who also wrestled at 96 pounds as a freshman. “You both go through the same things.

“We were both No. 1 seeds, but what happens depends more on who is wrestling better that day.”

Webster Schroeder junior Gregor Gillespie, 34-0, has been unbeatable so far this year. Last year’s state champion, at 119, was named the most outstanding wrestler of the event after he won the 130-pound class to become a four-time league champion.

“I always have high energy,” said Gillespie, who has won 80 consecutive matches. “I love the sport.

“I’ll always remember the counties being here. I’m comfortable here.”

Eastridge East Irondequoit senior Mike Wood became a three-time county champion after he edged Rush-Henrietta 140-pounder Larry LaRussa, 5-4.

“My senior year I definitely wanted to get this,” said Wood, who became his school’s all-time win leader with 130. “I’m only the second three-time county champ from Eastridge.”

Wood briefly fell behind to LaRussa 4-3 but pulled off a reversal at the mat circle’s edge an instant after the Rush-Henrietta wrestler scored a takedown.

“I had teched and pinned my way through the tournament up until this match,” said Wood, who rode LaRussa for much of the third period. “I knew he was going to be a tough kid. We were the two top dogs.”

It only made sense that Spencerport, ranked No. 1 in the state, showed that it was Monroe County’s top team again.

The Rangers totaled 297.5 points, 126 more than runner-up Brockport, to win the team title for the 13th consecutive season.

“Coach (Bill Jacoutot) puts it into our heads that hard work and determination will take us where we want to go,” said Spencerport’s Mike Terenzi, the 145-pound county champion.

“It’s a tradition we want to continue as long as possible.”

Terenzi defeated Irondequoit’s Albert Gianforti, 5-1, to become one of four league champions from Spencerport.

Derek Gray at 112, 125-pounder Brett Woodward, and undefeated Alex Baxter (29-0) at 189 also won their weight classes.

Greece Athena’s Jason McGuckian kept his cool after he was taken down by Brockport’s Sean Riley with 24.2 seconds remaining in the 152-pound championship.

Down 3-2 after he was let up to his feet, McGuckian timed a shot perfectly to put Riley down with 17.5 to go. McGuckian rode Riley the final 10 seconds to hang on and win.

Greece Olympia senior Terrance Nolan lost 10-3 to LaRussa during the semifinals. Nolan was told earlier this month that he was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point.