Gordon scores a big victory — at last
Democrat and Chronicle
By James Johnson
Staff writer

(December 30, 2004) — If Phil Gordon planned to surprise a few key opponents during this high school wrestling season, he can forget about it.

The Rush-Henrietta senior turned some heads after he won the 130-pound division Wednesday at the 39th annual Teike-Bernabi Tournament in Spencerport.

Gordon won 29 matches last season for the Royal Comets, but none during the finals of Section V's showcase events such as the state tournament qualifier, or even the Monroe County league tournament.

"He was on that fringe but didn't win the big events," Rush-Henrietta coach Mickey Marlowe said. "He's always been a steady wrestler, a great kid.

"His person goal is to turn some heads at the end of the season. Right now, he's a little bit under the radar."

Gordon's 2-1 victory over Barry Thrush from Athens, a high school in Pennsylvania, should be an attention-grabber.

While the Teike-Bernabi Tournament is not the sectionals, it is an event that hosted 14 wrestlers who placed in the 2004 New York state high school tournament.

"The numbers speak for themselves," Geneva senior 152-pounder Mark Bloom said. "Fourteen placers in the tournament, and I know a bunch of kids on the Athens team were state finalists or champions."

Gordon pulled off a mild shocker two years ago at Spencerport, when he advanced to the finals.

"This was my first varsity tournament," Gordon said. "I was really scared, no one else from my team made it to the finals.

"I got pinned, and I didn't like that. I vowed to come back and win this tournament."

A reversal during the second period was enough against Thrush.

"I'm undefeated," Gordon said. "I'm not cocky, I just feel confident. The more matches you have, the better you get.

"I'm a team captain now. I did a hell of a lot of off-season stuff, I ran almost everyday."

A breakthrough for Gordon has been tough to come by.

"I've had a hard weight class," Gordon said. "(Webster Schroeder's) Gregor Gillespie was in my class, sophomore year and last year, it was (Canandaigua's) Kyle Ingraham. They were both state champs.

"They used to beat me down. Every year I'd get a little closer. Hopefully, this year I can get to states and do something at states."

While Gordon satisfied his urge to win at Spencerport, the host team had to settle for second-place in the team scoring.

Valley Central of Section IX, located in Montgomery, Orange County, scored 187.5 points to beat runner-up Spencerport by 29.5.

Bloom won the matchup of the night, a 6-3 decision in the 152 final over Wayne's Nathan Patterson.

The only previous losses in Patterson's 19 matches this season were to Gillespie.

Spencerport's Eric Piedimonte at 112, Bryan Bourne at 145, Jared Plucknette at 189 and 275-pounder Tom Rodak were all tournament champions.