Spencerport wrestlers stand test of time
James Johnson . Staff writer . January 21, 2012
www.rochesterdandc.com

Parity is the in thing when it comes to sports, or so we are told.

A football team like the New York Giants can stumble through a four-game losing streak and then move to within one win from a spot in the Super Bowl.

Name the last 10 champions of the National Hockey League. Only one name would show up more than once.

Eight teams have won the World Series during the last decade. There is some fun in this.

Dynasties have some appeal, too. Walk into the gymnasium at Webster Schroeder today, and there is a chance you will see a team add to something that has been built over decades.

There is a chance that Spencerport wrestlers, winners of the last 20 Monroe County championships, have put themselves into the position to make it 21 in a row.

Coaches claim that the Monroe County league is the deepest in Section V, among the best in the state, and Spencerport dominates it every year.

These Rangers, whose origins go back to the 1940s, don't always finish first.

Spencerport finished in second place at the U-E Duals hosted by Union-Endicott High School, outside of Binghamton, Jan. 7-8.

Wantagh and Shenendehowa now appear to have the inside track to the year-end No. 1 state ranking, which Spencerport team captain Steve Maier said the Rangers wanted.

"It's always disappointing when you don't win at U-E," Maier said. "Our No. 1 goal is to get that No. 1 ranking at the end of the year."

"Always, always," Spencerport coach Tony D'Ambra said about how high the Rangers aim.

The amazing thing is how realistic a top-five state ranking at the end of each season is for Spencerport.

There are no down cycles. There are no rebuilding years. There are no "bad" classes of wrestlers who lack the motivation to reach Spencerport's standards.

No "off" years where the team fails to click, slips back toward the pack and is overtaken by a local challenger.

Fairport, Brockport, Penfield and this year, Webster Schroeder, have put together good teams that deserve credit.

It's not easy to build something that lasts in wrestling, where athletes can and do say "enough of the grind" as they walk away.

The Spencerport Rangers not only manage, but continue to build, no matter what team in Section V is in that conversation of possibly knocking them off.

"Spencerport still has that big-tournament experience," Rush-Henrietta coach Mickey Marlowe said. "There is something to be said for that.

"You don't say it until it's over. We'll see what happens, if it happens."

There once were fans who wanted it to happen a little bit too much. They booed a Spencerport wrestler as he stood on an awards podium.

And let's just say that Brockport-Spencerport individual and team matchups on a wrestling mat generate some passion. Trust me.

But when asked what needed to happen for a new finish on top of the team standings at the Monroe County championships, Brockport coach Mike Ferris explained.

"One team needs to have a great tournament and for everyone else to help," Ferris said. "It's not everyone else vs. Spencerport, but when you are No.1, it takes a collective effort (good results for a handful of teams).

"I'm still looking to have four, five champions. If we do, and other guys wrestle tough, we'll have a shot. Same thing with Webster Schroeder."

A shot.

A lot of work goes into ending a dynasty or trying to just challenge one.

That's a clue how much work went into building what has lasted decades at Spencerport.

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com