Spencerport wins 21st straight Monroe County wrestling title
James Johnson . Staff writer . January 22, 2012
www.rochesterdandc.com

If the Monroe County Wrestling Championships take a back seat to the sectional meets, it was difficult to tell Saturday night.

First place in the team standings came down to wrestlers from Spencerport and Brockport, rivals who train about 10 miles apart.

The lead rocked back and forth along with Spencerport's decades-long streak as winners of this meet.

"We got parents from different schools rooting for us or rooting against us," Spencerport's Steve Maier said.

But it was the Spencerport Rangers who launched their coach toward the ceiling of the Webster Schroeder gymnasium when they came from behind to take the team title from Brockport. Spencerport finished with 198 points to Brockport's 190.5, and who knew there are springs in mats?

Tony D'Ambra, who spent a good amount of time coaching from his knees Saturday, was way off the floor when Spencerport's 21st consecutive first-place finish at this league's championship meet was clinched.

"The kids know they have spent a lot of time and effort," D'Ambra said. "They understand what's at stake every time they compete. They don't want to be the ones to let down the community, let down a teammate, let down anyone. They really pulled together and made it happen."

The action included win No. 39 this season for Hilton sophomore 113-pounder Vincent DePrez. The only undefeated wrestler at the meet was named the most outstanding lightweight.

Pittsford 120-pounder Brady Baron became a two-time Monroe County champ. Baron, a senior at Mendon, improved to 31-1.

"I've wrestled with a lot of good wrestlers," Baron said. "Cam Kelly, C.J. Howard, they've helped me be as good as I can be. It felt good the first time. It still feels just as good."

The Brockport Blue Devils knew they were more than OK with a half-point deficit before the start of the finals, which included third- and fifth-place bouts. Little things became important, especially with four head-to-head matchups between Brockport and Spencerport wrestlers.

Barton Peters (32-4), a sophomore, won the first 11-0, but Spencerport's Sal Mingoea helped his team when he fought off at least three pin attempts.

Brockport senior Jimmy Porteus gave a hard high-five to Blue Devils coach Mike Ferris after his 7-2 win over Spencerport's Angelo DeAngelis.

It was announced that Brockport was in the lead.

Spencerport 145-pounder Mike Roman was told "you gotta go," as in, make something happen, against Rush-Henrietta's John Northrup with less than 30 seconds remaining in the third period.

Roman made it to overtime, snapped Northrup's shoulders forward as he spun behind his opponent to win 6-4, and was later named most outstanding heavyweight.

"This is the second tournament I've won, I won my first last week," Roman said. "There's so much tension out there. It's exciting."

Maier gave Spencerport another win at 152, 7-2 over Brockport's Josh Maier, and the team lead back.

D'Ambra hugged Spencerport 182-pounder Trent Egenlauf after a 3-1 win over another Brockport opponent in the weight division's third-place match.

Collin Pittman, a Spencerport sophomore in the 195-pound bout for third, clinched it for the Rangers. Pittman trailed 4-3 in the third.

"I looked at the clock and I'm seeing that my time was running out," Pittman said. "I knew my team needed me. All I needed was a takedown, but he gave me a lot of pressure. I knew my throw (move) was there."

Pittman used a leg to kick his body over and into pin position on top of Canandaigua's Jareth Roth.

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com