Fox Lane wins Shoreline Classic

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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Fox Lane came up just short of winning the Shoreline Classic last season. Warwick Valley edged the Foxes by just three points for first place.

This season, Fox Lane came out on top.

The Foxes totaled 189.5 points and boasted three champions to win the 48th annual Ted Murphy Shoreline Classic on Saturday. Fox Lane last won the tournament in 1994.

“It was a great overall team effort by our kids,” Fox Lane coach Joe Amuso said. “We had our horses come through and do what they’re supposed to do. The other kids that came through and wrestled back to take third, fourth or fifth added a lot of points to our final total. That’s how you win a tournament.”

Sam Speno (126 pounds), Danny Ventura (132) and Tommy Grippi (138) each came away with an individual title.

“Between me, Danny and Tommy, we’re all a similar size and we all drill each other,” said Speno, who was chosen as the Sandy Zuzolo most valuable wrestler. “We’re all the same and we’re all pretty tough. There were a lot of good teams here this year. Now that I’m a senior and a captain it’s pretty nice to win it.”

Speno started the winning streak off for the Foxes with a 12-0 major decision over Commack’s C.J. LaBate.

Ventura then made quick work of Pine Bush’s Jordan Robles, pinning him in just 1:34.

“I was pretty confident,” Ventura said of his mindset heading into the match. “I had a cradle in the beginning, but I could feel the blood coming out of his nose so they stopped it before I could take him back. Then as soon as I had it locked up, I knew it was going to be a quick pin.”

Grippi finished off the run by defeating Tappan Zee’s Charlie Garcia by technical fall.

“Tommy Grippi’s come on like fire,” Amuso said. “He’s been hot and has done a fantastic job.”

Fox Lane’s Matt Pasqualini won a hard-fought 8-5 decision over Hendrick Hudson’s Phil Siegel in the semifinals. He fell 9-3 to LaSalle’s Connor Sutton, a state champion, in the finals.

Andriy Lypchuck also placed second at 285 pounds for the Foxes. Ben Ettlinger (120 pounds) and Giancarlo Morreale (145) finished in third place, while Danny Clune (220) took fourth.

After losing to Brewster in the Section 1 Division 1 Dual Meet tournament finals, the Foxes were motivated to bounce back with a vengeance.

“It was a real eye opener that we’ve got to work a little bit harder,” Amuso said of the loss to Brewster. “The main goal is going to be the end of the season. Everything along the way that we do to help improve ourselves for that last week of the season is important.”

Fox Lane hopes to continue its success at the prestigious and ultra-competitive Eastern States tournament next weekend.

“I think we can be in the top 3,” Speno said. “We lost Steven Rodrigues, Peter Grippi and John Grecco (to graduation), but all our lighter guys, they’ve all stepped up. Our heavy guys like Danny Clune and Andriy Lypchuk, they’ve been doing a lot better than last year.”

North Rockland placed second with 169.5 points, despite only having one champion in Mike Caputo. Caputo pinned LaSalle’s Brandon Goldup with just 11 seconds left in their 145-pound title match.

“I actually lost to that kid two years ago at this tournament,” said Caputo, who was named the Greg Coleman most outstanding wrestler. “I was determined and I felt good on my feet coming out. I just knew he was mentally broken, so I knew I could get the fall. I locked up that cradle and got the fall. This is a huge confidence boost going into the stronger part of the season. I feel great and ready to go.”

Blaise Benderoth placed third at 106 pounds for the Red Raiders. Derek DiMarsico (99 pounds), Troy Feniger (113), Matt Caputo (126), Jake DiMarsico (132), Ekpenede Imasuen (195) and Conner Reigottie (285) each finished fourth.

“We wrestled well, but we could have done better,” Mike Caputo said of the team finishing second.

New Rochelle took third and had three champions in Nick Barbaria (99 pounds), A.J. Barbaria (120) and Tyler Lilly (220). Jonathan Stokes (182 pounds) and Jordan Butler (195) both placed third.

“Having three champs was good. We would have liked to get a fourth,” New Rochelle coach Jim Guccione said. “We certainly would have liked to finish higher and have a few more kids place deeper. Third place is pretty good behind Fox Lane and North Rockland. On Monday we’ll get back to work and put it into perspective regarding what we’re going to do at the sectional tournament which is more important.”

Aaron Butler, a defending Section 1 champion, was the top seed at 170 pounds but fell to Arlington’s Brenden Nunziata in the semifinals. Butler re-aggravated a shoulder injury and finished fourth after losing by injury default in the consolation match.

“We’re hoping he’s going to be able to make it through the season,” Guccione said. “It’s a day by day thing right now.”

Tappan Zee placed fourth with 108 points. They had two second-place finishers in Garcia (138 pounds) and John Hartnett (195). Desmond Djekovic (152 pounds) and Mike Manni (285) both placed third.

Edgemont’s Trey Aslanian pinned Pearl River’s John Muldoon at 4:53 in the 113-pound title match. The Panthers placed ninth.

Hendrick Hudson’s Sean Barry pinned Lypchuk at 2:26 in the 285-pound championship match.

“I really wanted this tournament this year,” Barry said. “I just came out really aggressive. I knew my move and just went after him.”

Barry is ranked No. 1 in Section 1 at 285 pounds.

“I like it and I hate it,” Barry said of being ranked No. 1. “I like it because I can say I’m number 1, but at the same time I know everybody’s gunning for me.”

The Sailors finished 10th as a team. Siegel (160 pounds) and Kevin McDermott (132) each placed third.

Arlington had three second-place finishers in Nunziata (170), Nick Tolli (106) and Justin Conahan (220). The Admirals placed 11th as a team. Angel Santos took third at 138 pounds.

Team standings
1. Fox Lane, 189.5 points; 2. North Rockland, 169.5; 3. New Rochelle, 159; 4. Tappan Zee, 108; 5. Commack, 101.5; 6. LaSalle, 100; 7. Pine Bush, 87; 8. Fordham Prep, 85.5; 9. Edgemont, 83; 10. Hendrick Hudson, 81.5; 11. Arlington, 80.5; 12. Walt Whitman, 73.5; 13. Putnam Vocational, 66; 14. Horace Mann, 55; 15. Greenwich, 54; 16. Brookfield, 46; 17. Iona Prep and Pearl River, 42; 19. Nyack, 28; 20. Port Chester, 20; 21. Westlake, 18

Championship matches
99 – Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle) dec. Joe Calderone (Walt Whitman), 3-1 OT
106 – Mike D’Angelo (Commack) dec. Nick Tolli (Arlington), 6-0
113 – Trey Aslanian (Edgemont) pin John Muldoon (Pearl River), 4:53
120 – A.J. Barbaria (New Rochelle) dec. Adit Thakur (Nyack), 9-6
126 – Sam Speno (Fox Lane) major dec. C.J. LaBate (Commack), 12-0
132 – Danny Ventura (Fox Lane) pin Jordan Robles (Pine Bush), 1:34
138 – Tommy Grippi (Fox Lane) tech fall Charlie Garcia (Tappan Zee), 16-1
145 – Mike Caputo (North Rockland) pin Brandon Goldup (LaSalle), 5:49
152 – Jack McKeever (Brookfield) dec. Chris Weston (Pine Bush), 1-0
160 – Connor Sutton (LaSalle) dec. Matt Pasqualini (Fox Lane), 9-3
170 – Ryan Whittle (Greenwich) dec. Brenden Nunziata (Arlington), 12-8
182 – Pat Argast (Fordham Prep) major dec. Hassan Graham (Putnam Vocational), 16-4
195 – Tim Leyden (Fordham Prep) dec. John Hartnett (Tappan Zee), 6-4 OT
220 – Tyler Lilly (New Rochelle) dec. Justin Conahan (Arlington), 5-1
285 – Sean Barry (Hen Hud) pin Andriy Lypchuk (Fox Lane), 2:26

Third-place matches
99 – Kevin Rodriguez (Port Chester) pin Derek DiMarsico (North Rockland), 3:30
106 – Blaise Benderoth (North Rockland) injury default John Stramiello (Pine Bush)
113 – Helmet Naeemi (Walt Whitman) dec. Troy Feniger (North Rockland), 6-5
120 – Ben Ettlinger (Fox Lane) dec. John Gilston (Horace Mann), 9-2
126 – Sam Melikian (Fordham Prep) dec. Matt Caputo (North Rockland), 10-5
132 – Kevin McDermott (Hen Hud) dec. Jake DiMarsico (North Rockland), 4-0
138 – Angel Santos (Arlington) dec. Steve Moreno (Pearl River), 4-3
145 – Giancarlo Morreale (Fox Lane) dec. Josh Perlmutter (Hen Hud), 4-2
152 – Desmond Djekovic (Tappan Zee) dec. Edgar Solis (Westlake), 5-3
160 – Phil Siegel (Hen Hud) dec. Erik Derecktor (Horace Mann), 10-4
170 – Brian Anderson (Iona Prep) injury default Aaron Butler (New Rochelle)
182 – Jonathan Stokes (New Rochelle) pin Joel Wamser (Brookfield), 1:40
195 – Jordan Butler (New Rochelle) injury default Ekpenede Imasuen (North Rockland)
220 – Jon Babson (LaSalle) dec. Danny Clune (Fox Lane), 2-1
285 – Mike Manni (Tappan Zee) dec. Conner Reigottie (North Rockland), 6-1

Semifinals
99 – Nick Barbara (NR) tech fall Kevin Rodriguez (PC), 15-0; Joe Calderone (WW) pin Derek DiMarsico (NRK); 1:08
106 – Nick Tolli (Arl) dec. John Stramiello (PB), 10-3; Mike D’Angelo (Com) pin Blaise Benderoth (NRK), 3:00
113 – Trey Aslanian (Edg) tech fall Helmet Naeemi (WW), 16-1; John Muldoon (PR) dec. Troy Feniger (NRK), 9-7
120 – A.J. Barbaria (NR) major dec. John Gilston (HM), 14-4; Adit Thakur (Ny) pin Ben Ettlinger (FL), 3:33
126 – Sam Speno (FL) dec. Sam Melikian (FP), 10-3; C.J. LaBate (Com) dec. Matt Caputo (NRK), 2-1
132 – Danny Ventura (FL) pin Kevin McDermott (HH), 1:33; Jordan Robles (PB) dec. Jake DiMarsico (NRK), 8-5
138 – Tommy Grippi (FL) pin Steven Moreno (PR), :21; Charlie Garcia (TZ) dec. Angel Santos (Arl), 9-3
145 – Brendan Goldup (LS) pin Giancarlo Morreale (FL), 2:48; Mike Caputo (NRK) pin Josh Perlmutter (HH), 2:45
152 – Jack McKeever (Bk) dec. Desmond Djekovic (TZ), 6-2; Chris Weston (PB) dec. Edgar Solis (W), 2-1
160 – Connor Sutton (LS) pin Erik Derecktor (HM), 1:22; Matt Pasqualini (FL) dec. Phil Siegel (HH), 8-5
170 – Brenden Nunziata (Arl) dec. Aaron Butler (NR), 7-6 OT; Ryan Whittle (Gr) dec. Brian Anderson (IP), 6-2
182 – Pat Argast (FP) dec. Joel Wamser (Bk), 9-7; Hassan Graham (PV) dec. Jonathan Stokes (NR), 6-1
195 – John Hartnett (TZ) tech fall Jordan Butler (NR), 16-1; Tim Leyden (FP) injury default Ekpenede Imasuen (NRK)
220 – Justin Conahan (Arl) dec. Jon Babson (LS), 3-1; Tyler Lilly (NR) dec. Danny Clune (FL), 6-4
285 – Sean Barry (HH) major dec. Connor Reigottie (NRK), 8-0; Andriy Lypchuk (FL) pin Mike Manni (TZ), 3:55

Follow Rob DiAntonio on Twitter @MSGV_RJD

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