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| Freshman Chris Kim takes 4th in Section |
It was a difficult road, but the Panthers put together a tremendous team effort as they amassed 217.5 points enroute to their 2nd Top 2 Sectional finish ever at Irvington High School on Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12.
While Nanuet was too difficult to catch, the Panthers did break their own all-time scoring record for the tournament, which was previously at 213.5, and placed 13 out of their 15 wrestlers in the Top 6 of their respective weight classes ? more than any other team in the tournament.
There were no seniors and only 3 juniors in the squad of 15 wrestlers competing at Sectionals, so the future for Edgemont?s young team is certainly bright. Combined with the overall depth in the practice room and the solid group of incoming freshmen next season, the Panthers hope to continue to be a force in Section 1 and New York State wrestling for year?s to come.
Weight-by-Weight Results
96 ? The Panthers entered two wrestlers at this weight ? sophomore Sky Korek and freshman Tyler Aslanian. Korek opened up his tournament in the quarters with a quick 1:06 pin over #5 seed Jonah Gerstel of Ardsley. In the semifinals, 4th seeded Korek took on #1 seed Steven Paternostro of Pleasantville. The two battle to a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation. In overtime, Korek used his conditioning and a well-placed single-leg attack to create a scoring opportunity. The ensuing scramble resulted in a near pin and netted Korek 5 points to win 8-3 in overtime and advance to the Section finals. In his finals match, Korek wrestled Joe Dillon of Nanuet. Again a very tightly contested match was decided on a late third period takedown by Dillon. Korek finished 2nd in the Section with a tremendous tournament and season.
Aslanian opened up his quarters match with Andrew Barsuch of Croton. Aslanian asserted his dominance in the form of a second period 16-1 tech fall. Aslanian matched up with Dillon of Nanuet in the semi?s, who won by fall. Aslanian rallied back strong in the consolation semi-finals versus Brandon Capo of Pawling. Aslanian controlled the match from the start and really opened things up in the 3rd period with 3 takedowns and a set of back points to earn a commanding 14-5 major decision. Aslanian took on Paternostro in the 3rd place match and was more than the Pleasantville wrestler could handle. After finishing the first period down 5-2, Paternostro took bottom to begin the second period. Aslanian was relentless on top and after a set of backpoints, eventually earned the fall with 4 seconds remaining in the period.
103 ? sophomore Trey Aslanian, defending section champion, walked through the tournament enroute to his second career section title. Aslanian made it look easy the entire way. With a bye to the semi-finals, his tournament started against Pat O?Grady of Putnam Valley. Aslanian ended it in 44 seconds. In the finals, Aslanian wrestled Rich Dosin of Hastings, again making it quick with a 25 second pin.
112 ? The Panthers had 2 entries at this weight as well, junior Max Abramsky and freshman Riki Mistry. The 5th seeded Abramsky took on number 4 seed Josh Dooz of Dobbs Ferry in the quarters. With a quick takedown, Abramsky locked up the pin at 1:23. Abramsky?s semi-final match against # 1 seed, defending Section Champ, Anthony Calvano, proved a little tougher. Abramsky fought tough, battling through many situations, but Calvano edged him out in a couple of positions and it cost Abramsky a pin late in the 2nd period. Abramsky lost a heart breaker against Putnam Valley?s Chris Bruno in the consolation semi-finals with Bruno?s last minute tilt. Abramsky came back strong in the 5th place bout, a rematch against Dooz, to fight for an 8-5 decision and Abramsky?s 3rd consecutive Top 5 Sectional finish.
Mistry started his tournament in the Round of 16 versus Dooz and lost by fall. He later faced a more experienced Mark Taino of Pleasantville in wrestleback and was also defeated. Despite his draw, Mistry was aggressive and never backed down in either match. He progressed tremendously over his freshman campaign and has a bright future in the program.
119 ? This was another double entry weight for the Panthers, with two freshman, Noah Whittle and Will Graybeal, taking the mat. Whittle opened his tournament in the Round of 16 against Andrew Wassleman of Irvington. Whittle went big early with a cement mixer, but Wassleman caught him on his back and secured the fall. In the wrestlebacks, Whittle took on an experienced Elder Calim of Woodlands. In a tightly contested match with many changes in control, Whittle lost his lead in the 3rd period on a reversal which proved to be the difference in the bout. Whittle is another freshman in the starting line-up who has some great wrestling in store for him. As he progresses and his experience catches up with his explosiveness and athletic ability, we predict section titles and all-state honors in his future.
Graybeal started off against Greg Macchi of Hastings. After a scoreless first period, Graybeal took bottom where his quick movement earned him a reversal and a fall at 3:35. In the quarters Graybeal took on defending Section Champion and # 1 seed Jimmy Kyreakedes of Dobbs Ferry in the quarterfinals. Kyreakedes got the pin and knocked Graybeal into wrestleoffs where he faced Jeremy Kogan of Ardsley and earned a hard-fought 5-2 decision. Graybeal took on Calim of Woodlands next where his tenacity and composure paid off as he registered a methodical 6-0 victory. In the consolation semifinals, Graybeal met # 2 seed Dean Rogener of Westlake. Rogener came away with the victory, lining up Graybeal against Nick Jolly of Lourdes in the 5th place bout. Again, Graybeal superior positioning and tenacity paid off as he pinned Jolly with 13 seconds left in the bout to finish 5th in the section in his rookie campaign.
125 ? No entry.
130 ? After spending almost the entire season injured, freshman Colin Hopkins, fresh off of knee surgery, returned to the mats for Sectionals. Having placed 6th in the Section as an eigth-grader, Hopkins came into the tournament as a fifth seed. He started off the Round of 16 with Kyle Lindsay of Dobbs Ferry. Hopkins wasted no time getting in on a slick low leg single almost off the whistle. He finished Lindsay at 0:44 and moved on to the quarters where he faced # 4 seed J.P. O?Malley of Croton. Hopkins again showed why he will be a force in Section 1 for years to come as he controlled the junior from start to finish and earned an 11-0 major decision. In the semi?s, Hopkins wrestled defending three-time Section Champion and Harvard recruit Ryan Osleeb of North Salem. Osleeb defeated Hopkins, who dropped into the consolation semi-finals versus Ricky Grassi of Westlake. Hopkins dominated on his feet with 7 takedowns enroute to a 16-7 victory. The 3rd place bout was a rematch against O?Malley who was still not able to stop Hopkins? offense. Hopkins won 7-2 earning 3rd place in the Section and going relatively untouched by any competition other than eventual State Champ Osleeb.
135 ? Junior Pete Berman and sophomore Jack McCormack were the Panther?s entries at this weight. Berman came into the tournament as the 8th seed facing Nanuet?s Jazz Saraguro in the Round of 16. Berman?s offense looked unstoppable as he powered through 5 takedowns on his way to a 14-3 major decision. This put him in the quarter finals against #1 seed Tory Ferranti of Westlake who won by major decision. In wrestlebacks, Berman first faced Jake Dinkler of Croton where Berman again managed multiple takedowns to control the match and win 12-8. Berman next beat A.J. Brugger of Pleasantville with another 5 takedown performance. In the consolation semi?s he drew Johnny Martin of Croton where Berman had trouble getting his offense going and eventually lost a close decision. In his fifth place bout, Berman had a rematch versus Saraguro of Nanuet who still could not stop Berman?s steam-train offense. Berman won 11-7 and secured his first sectional place finish of 5th from the #8 seed.
McCormack also turned some heads. Starting out of the 6th seed spot McCormack opened his Round of 16 with a 1:44 pin over Kris Villaflor of Lourdes. He continued his relentless offense in the quarterfinals where he beat senior and #3 seed Joe Reilly of Pawling with a 13-2 major decision. In the semi?s, McCormack turned it on with another upset and another major decision ? this time over #2 seed Johnny Martin of Croton. This landed McCormack in the Sectional Finals versus Ferranti of Westlake. Ferranti caught McCormack in a headlock to secure his victory. McCormack finished his sophomore season as second in the Section from the #6 seed with his best wrestling yet to come.
140 ? At 140, the Panthers sent sophomore Mike Rothstein. Rothstein made a name for himself all season grinding out hard-nosed victories over tough competition and sectionals was no different. Rothstein started off by controlling his entire quarter final match against Sam Theodoropoulos of Hastings before securing the fall at 5:34. Rothstein took on #1 seed Scott Porter of Pawling in the semi?s. Porter beat Rothstein soundly when they met earlier in the season, but Rothstein offense was relentless and he grinded out the first takedown of their match. In an ensuing scramble, however, Porter caught Rothstein in an unusual position and managed to leverage a fall. Rothstein quickly regrouped and came back with a commanding 3rd period pin over Angelo Zegarelli of Putnam Valley in the consolation semifinals. Rothstein finally faced an experience senior, Jason Birkelbach of Westlake, in the 3rd place bout. Birklebach came out on top and Rothstein finished his season 4th in the Section ? another athlete that we expect big things from in years to come.
145 ? No entry.
152 ? Sophomore Jason Worobow and freshman Chris Kim were Edgemont?s two entries here. Worobow who had been fighting through a shoulder injury that kept dislocating all season, started his tournament against Pete Salzarulo of Pleasantville in the quarter finals.? Worobow controlled the match from start to finish and won the 12-0 major decision. He faced Hector Santana of Pawling in the semi-finals, however a re-aggravation of his shoulder in his earlier match prevented him from opening up and he fell to Santana. Unfortunately, Worobow was unable to continue in the tournament due to another shoulder dislocation and injury defaulted to 6th place and his first sectional place finish. We can?t wait to see Worobow?s future success when he is healthy next year.
Kim started off the quarters slow with a loss to Westlake?s Constantine Coffinas where he was unable to get his offense going. Kim came back with a very impressive wrestleback win over Matt Seputro of Croton. Wasting no time Kim hit an explosive outside sweep single and dumped Seputro right to his back, ending it in 20 seconds. Kim continued to impress in his next bout with a 1:20 pin over Putnam Valley?s Josh Jacobs. Kim then advanced to the 3rd place bout with an injury default over Worobow. This set up a rematch with Coffinas, who, once again, prevailed. Kim capped an outstanding freshman season with a 4th place sectional finish. His athleticism will take him as far as he wants in the coming years.
160 ?? Sophomore Oliver Oks represented Edgemont at 160 pounds. Oks came in with a 6th seed and started off his tournament against Irvington?s Dillon Grabel. Despite the home crowd?s support for Grabel, Oks? tenacity paid off. He scored 7 takedowns enroute to a fall at 3:06. In the quarters, Oks faced #3-seeded senior Anthony Gentile of Putnam Valley. After a scoreless first period and a tight 2nd and 3rd where the athletes traded escapes, Oks stayed on the offensive. In the waning seconds of regulation Oks forced his offense and in the ensuing scramble came out on top with the takedown to earn the semi-final berth with a 3-1 upset decision. Oks was caught in the semi?s by eventual state-qualifier Shaquille Charles of Ardsley. In the consolation semifinals, Oks again had to deal with a hostile home crowd as he took on Kevin Degnan of Irvington. Oks won by fall in the 3rd period to advance to the 3rd place bout versus #1 seeded Tyler Windheim of Lourdes. Oks rolled up a six point lead before pinning Windheim to finish 3rd in the section as a sophomore.
171 ? No entry.
189 ? No entry.
215 ?? The Panther?s final entry was junior captain Danny Kornberg. Kornberg began his tournament in the quarters with a 2:55 pin over Putnam Valley?s Kevin May. In the semi-finals, Kornberg wrestled #1 seed Anthony Paratore who won by decision. Kornberg?s consolation semi-final opponent was Irvington?s Anthony DiNardo. Kornberg controlled the match and won by fall in the 3rd period. Advancing to the 3rd place bout, Korberg took on Jim Benson of Pawling. Kornberg utilized his conditioning in the third period to try to overcome a small deficit, but was unable to convert on any of his offense and lost the decision to finish 4th in the section. Kornberg should be everyone?s favorite to win it next year.
285 ? No entry.