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Mostly Cloudy Jets get 12 to county tournament
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East Meadow's Billy Schwartz, top, stunned the field to capture the 135-pound title at last Friday's county qualifying tournament at Baldwin.
Kathy Leistner/Herald
East Meadow will be well-represented at Hofstra at this weekend's Nassau County Division I wrestling championships.
A dozen Jets qualified for the tournament by finishing among the top four in their respective weight classes at the Baldwin qualifier last Friday, including five who took home individual championships. As a team, East Meadow placed second in the field of eight with 303 points, trailing only Uniondale (445.5).
Senior Nick Falco earned his second career qualifying title by winning all four of his matches at 119 pounds and improved his mark to 33-2. Falco netted pins in each of his first two bouts, needing a total of just 2:02, then shutout Herricks' Ryan Singh, 7-0, to reach the finals. He improved his record to 3-0 against Uniondale's Marvim Amazam this season, recording his second consecutive shutout of the day, 5-0, to take the title.
While Falco entered and ended the tournament as the top wrestler in his weight class, his eye is on a bigger prize, one that has escaped him in heartbreaking fashion the last two seasons. The senior finished one victory shy of earning All-County honors as a sophomore and junior.
"Disappointment drives this kid," East Meadow coach Chris Critchley said. "He's the most dedicated kid I've ever known. He's determined and wants to set the record straight."
Senior Rocco Calderaro (171 pounds) and junior Andrew Danziger (215) also earned their second career county qualifying championships, while sophomore Vinny Pannullo finished first at 103 pounds. But no wrestler may have turned in a bigger performance than senior Billy Schwartz, who captured the 135-pound title by upsetting Uniondale's Tony Montperious, 3-2.
Four Jets finished second at Uniondale, led by 103-pound junior Sal Vallone, sophomore Nolan Travis (140 pounds) and senior Rob Bianco (145). Junior Chris Dolan, cut under his eye in a dual-meet match just a few days before the qualifying tournament, was forced to wear a mask over the injury that required 10 stitches, yet still managed to take second at 125 pounds. Freshman Matt Power (112) and junior Steven Rispoli (130) each earned third place honors, while sophomore Evan Pantofel finished fourth at 152 pounds.
"[Qualifying] tells the kids that they're good and gives them an opportunity to grow as a man because they have to work harder to get better," Critchley said. "There are no shortcuts to success in this sport."
Seven advance for Rams
Clarke hosted one of Nassau’s six qualifying tournaments last Friday and had seven wrestlers fight their way to Hofstra. The Rams placed fifth out of seven teams with 147 points and had four battle their way to third-place honors: junior Mike Leonard (125 pounds), and seniors Ryan Lopez (130), Gus Cabrera (152) and Chris Gaynor (189). Tom Randazzo (160), Endy Nunez (189) and Clint Morano (215) all finished fourth.
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