Munson tops for V.S. North wrestling

Valley Stream North wrestler Michael Munson kept his grudge on ice for nearly a month – all the better, it seems, for a dish that is best served cold.
Incurring the second of just three losses on the season, Munson – who wrestled unranked until the first week of February – dropped a 4-2 dual-meet decision Jan. 14 to Lynbrook’s Dylan Vanegas, then ranked fourth in Nassau County at 132 pounds.
Having finally cracked the rankings with a No. 6 seed at the Nassau Division I Wrestling Championships Feb. 12-13 at Nassau Community College, Munson further upgraded his status by attending to unfinished business, downing Vanegas 7-5 in overtime to seize fourth place at 132 in the county tournament. Accompanied to the championships by three other qualifying Spartans, Munson was VSN’s lone All-County finisher.
“Pretty impressive,” said VSN coach Chris Bottjer of Munson, who finished 15-4 on the season. “Michael has worked very hard. Early in the season he was winning, but was kind of robotic. As the year progressed, he started to wrestle with some emotion, more grit. I think that made a difference to the point where it gave him confidence to get to the next level.”
Spartans senior Vincent Romano – who went 14-6 on the season wrestling in three weight classes from 132 to 145 pounds – made it to the county consolation brackets at 138 pounds, joined by junior teammate Thomas Santo (7-6) at 126. Romano entered the Nassau tournament riding an 8-1 regular-season win streak, which included three straight pins to take first place at 145 at the Harold Earl Duals Jan. 15. Santo went 4-0 with a pair of pins at Harold Earl to finish first at 126.

“Vincent’s just fun to watch,” said Bottjer, whose team in dual meets finished sixth in Nassau Conference 3B. “He’s amazing with the cement mixer, and he has the most beautiful outside shot I’ve ever seen. Thomas Santo’s a kid who’s one win away from being great. As time goes on, he’s finding more confidence and grit.”
In his signature boom-or-bust style, dynamic 118-pound sophomore Nicola Petrucelli made VSN’s earliest exit at county, leaving before the third round. Showing what seems like extreme intolerance to half measures on the mat, Petrucelli – who finished 13-6 after starting the season 0-4 in dual meets – remarkably either won or lost each of his regular-season matches by pin, including five wins by fall at Harold Earl to take first place at 118. “Nicola was an unknown who totally came into his own,” said Bottjer. “Early on he’d make mistakes, but the last month or so he’s managed matches more efficiently. He worked hard and learned a lot of different throws.”
As for Munson’s late flourish to a fine senior season, Bottjer had fairly – if cautiously – predicted it during an interview several days beforehand. “I have great confidence Michael will get to the second day at county,” he said, adding, “It’s a tough weight class, though. We’ll see. He’ll have to beat wrestlers who’ve beaten him before.”