By Steve Siniski
Led by individual titles from Vinny Famularo (135-pound weight class), Will Quinn (140) and Kwaku Boah (275), the Bruins finished fourth among eight teams at the Massapequa Qualifying Tournament last Saturday. Quinn and Keron Williams helped Baldwin dominate at 140 pounds, each advancing to the finals.
"This is what they've been working for," coach Mike Robinson said of the season-ending tournament. "I'm proud of the way the kids have performed."
Fresh off a Conference I-B team title, Baldwin's riding a wave of momentum it hopes will continue to crest beyond this weekend's upcoming tournament. Nine of the 11 qualifiers are expected to return next season, including co-captains Quinn and Williams.
"It's essential that the younger guys put in the time and qualify," he said. "The captains lead by example. That's what is expected of them."
Senior Billy Rebman, the third co-captain, earned a place in the championship tournament with a third-place finish at 135 pounds.
"He's been All-Conference every year," Robinson said of Rebman, who is 22-5 this season, and followed suit with the other team captains in providing an excellent role model on the mats. "It's his senior year, so he's going to lay everything on the line."
Boah, a two-time Qualifying Champion, has battled back from an injury suffered during the football season to win his final-round bout in just 24 seconds, which is all it took for Boah to pin his final opponent. "He didn't have the early tournaments [to build a base]," Robinson said. "But he's strong and has a real good shot at placing."
Along with Williams, Vinny Pecora (103-pound weight class), Nick Krokowski (125) and Kyle Cohen (145) all earned second-place honors.
Cohen, a sophomore, has seen his performance take a big leap forward in his third varsity season. Jimmy White, meanwhile, turned a great week of practice into a strong showing at Massapequa. He captured third place at 130 pounds with a 5-1 decision in his final bout.
"He was ready," Robinson said of White. "He wasn't stopping or laying down for anyone."
Nick Azcona (215) also took home third place, and Matt Fox (171) was Baldwin's lone fourth-place finisher.
"That's the way to build a program," Robinson said of stringing together big performances. "You win, take the momentum and win [again]. I think the kids needed this momentum as a team. We're having a great season and fortunately we have a lot [of wrestlers] returning next year."
But before next year, there's 11 Bruins vying for All-County honors and County Championships.
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