By TONY BELLISSIMO
But nothing comes easy.
"We've had a great seven-year run with no down years," Kennedy coach Brian DeGaetano said. "I think this season, we're as close to rebuilding as we've come in a long time. We'll be a good team, but I'm not sure if anyone is going to emerge as a major standout. That's a challenge all the kids are looking forward to."
The Cougars, who visit Port Washington in the conference opener for both teams on Jan. 4, will count on a corps of juniors who patiently waited their turn behind seniors last season.
"We packed the schedule to give our juniors some quality experience," DeGaetano said. "They're getting their chance now to show what they can do, and I want them to be ready for the dual meet season."
Kennedy's lineup is to be led by a pair of returning All-County performers, junior Rob Zemsky (103 pounds) and senior Ilya Shcherba (189). Freshman Sammy Pecora (96) and junior Brent Weiss (215) precede and follow Zemsky and Shcherba, respectively, and in between are two sophomores, five juniors and one senior.
The projected starters are sophomore Jared Ginsberg (112), junior Ian Schwartz (119), junior Jeremy Rosen (125), junior Niko Pagiazitis (130), senior Mike Peskin (135), junior David Molina (140), junior Bobby Etri (145) and sophomore Danny Sciulla (171).
Unlike previous seasons, matches will no longer start with a 96-pound bout and end with a heavyweight bout. A college rule is in effect as the weight class that kicks off the match will be drawn at random. Therefore, a meet can begin at any of the 13 weight classes. Once an opening weight is drawn, the rest follow in weight order.
"The new rule takes away some strategy, but that's the way it's going to be," Mepham coach Mike Muscara said.
The Pirates are seeded at the top of Conference II-B, in front of Great Neck South, Herricks, South Side and Valley Stream Central, and their goal is to win it.
"We should be a stronger dual meet team this season as compared to last season," Muscara said. "And I think we'll be very competitive in tournaments."
Mepham has senior leadership with George Pacciano (130), Jason Muscara (135), Jon Gunter (145) and Chris Crescitelli (152) making up the majority of the starters at the middleweights. The lightweights include sophomore Patrick Moore (103), freshmen Adam Starr and Steve Gurien at 112, junior Joe Tuccillo (119) and sophomore Justin Breitingea. The upper weights include sophomores Mike Cymbala and Myles Davison at 160, junior James Marzigliano (171), junior Zach Brass (189) and junior Phil Sofia (189).
Of the three local teams, Calhoun has the most experience and could go the furthest come February. For starters, there's New York State runner-up Greg Lawrence and All-County performer Steven Glaser.
"I feel like we have great senior leadership with Greg and Steven both coming back," Colts coach Gregg Muscarella said. "They both have great shots to win county championships and do well at the states.
"We have some holes to fill because a few kids decided not to come out for the team, but we're moving forward, and I'm very pleased with the kids' attitudes and effort."
Lawrence was the state runner-up at 160 and will compete at 171 this season, while Glaser, fifth in Nassau at 130, is now at 140. The supporting cast has tremendous potential with seniors Rob Catalfomo (145), John Alberto (130) and Keith Bachman (152), juniors John Belesis (119), Dustin Riedman (189), Danny Yngstrom (215) and Danny Bowker (215), as well as sophomore Tom Pagano (125).
Said Muscarella, "We're seeded fifth in our conference, which gives us a challenging dual meet schedule."
