By STEVE SINISKI
The Bruins finished first among the eight-team field and qualified 14 wrestlers-including seven champions-for the Nassau County Championship Tournament, a two-day event that kicks off Friday at Hofstra.
"This is it," coach Mike Robinson said, noting the buildup to this season. "Everyone came together. We have seven solid seniors and some guys behind them stepped up."
No individual may have had a bigger tournament than senior Vinny Pecora, even if he was on the mat for barely a minute the entire day. The 103-pounder, the top seed in his weight class, easily justified the No. 1 ranking. He racked up the most pins in the least amount of time, needing just 1:03 for three victories, and easily handled the No. 3 seed, Manhasset's Ryan Kelly in the finals. That match took a mere 12 seconds. "When he's out on the mat he's focused," Robinson said, noting Pecora's only loss of the year to date was at 112 pounds.
Gerard Quinn (130 pounds), Timmy Wright (135), Willie Quinn (140), Vinny Famularo (145), Kerron Williams (152) and Nick Azcona (285) all finished as qualifying champions last Sunday. None, however, may have put bigger exclamation mark on their season than Wright. "He's come out of nowhere and made a name for himself," Robinson said.
Andrew Gregory was one of four second-place finishers for Baldwin, three of whom matched up against a teammate in the finals. He dropped a 4-1 decision to Azcona. Mike Levy (125), Nick Krokowski (140) and Chris Goon (145) were also runners-up. Matt Ouelette took third place at 119 pounds, while eighth-grader Dylan Cohen (96) and Kevin Yeh (103) advanced to Hofstra with fourth-place finishes.
"It was nice to have the kids wrestle well and win the tournament," Robinson said. "It just helps us [in preparation] for the County's."
Pecora, Gerard Quinn, Wright, Willie Quinn, Famularo, Williams all entered as the top seeds in their respective weight classes and ended the qualifier the same way-with unblemished records on the day. For Williams, a Nassau County champion last season at 140 pounds, it represents a chance to make it two in a row despite a jump of two weight classes as a senior. Now wrestling at 152 pounds, Williams has just one loss on the season.
Both Pecora (third) and Willie Quinn (fourth) are aiming to improve on their finishes at last season's All-County Tournament. Quinn is out for his third consecutive All-County campaign, while Famularo is looking to return to the top six in his weight class after near-misses the last two seasons. He did earn All-County honors as a freshman.
"Experience is essential in understanding that you have to win every match even if it's close," Robinson said. "They have that experience and don't panic, ever."
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