By Tom Jordan
"We're having a little trouble filling weight classes right now. It's cost us, but that's the way it goes sometimes," he said.
In all, there about 30 students on the roster. Most teams have closer to 40, sometimes more.
The Cyclones forfeited three weight classes in a 46-30 loss to Lynbrook on Dec. 7, when they were without anyone in the 103-, 171- or 189-pound brackets. It cost them 18 points.
"It's tough to win when you forfeit 18 points," Davie said.
The forfeits were the difference in the loss, and terrific efforts by Dan Liburd, Eric Roehrig and Ryan Murphy were wasted. Each pinned his opponent. Liburd finished his man in 119-pound competition in 39 seconds. Roehrig took care of business in 37 seconds. Murphy, the 215-pound winner, won in 58 seconds.
Murphy, a junior, had his wrestling season delayed because he's also a football player. South Side's football team made it all the way to the Long Island championship game. Roehrig, who wrestles at 140 or 145 pounds, is a junior. Liburd is a senior.
The Cyclones got their first win of the season on Dec. 12, with a 38-36 decision over Jericho. Deni Rodriguez clinched the win when he pinned his opponent in the 160-pound weight class 58 seconds into the match. Liburd and Roehrig each won their matches. Phil Garry took an 8-6 decision in the 112-pound weight class. Garry, Ryan Janzen and Matt Morgan are freshman that Davie expects to do well. He's so impressed with them that he may fill the voids on varsity with other freshman.
"We have a good team," Davie said. "We have a good nucleus of kids."
The Cyclones will wrestle at the Herricks Trifesta on Thurs., Dec. 20, starting at 5 p.m. Carle Place and Valley Stream North are also expected to attend.
