Okay wrestling fans, the field hockey season is over and now I can turn my full attention to wrestling. My friend Fox Lane parent keeps calling me out. Here are my pre-season thoughts:

Top teams:

Large schools:

Fox Lane — The defending Section 1 Division I team champs will miss Harrison “The Cookie Monster” Cook (now wrestling at Blair Academy), but the Foxes have three returning sectional champs in Joey Grippi (sixth in the state), Luke Speno and Steven Rodrigues. Add in sectional placefinisher Peter Grippi and the Foxes are still a team to reckon with.

John Jay — A huge graduating class received their diplomas, but coach Bill Swertfager and assistant Pat Spirelli has a deep group back, led by Andrew Schede, Henry Stauber, Mark Swertfager and Billy Waterson.

Suffern — The Mounties boast two of the finest lightweights in Section 1 in Nick Oliveto (‘08 sectional finalist) and Justin Artrip (5th in the section in ‘08). Suffern also has David Bailen, Dan Ventarola and senior Julian Negri returning. Negri was a Rockland County finalist and sixth in the section last season. Suffern has Clarkstown South transfer Asher Kramer on the team this season.

More to come on this later.

Don’t laugh, but I’ve had this date circled on my calendar from the first day of school—the first official day of wrestling practice! It does not get any better than this.

I know my friend FL Parent has been asking me for pre-season predictions, but I can’t say anything yet until I rehash the 2007-08 season and, finish up with the field hockey season.

It will be a great season even with the departure of some of Section 1’s finest wrestlers—Harrison’s Mark Arcara, now wrestling at Cortland and Mahopac’s Dominick Oddo and Pearl River’s John Coffey. However, a large, talented group of state placefinsihers returns, highlighted by Andrew Lenzi of Fordham Prep.

Just a couple of things off the top of my clean-shaven head. Former Nanuet coach Brenden Rogers is now the Clarkstown South head coach. The new Nanuet coach, and the Golden Knights are very lucky to have him, is former Clarkstown North wrestler and coach Carmine Serra. Serra also coached at Peekskill, Washingtonville and, if I remember correctly, did modified while teaching at Monroe-Woodbury. Serra will be joined by returning assistants, Rob Carbone and Roger Banta, both former fine Nanuet wrestlers. Asher Kramer, a sectional placefinisher last season, has transferred to Suffern where he will now have to face Nick Oliveto and Justin Artrip every day in practice.