Fox Lane Parent, I apologize for the delay, but I had to complete wrestling previews and field hockey all-star stories. Here are some of the opening-week matches:

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Fox Lane at Nyack — I will be at this match and I am looking forward to seeing Fox Lane’s sectional champs, Joey Grippi, Steven Rodrigues and [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

To view the Journal News (Westchester/Putnam) and Rockland Journal News wrestling all-star stories, please consult the following links:

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=SPORTS&theme=ASWINTER08&template=theme (Westchester/Putnam wrestler of the year – Andrew Lenzi – and all stars)

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=SPORTS&theme=ACWINTER08&template=theme (Rockland wrestler of the year – Zeke Stambovsky – and all stars)

Before I forget, Fordham Prep’s Andrew Lenzi, a Cortlandt Manor resident, is wrestling Anthony Volpe of New York in a 135-pound consolation semifinal later today in the Sophomore Nationals.

The Senior Nationals began today and here are the first-round results:

130 — Derek Reber (Penn.) dec. Dominick Oddo (Mahopac), 7-2

130 — Lawrence White (NC) dec. Mike Ahearn [...]

I apologize for not putting results up yesterday, but they were moving slow. As of the 7:43 update, Andrew Lenzi of Fordham Prep is the only are wrestler remaining. Lenzi, who is wrestling in the sophomore Nationals, won his first three matches, but Colin Shober of Pennsylvania decisioned Lenzi, 7-2 in the semis. Lenzi will [...]

Former three-time sectional champ and two-time state placefinisher Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (East Ramapo) won his 157-pound first-round match, overcoming fourth-seeded Brandon Becker of Indiana, 4-3.

Bonilla-Bowman, the CAA champ, had a first-round bye. Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, Bonilla-Bowman chose neutral. He scored a quick takedown, cut Becker, the took him down again for a 4-2 [...]

John Jay coach Bill Swertfager sent me this information concerning open mats during the offseason:

Mondays

Tuesdays

If you’re a fan of March Madness (a.k.a. the NCAA Men’s basketball championships) you have an opportunity to win $10,000 if you fill out the NCAA brackets perfectly.

Go to this link on our LoHud.com website to try your college basketball expertise:

To the wrestlers, coaches and parents, thank you for a great 2007-08 wrestling season. The only drawback though, is that it is now officially over. I will be moping around the house until November when the 2008-09 season kicks off.

Wrestlers, coaches and parents, if it was not for your cooperation this season I would not [...]

Driving home from Rochester Monday after the state championships I was feeling low because I realized that the 2007-08 high school wrestling season was over. However, when I thought about it I realized that the season still had one more night – the All-Section dinner Thursday.

I always look forward to the all-section dinner because it [...]

Fordham Prep sophomore Andrew Lenzi wins the 130-pound Division I state championship.

Folks, the wireless here at Blue Cross Arena has been out and has been restored, but I don’t know how long it will be up.

Here are the consolation results:

96 – Brian Realbuto (Somers), 4th

112 – Ryan Osleeb (North Salem), 5th

125 – Joey Grippi (Fox Lane), 6th

125 – Genta Murayama (Edgemont), 4th

145 – John Coffey (Pearl [...]

We are continuing to have wireless problems here at the Blue Cross Arena and we (reporters) are not receiving an assistance so folks, please be patient today.

11:11 Ryan Leblanc (3-Morrisville-Eaton) tech. fall Will Carter (Westlake), 17-2.

10:54: John Greisheimer 9 (Wantagh) pin. John Coffey (Pearl River), 3:08. Greisheimer took Coffey down quickly and then tilted him [...]

The wrestles are on the mat preparing for what they are hoping will result in state championships.

The semifinalists once again are:

112 – Justis Flamio (Mahopac) vs. Steven Keith (11-Shoreham Wading-River). Keith is the 2007 Division I 96-pound state champion. Keith beat Flamio in last year’s semifinals.

112 – Ryan Osleeb (North Salem) vs. Joe Smaldone (5-Geneva). [...]

The two rounds of consolation wrestlebacks are finished. The following wrestlers will return for the consolation quarterfinals tomorrow and if they win their quarterfinal match, they will place top six and be All-State:

96 – Brian Realbuto (Somers)
103 – Steven Rodrigues (Fox Lane)
119 – Mark Arcara (Harrison)
125 – Genta Murayama (Edgemont)
130 – Dominick Oddo (Mahopac)
135 – [...]

Here are the Section 1 semifinalists:

Division I
112—Justis Flamio (Mahopac)
125—Joey Grippi (Fox Lane)
130—Andrew Lenzi (Fordham Prep-CHSAA)
145—John Coffey (Pearl River)

Division II
112—Ryan Osleeb (North Salem)
160—Will Carter (Westlake)

I’ve been down on the floor watching matches and interviewing wrestlers so it has been crazy. Here is an update:

189: Josh Peters (4-Vestal) pin. John Swertfager (John Jay), :30.

189: Dan Fruscella (3-Holland Patent) tech. fall Jeff Miller (Westlake), 16-0.

171: John Makastchian (8-Plainedge) dec. Zeke Stambovsky (Nyack), 12-9

171: Matt King (6-Wilson) dec. Sean Paul (Dobbs Ferry), [...]

The quarterfinals have just started. They will wrestle the quarters and then go into wrestlebacks.

Fox Lane’s Joey Grippi beat two-time defending state champ Paul Liguori (‘06, ‘07), 8-3 in a 125-pound first-round match. Go to Section 1 First-round results for more info.

2:58: Dave Christopher (6-Maryvale) dec. Jake Genovesi (John Jay), 8-7. Genovesi led 4-2 after two as a result of two takedowns. He opened the third with two back points, but Christophe escaped and later ankle-picked Genovesi to his back for a 5-poit move abd 8-6 lead.

2:57: Art Garvey (6-East Aurora) dec. Max Nau (Nanuet), 3-2. [...]