Wrestlers, coaches and parents, if it was not for your cooperation this season I would not have been able to do my job, and for that, I am quite grateful. There were probably many days during the season where the last thing you needed was to take a call from me (following a long day at school and practice) or see me approaching you with my gleeming dome, asking to interview you at a tournament or match. But, wrestlers, you all were always accomdating.

Congratulations to all of the wrestlers for making it through another grueling season. It doesn’t matter what skill level you’re at, you all deserve credit for competing in this GREAT, but underappreciated sport.

To the seniors, you will all be missed, especially Mahopac 4-time sectional champ Dominick Oddo and Harrison 3-time champ Mark Arcara. I remember Oddo as a 2004 Empire State Games bronze medalist in 2004. That is when I first interviewed him and the following February, that little freshman 96-pounder won the title, joining his father as a sectional champion.

I remember Mark Arcara as a 6-year old, coming around the matches and tournament with his father, Frank, or ‘Cuz’ as everyone knows him. Harrison coach Vinny Nicita told me that Mark would be his next great wrestler, and he was right.

I would later meet up with Mark and his classmate/teammate/best friend, Al Volpe, as 6th-graders. I was doing a long-term Social Studies position from the first day of school in 2001. In walks Mark and Al for first period. During class, I would often ask Mark how he did in a kids tournament or how he was feeling. The students thought I was nuts. It just seemed like yesterday. Now, Arcara and Volpe are seniors and will graduate in June. Guys, thank you for always being respectful in class those four months and any other time I substituted for one of your 7th- or 8th-grade teachers. And, thank you for always being cool with me when it came to an interview.

I remember New Rochelle coach Jim Guccione telling me five years ago to keep an eye on a pair of promising eighth-graders he had in Tom Antonioli and Danny Zimon. Guccione was excited to have this two New Rochelle kids-club graduates stepping up to varsity. Guccione had every right to be excited.

All Antonioli did was become the first New Rochelle wrestler to place in sectionals five times and this year, win the 145-pound sectional title. Antonioli will graduate as the program’s winningest wrestler. Zimon was a sectional finalist in 2005 and placed two other times and amassed more than 100 wins. Together, the seniors were a dynamic tandem. Congratulations to both and all the best in college.

Before I conclude this post, let me cite the great season Lakeland/Panas’ Joe Hauser had. The junior bumped up two weight classes, from 125 to 135, in late January, won the Super 16, Divisional and was a sectional finalist. He accomplished all of this despite losing his father last fall in a car accident. It is difficult enough to deal with the passing of your father, let alone compete in a mentally and physically-demanding sport like wrestling, keep it together and have a successful season. Joe Hauser, the Section 1 wrestling community should be proud to have you. We will see you next year – in a sectional final and then in Albany for the state championships.

And I hope to see all of you next November. Thank you, and thank you to all of the positive contributors to this blog.

I always look forward to the all-section dinner because it allows me to converse with the wrestlers, coaches and parents one final time as Section 1 honors the wrestlers.

It was a change of venue tonight. After Colonial Terrace annually hosting the dinner, the Holiday Inn in Fishkill had the honor because of last month’s fire which claimed Colonial Terrace.

The All-Section had a new format with the Section 1 Hall of Fame inductees and award winners announced. In previous years, this portion was announced prior to the championship finals.

The Section 1 Wrestling Coaches Association inducted former Mount Vernon outstanding coach Jim Lee and five of his former sectional champs/teammates – Bucky Smith, Tony Crawford, Horace Perry, Rich Numa and Billy Beard. What made this special was that the men presented Lee with a plaque for what he meant to them and the program. The six men huddled together on the dais and savored the moment. I don’t think there was a dry eye within that group.

Following this poignant moment, Yonkers’ Elliot Maldonado, Pearl River’s John Coffey, Clarkstown North’s Steven Ramos, Mamaroneck’s Femi Wheeler and Lakeland/Panas’ Joe Hauser received these awards – Evelyn Negron, Julius D’Agostino, Matt Moore and Bill Snyder, respectively.

Former Valley Central coach and current Nyack AD Bob Zifchock, who also assists Section 1 Wrestling Chair Eric Romanino, gave an excellent speech concerning Section 1’s coming together this season and being a ‘Choir’ instead of a ‘Soloist.’ He cited this in the state practices and at the state championships.

Zifchock also told those in attendence about one of his former wrestlers, Jimmy, who was legally blind. Despite this, Zifchock said Jimmy taught him how to talk to his wrestlers. Zifchock pointed out that a few years ago he saw Jimmy, a Social Studies teacher on Long Island, called out his name and Jimmy, responded with ‘Coach!’

New Rochelle’s Jim Guccione was named the Conference I coach of the year, Fox Lane’s Joe Amuso, Section 1’s dean of wrestling coaches, was selected as the Conference II coach of the year, and Nanuet’s Brenden Rogers was chosen the Conference III coach of the year.

John Jay’s Bill Swertfager, who brought the program back from extinction seven years ago, was named the 2007-08 Section 1 Coach of the year. A couple of things stand out from Bill’s speech. The first was telling the wrestlers to stay on the mat during the offseason, at least three days a week, and wrestle in a minimum of 5-6 spring tournaments. He also noted Section 1’s improvement in the 2008 state championships as well as the in-season improvements within Section 1 this season.

Bill credited his family, sons, John and Mark, and daughter, Theresa, for their support and love, and saved the best for last, wife, Diane, the Hen Hud volleyball coach. Bill made everyone laugh when he said that he is the second best coach in his family based on Diane’s eight consecutive sectional volleyball titles and back-to-back state titles.

Bill summed up his speech by saying that one day, Section 1 will be state champions, which drew a cheer from everyone.

Mahopac coach Sal Imbimbo, who was fired up and enthusiastic as the Master of Ceremony, gave Rick Contrata, the official Section 1 wrestling website administrator and creator, an award from the Section 1 Coaches Association for his positive contributions. It was well deserved. Great job ‘The Veer.’

To sum it up, it was the best All-Section dinner I have attended. A great job by everyone involved.