High School Wrestling

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Hey folks, it's been a while since we last spoke. Recently I came across an interesting video courtesy of ESPN's Outside the Lines about 36-year old Richard Jensen, who battled a drug addiction for more than 15 years and has found refuge on the mats as a college wrestler at Clackamas Community College in Oregon.

Here is an article about Jensen that provides some additional info.

***UPDATE***: Here are a couple more intriguing wrestling videos that I recently came across, courtesy of ESPN.

The first is an Outside the Lines segment about two female wrestlers at Goodrich High School in Michigan — something we've also encountered here on Long Island.

The second is a brief segment from E:60 about Michael Spriggs, a blind wrestler from Maryland. Here is some additional info on Spriggs.

I never wrestled a girl in high school, but I did face a blind wrestler at a summer camp. It was a unique experience, because of the range of emotions I felt — compassion (for his disability), frustration (because I wasn't allowed to break contact with him), and embarrassment/humiliation (because I lost to him and got it pretty good from my teammates afterward).

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Four Long Island wrestlers - Stephen Bonanno (Wantagh), Ryan Conway (Chaminade), Shane Strumwasser (Massapequa) and Paul Liguori (Wantagh) - were named to the National High School Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team.

Click below to read about the team and the four individuals...

Continue reading "Four Honored As Academic All-Americans" »

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Sophomore Ken Collado, the state champion at 103 pounds from Hauppauge, was honored at the Suffolk County Legislator's Meeting on Tuesday, and was given a proclamation from legislators John M. Kennedy of Smithtown and Rick Montano of Brentwood.

Collado (38-4 this season) was the only Suffolk wrestler to take home a state championship this past season. He is Hauppauge's fourth state champion in school history. At the Suffolk County awards dinner, he was the recipient of the Lou Giani Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

In the picture (from left to right) are: John M. Kennedy, Hauppauge coach Chris Messina, Ken Collado, William Collado (father), John Collado (uncle), Vicky Collado (mother), Isabell Engelhardt (grandmother), and Rick Montano.

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Hey everyone, I apologize in advance for not notifying you about this sooner, but ESPN's documentary "The Streak," which chronicles the Brandon High School (Fla.) wrestling team and its 459-match winning streak dating back to 1974, debuted last Tuesday.

(The streak even predates the current coach, who has "only" been around for 451 of the wins.)

It was part of ESPN's package at the Tribeca Film Festival. Or at least I think it was. I am unsure because our Watchdog didn't review it. But I think they showed it there.

Anywho, here is an article on ESPN.com about the documentary, and because I myself want to watch it so badly, I will not rest until I find out when ESPN will re-air it. Neil, any help on this would be greatly appreciated considering I am not as plugged in at ESPN as you are.

You readers are welcome to post when it will re-air as well!

***UPDATE***: Courtesy of Neil Best, here is the re-air schedule for "The Streak"...

Here is the re-air schedule for "The Streak," all on ESPN2:

05/07/08 WED 04:00A 06:00A T ESPN FILMS: THE STREAK

06/05/08 THU 10:00P 12:00A T ESPN FILMS: THE STREAK

06/16/08 MON 04:00A 06:00A T ESPN FILMS: THE STREAK

06/24/08 TUE 04:00P 06:00P T ESPN FILMS: THE STREAK

06/27/08 FRI 02:00A 04:00A T ESPN FILMS: THE STREAK

06/30/08 MON 12:00A 02:00A T ESPN FILMS: THE STREAK

Thanks very much Neil!

BY CHRIS MASCARO

...says Paul Liguori in this week's edition of the N-Zone, as host Joe Fernandez takes the show on the road to Wantagh High School.

Midway through the show Fernandez speaks to Wantagh's three All-Long Island wrestlers — Wrestler of the Year Stephen Bonanno (state champ at 119 pounds), John Greisheimer (state champ at 145), and Paul Liguori (third at 125).

There's even a cameo by the Mets' Billy Wagner.

Enjoy!

Click below to ready my feature on Bonanno....

Continue reading "Wantagh had the "[wrestling] room to be in on Long Island" this season..." »

BY CHRIS MASCARO

This past weekend in Akron, Steven Keith of Shoreham-Wading River, won the FILA Cadet Freestyle Nationals.

An impressive victory for a wrestler who won the N.Y. state tournament last year and placed third this past season. Freestyle wrestling places an onus on being precise in the neutral position, so this is a good indicator that Keith should be even more dominant on his feet next year as a senior.

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Well that was a much shorter hiatus than I had expected.

In case you missed it in today's paper, sophomore Stephen Dutton has transferred from Hauppauge to Rocky Point.

Rocky Point wrestling coach Darren Goldstein just confirmed over the phone that Dutton was in school today and that the coach saw him hanging out with new teammate Anthony Volpe, and his brother Lou.

Check back often for any updates.

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Hey everyone, even though it's the beginning of April, we've got wrestling news for you. Here is a link to Newsday's All Long Island team and by clicking below, you can read my feature on Wrestler of the Year Stephen Bonanno of Wantagh.

Also, here is a link to the brackets for the national tournaments in each class. There were numerous Long Island wrestlers in each grade, so browse away to see if your favorite grappler from your town was there!

See you all on the mats next season!!

Continue reading "All Long Island Wrestling Team" »

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Here is a link to the IFL website announcing that on April 4 at the IZOD Center (that's the arena at the Meadowlands where the Nets play until they move to Brooklyn, in case you didn't know) all the New York and New Jersey high school state champions will be honored at a Mixed Martial Arts event.

Enjoy!

BY CHRIS MASCARO

Hey everyone, here is this week's edition of the N-Zone. There's some wrestling talk in the beginning to check out.

Enjoy!