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Southampton Press
February 14, 2002
WHB Wrestlers Close With Win; Seniors Honored
By Kerry Monaco
The Westhampton Beach wrestling team wrapped up the League IV season with a 34-25
win over Sayville on Thursday at home. The Hurricanes were down 25-22 with bouts remaining at 112 and 119 pounds.
Sophomore Todd Fitzgerald needed to earn at least four points for the Hurricanes at 112 pounds to ensure a win
for the Canes because the Hurricanes could count on six team points at 119 due to a forfeit.
Fitzgerald needed at least a major decision in order to give the Hurricanes the win and not a tie or a loss, and
he defeated Tom Pellegrini by technical fall as time expired in the first period to earn six team points for the
Hurricanes and secure the victory.
The Hurricanes took an early lead against the Golden Flashes.
Senior Jay Fredette (125) opened the match with a 13-2 decision over Sean Michel and the Golden Flashes forfeited
the 130-pound weight class to give Westhampton Beach a 10-0 lead.
Golden Flash Adam Nash (135) defeated Bobby Pisaneschi, 8-3, to put Sayville on the board but the Hurricanes took
a 16-3 lead when Sayville forfeited at 140 pounds.
The Golden Flashes won three consecutive decisions at 145, 152 and 160 pounds to creep up on the Hurricanes, bringing
the team score to 16-12 in favor of the Canes.
Hurricane John Krupp (171) pinned Steve Dean in 1:24 to cushion the Hurricane lead and bring the score to 22-12.
But Sayville’s Alex DelGiorno (189) dominated Frank Schlegel, jumping to a 10-2 lead after two periods and then
pinning him in 4:33 to bring the Golden Flashes to within four points.
Sayville came within one point when Max Grimm (215) defeated Jason Herrick, 6-0, bringing the team score to 22-21
in favor of the Canes.
Herrick and Grimm were scoreless for the first period but Grimm took a 4-0 lead late in the second period and then
added two insurance points with a takedown early in the third period for the decision.
Sayville took the lead for the first time in the match when Justin Danford (103) won a major decision over Ryan
Spano, 15-6, giving Sayville a 25-22 lead with two weight classes remaining.
It was up to Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald jumped to a 19-2 lead as time expired in the first period to earn a technical-fall decision over Pellegrini
and boost the Hurricanes to a 28-25 lead.
Sayville’s forfeit at 119 pounds brought the final score to 34-25.
“It should not have been that close,” said Westhampton Beach coach Paul Bass. “We won, but we got outwrestled.”
Seniors Jay Fredette, Mike DeStefano, Kevin Feldman and Rob Terchunian were honored prior to their final dual meet
as members of the Hurricanes team.
According to Bass, Fredette, who is a four-year varsity starter, is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the
program’s history.
With Fredette’s win over Sayville, he improved his record to 23-2 for the season and has a total of 73 career wins.
Fredette is also a two-time League IV champion and a three-time League IV finalist and Section XI Qualifier.
In addition to his near-perfect dual match season, the most recent of Fredette’s accomplishments are being named
the 119-pound champion at both the Kujan Tournament at William Floyd High School and the Highlander Tournament
at Herricks High School.
DeStefano, a three-year varsity starter, finished the season with a record of 13-6 and 35 career wins and Terchunian,
a three-year varsity starter, earned a record of 13-13 this season and has 28 career wins.
This was the first season that Feldman wrestled and he competed on the junior varsity squad.
“Overall, we had a good year,” said Bass.
The Hurricanes will host and compete in the League IV tournament on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Issue Date: Southampton Press 02/14/02
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