Sports

Wildcats dominate in final league dual meet

BILL LANDON PHOTO | Shoreham-Wading River junior James Szymanski won 8-6 at 120 pounds against East Hampton’s Lucas Escobar.

WILDCATS 80, BONACKERS 0

The dual meet’s outcome was never in question; seven forfeits made sure of that.

Still, there was plenty at stake Friday night for Shoreham-Wading in the final dual meet of the League VI season. Mostly, at 120 pounds, where two top-ranked wrestlers in Suffolk County squared off, a likely preview of the league championship finals.

Shoreham junior James Szymanski entered with just two losses on the season, both at the Eastern States Classic. The second-ranked wrestler in the county, Szymanski was matched up against East Hampton’s Lucas Escobar, the sixth-ranked wrestler in the county.

In the marquee matchup, Szymanski came out the aggressor and prevailed 8-6. The win highlighted a rare shutout victory as the Wildcats won all 15 matches for a lopsided 80-0 win at Shoreham-Wading River High School.

Szymanski led 5-3 heading into the third period. He started on bottom in the the third and scored a quick reversal to extend his lead. But Escobar scored two with 1:20 left to make it a one-point match. Szymanski held on and scored once more on an escape for the final margin.

At 182 pounds, senior Dom Pirraglia pinned his opponent in 2 minutes 49 seconds to record his 100th career win. He became the 18th Shoreham wrestler to reach the century club, which also includes Szymanski.

Pirraglia will likely enter the league tournament as the favorite in his weight class.

Pirraglia’s pin was one of four for Shoreham against the Bonackers. David Keith (152), Brendan Frances (220) and Jack Taddeo (132) all recorded pins. John Carl Petretti won by technical fall at 113.

Troy Miller won a 6-3 decision at 160 and Tyler Anderson won 5-1 at 285. Anderson, a standout football and lacrosse player, is in his first year wrestling as a senior.

Shoreham closes out the league season 6-1. The Wildcats’ only loss came against John Glenn.

[email protected]