Wrestling: SWR makes quick work of Amityville for first league win
For wrestling fans who love the thrill of a pin, Shoreham-Wading River High School was the place to be Friday night.
The Wildcats picked up their first league win of the season by steamrolling Amityville, 60-24, in a match almost entirely decided via pin. There were 12 matches wrestled and 10 were pins.
The Warriors forfeited three weights, making life easier for the Wildcats as the slowly nurse their team back to health after a steady stream of illnesses depleted the lineup in recent weeks.
Friday’s dual meet was never much in doubt. After Jordan Domino’s pin for the Wildcats at 132 pounds, the score quickly ballooned in a matter of seconds. The Warriors forfeited weights 138 and 145, bringing up the Wildcats’ top wrestler, returning all-state senior Jack Taddeo.
In a blink or you’ll miss it match, Taddeo took down his opponent in 15 seconds to remain unbeaten on the season. And just like that, the Wildcats were staring at a 42-6 lead and a victory in hand with six weight classes still remaining.
The Wildcats picked up victories at all the usual weights. Kevin Meloni, unbeaten this season at 106, pinned his opponent in 2:59. Jack Del Duca, a returning all-county wrestler, pinned his opponent in 4:53 while facing one of the Warriors’ better wrestlers. His younger brother Jake also recorded a pin at 113 in 3:55.
Christain Aliperti picked up a pin at 160 in 1:57 and Brendan Frances did as well at 285 in the final match of the night in 3:13.
It all added up to seven pins for Shoreham.
Domino wrestled one of the more exciting matches of the night. After a 2-2 first period, he came out dominating in the second, quickly tallying points. He led 11-3 before finally ending the match with a pin.
Two of the matches Shoreham wrestlers lost nearly featured a dramatic comeback. In the first match of the night, Shoreham’s 99-pounder Eddie Troyano trailed 9-2 in the third period against Victor Tavarez before escaping, scoring two and nearly putting Tavarez to his back for a pin with about 10 seconds left. But time ran out before he could finish.
Mike Wood, wrestling at 126, had a similar fate. He trailed 11-0 after two periods before coming to life with about 30 seconds left. A reversal and back points made it 11-5 and Wood appeared on the verge of a pin when the clock hit zero to end the match.
The Wildcats get right back to work tomorrow for a tournament at Long Island Lutheran High School. Last year the Wildcats placed second at the David Sorensen Memorial Invitational.
Photo Caption: Shoreham-Wading River senior Jack Del Duca throws Tyresse Thomas to the mat at 120 pounds. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)
