The Wait Is Over!!!!

400 Registered For Victory For Vinny Takedown Tournament!

This event promises to be a fun-filled day for the entire family….wrestling, BBQ, dunking booth, bouncy castle, face fainting and more… do not miss out…the fun begins at 8:00 am!!!

Click on the below link to read an outstanding article about the tournament written by Betsy Veysman from newyorkwrestlingnews.com.

Victory for Vinny Takedown Tournament

Victory For Vinny Takedown Tournament Is This Saturday

If You Haven’t Already Done So….Register Today!
** Important – Due to The Amount of Interest In This Tournament, (Over 300 and Counting) There Will Be No Walk-In Registration.  All Wrestlers Who Would Like To Compete Must Register By Thursday 6/28 at 7:00PM**

What:  Vinny Vespa Takedown Tournament
When:  Saturday June 30th 
Where:  Monroe Woodbury High School
Why:  All Proceeds To The Vespa Family

             Flyer/Registration 

This will be a fun day for the entire family!  There will be great wrestling for Youth, HS, and Open divisions.  There will also be face-painting, BBQ, bouncy apparatus, and more….do not miss out!!!

Who’s Going Where…S9 Grads Who Will Wrestle In College

Warwick Leads Way Sending Four!!!

With graduation just around the corner, I figured now would be as good of a time as ever to compile a list of our Section 9 wrestlers who plan on showcasing their skills at the next level.  I am positive that this list is not comprehensive so if you have any information about a S9 wrestler who I have omitted, please contact me at sectionixwrestling@gmail.com so I can update the list.  I have created a “college” menu option on the site and will provide information about these and all of our S9 alum who are competing at the collegiate level.

Wrestler                         High School                     College
Ryan Bedross                   Warwick                               Bloomsburg
Colin Casey                       Washingtonville                 East Stroudsburg
Shane Connolly                Warwick                              Army
Justin Corradino              Warwick                              Missouri Valley
Chris Farrell                      Saugerties                           Oswego
Paul Gomez                       Monticello                           Edinboro
John Hodes                       Rondout Valley                  Oneonta
Jordan Jackson                Middletown                         Niagara Community College
TJ Kreider                         Cornwall                              Oneonta
Dylan Muller                     Port Jervis                           Brockport
Patrick Sause                    Pine Bush                            Jamestown Community College
Ethan Stanley                   Saugerties                            Navy Prep
Kyle Wierzbicki                Warwick                               Oneonta

AS A STATE, NY RANKS 2nd….ONLY PA HAS MORE D1 COMMITTMENTS!!!

It has been a slow and steady process, but New York has finally established itself as a wrestling power!  In each or the past several years, the Empire State has made tremendous strides in providing the statistical data to back this statement.  The following stat is the icing on the cake.  With nearly all 2012 high school graduates having made their college choices for next year, Intermatwrestle.com has compiled a list of this year’s D1 signees broken down by home state.  As of June 10th, thirty-four (34) New York high school seniors have committed (signed or verballed) to wrestle for a Division 1 program… only Pennsylvania (with 53) has more!  New York State wrestling has arrived!!!

Rank     State      # of D1 Commitments
  1              PA                          53
  2             NY                          34
  3             OH                         29
  4             NJ                          27
  5(tie)     CA                          24 
  5(tie)     IL                           24
  7             IA                           22

All-Star List….Where Some of Our NY Studs Will Wrestle in College

Name                           Section   High School                College
Brian Realbuto                1              Somers                            Cornell
Quinton Murphy             5             Holley                              Indiana
Dylan Palacio                  8             Long Beach                      Cornell
Jimmy Kloc                     6             Iroquois                            Buffalo
Tony Lock                        6             Pioneer                             Buffalo
Jamel Hudson          CHSAA       St. Anthony’s                    Hofstra
Chris Nevinger               5             Letchworth                       Buffalo
Sean McCabe                 11            Connetquot                       Rutgers
Zach Diekel                     2            Whitehall                          Lehigh
Kyle Stanton                   4            Greene                               Drexel
Tyler Button                   3             Phoenix                           Edinboro
Maverick Passaro         11            Eastport South Manor    Rutgers
Sam Speno                      1             Fox Lane                          NC State
Ben Haas                         6            Salamanca                         Lehigh
Josh Lackey                    5            Fairport                           NC State

Matt Diano aka L.I. Matt has put together a comprehensive list of all 2012 NYS wrestling commitments.  Thanks Matt! 

               2012 NYS Commitments

Upcoming #TeamVinnyV Events

As most of you are aware, Monroe Woodbury freshman wrestler Vinny Vespa has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  The support his family has been receiving from the community has been incredible.  The wrestling community, specifically, has been amazing!  Vinny and his family have been and remain in the thoughts and prayers of a tight-knit wrestling “family” that knows no boundaries.  Well-wishes and contributions have been delivered by wrestlers from NY to California, Minnesota to Texas and every state in between.

Our work is not done!  As Vinny continues to receive chemotherapy, the expenses associated with his treatments continue to mount.  Below is a summary of a some of the upcoming #TeamVinnyV fundraisers.  Any support you can offer, financial or spiritual, is truly appreciated.

June 13 & 14 – Chicago Pizzeria Uno in Central Valley – 20% of your bill will be donated to the Vespa family if you dine at Pizzeria Uno on either night.

June 20 – Captian’s Table in Monroe – The Captain’s Table is hosting an adult only gathering at $40 per person….half will go directly to the Vespa family.  Your $40 will get you beer, soda, and appetizers.  Tee shirts and wristband will be for sale at the event.

June 30 – Victory for Vinny Takedown Tournament – MW High School – This is going to be huge!!!  Youth, HS and Open divisions…honor weigh-ins.  In conjunction with the tournament there will be a Family Fun Day… BBQ, face-painting, bouncy apparatus, etc.  Let’s come out in force for this one!!!

                               Vinny Vespa Takedown Tournament Flyer

2012 Beat The Streets Gala Recap

          The 2012 Beat the Streets Gala was a Blast! 

74kg World Champ Jordan Burroughs

For the second straight year, Beat the Streets held their annual event at Times Square right in the heart of New York City.  A gala at the world famous Roseland Ballroom followed the wrestling card.

 

60kg Olympic Preliminary – Reece Humphrey vs Coleman Scott
The event kicked off with a match between Reece Humphrey and Coleman Scott to determine who would take on Shawn Bunch for the 60kg spot on the US Olympic Freestyle team.  Scott was able to defeat Humphrey 1-0, 0-1, 1-0 without the benefit of a single takedown with both of his scores coming off of ball draws. 

BTS Youth and HS Matches
The crown of several thousand was treated to some exciting matches between the young wrestlers who are the very essence of the Beat the Streets program.  Make no mistake about it, NYC (or the PSAL) is the “sleeping giant” of New York State high school wrestling.  This past year season, we saw 5 PSAL wrestlers finish in the top six of their weight…. the most ever from the PSAL.  The Beat the Streets program assures that this season was not a fluke but rather just a sign of things to come!

60kg Olympic Wrestle-Off – Shawn Bunch vs Coleman Scott – Match #1
Scott, a PA native, is able to defeat Bunch by a score of 1-0, 0-1, 7-0.  This was the first time that Scott had ever defeated Bunch on the freestyle circuit.  It would prove to be a huge confident boost for the Oklahoma State grad.

Women’s Exhibition Match – Helen Maroulis vs Ashley Hudson
Before the US/Russia match, the fans were treated to an exhibition match between Helen Maroulis and Ashley Hudson.  In one of the most action-packed matches of the entire event, Maroulis was able to defeat Hudson by a score of 4-0, 2-1.

USA vs Russia – 55kg, 60kg, and 66kg
55kg – Artas Sanaa (Russia) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (USA), 1-0, 2-0; Hazewinkle was game but slightly over-matched by the young, flamboyant Russia.
60kg – Logan Stieber (USA) dec. Akhmed Chakaev (Russia), 1-3, 7-0, 5-4; Nobody told Steiber, a 2012 NCAA champion as a freshman who was just filling this spot while the weight is being wrestled off, that he was supposed to lose….what an absolute barn-burner!
66kgJared Frayer (USA) dec. Dzalaludin Kurbanaliev (Russia), 5-0, 0-2, 1-0; Check out the highlight of this match courtesy of FloWrestling…please notice the two insane guys in  suits (me and Al Bevilacqua) who are letting the official know that it was a “five” (like he could have missed it).

USA leads 2 matches to 1 against the mighty Russians!!!! 

60kg Olympic Wrestle-Off – Shawn Bunch vs Coleman Scott – Match #2
With a second period ball draw and a third period push out, Bunch, who wrestled at Edinboro, was able to defeat Scott and force a third and decisive match!

USA vs Russia – 74kg, 84kg, 96kg, and 120kg
74kg – Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Kamel Malikov (Russia), 8-0, 5-0; absolute domination by NJ native Burroughs; 4 double legs, 3 push-outs, 1 super-duck plus exposure….he’s on a mission!
84kg – Andrey Valiev (Russia) dec. Keith Gavin (USA), 5-0, 3-2; very impressive 5-point throw by the Russian ended the first; slick 3-point arm throw in the second.  Gavin, a PA native, was just filling in for US team member Jake Herbert, also a PA native, who is nursing a minor injury.
96kg – Shamil Akhmedov (Russia) dec. J.D. Bergman (USA), 1-2, 1-1, 2-0; Bergman, filling in for US team member Jake Varner, started of strong winning the first off two high doubles.  His Russian opponent made adjustments though and won the next two periods tying the team score at 3 matches each with one match remaining!!!
120kg – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) pin Eduard Bazrov (Russia), 0:25; After an exciting scramble, the American was able to pin the Russian giving team USA the 4-3 decision!  USA! USA! USA!

60kg Olympic Wrestle-Off – Shawn Bunch vs Coleman Scott – Match #3
Not much action in the first period.  Scott wins the ball draw and takes the first period after the bully double.  Period two was one for the ages!  Scott in deep; Bunch defends with a front headlock and is trying for exposure; Scott then lifts Bunch up and sends him to his back for a takedown with exposure; Bunch’s corner challenges the call; after a much heated discussion the officials have made their decision….”5″ for Scott….match over and Coleman Scott is your 60kg Olympic Team member!!!

Beat the Streets Gala In Times Square Set For Thursday 6/7 Live Webcast Starting at 6:00 PM (Link Below)

Event Will Feature USA vs. Russia Freestyle Dual, 60KG Olympic Team Wrestle-Off, Exhibitions Matches and More!!!!

This Thursday, June 7th, at the Duffy Square section of Times Square in NYC, Beat the Streets will host their 2012 Gala – The Grapple in the Big Apple!  For the past few years, fans who attend this event walk away saying that it will be impossible for the BTS organizers to “top” what they just watched…..each year, they have been wrong!  This year’s event is no exception.

The 2012 Beat the Streets Gala will feature an exciting freestyle dual meet between the US and Russia, an Olympic team wrestle-off at 60kg, exhibition matches including one with 3X NCAA champion and NY native Kyle Dake, and an Awards and Reception Banquet at the famed Roseland Ballroom.

TENTATIVE BEAT THE STREETS GALA COMPETITION SCHEDULE     
1:00 PM – U.S. Olympic Trials Wrestle-off at 60 kg – Humphrey vs. Scott preliminary  
3:00 PM – Beat the Streets youth wrestling exhibition matches  

6:00 PM – U.S. Olympic Trials Wrestle-off at 60 kg – Bunch vs. Humphrey/Scott winner  
6:10 PM – 55 kg women’s freestyle exhibition – Maroulis vs. Hudson  
6:40 PM – USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meet – 55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg matches  
7:10 PM – 74 kg men’s freestyle exhibition – Dake vs. Gentry  
7:25 PM – U.S. Olympic Trials Wrestle-off at 60 kg – Match 2 – Bunch vs. Humphrey/Scott winner  
7:40 PM – USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meet – 74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg matches  
8:20 PM – U.S. Olympic Trials Wrestle-off at 60 kg – Match 3 – Bunch vs. Humphrey/Scott winner

USA vs. Russia match-ups and biographies (themat.com)
Beat the Streets website including ticket info

Live Webcast Beginning at 6:00 PM
Link to Intermat Wrestling – Coverage Provided NBC/Universal Sports

Click Here for Webcast

Vinny Vespa Benefit Takedown Tournament Set For June 30th

Mark your calendar!  The date is set!  On Saturday June 30th The Vinny Vespa Benefit Takedown Tournament will take place at Monroe Woodbury High School.  The day will be filled with great wrestling and fun activities for the entire family.  Festivities begin at 8:00 AM!  Click below for a tournament flyer as well as a separate site for online registration.  Special thanks to John Stramiello and Bob Voelker for putting this event together…great job guys!

Vinny Vespa Benefit Takedown Tournament Flyer                  Online Registration  

 **Click HERE to listen to Vinny’s brother Michael being interviewed on TakeDown Radio by Scott Casber!!!**

Cuccolo Finishes 2nd and 3rd at FILA Cadet Nationals

Congratulations to Pine Bush sophomore Chris Cuccolo for placing in the top 3 in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2012 FILA Cadet Nationals this weekend in Akron, OH.  Cuccolo, wrestling at  42KG, finished 2nd in freestyle and placed 3rd in GR.  Click below for a link to TheMat.TV where you can get all of the results for both the Cadet Nationals as well as the ASICS University Nationals.  Great job Chris!

           TheMat.TV – 2012 ASICS University Nationals & FILA Cadet Nationals