Sports
Bulldogs Wrestling Overthrows Spartans, 54-30
Valley Stream North suffered a tough loss Wednesday night at Island Trees High School.
Both the Island Trees Bulldogs (6-1) and Valley Stream North Spartans (0-4) had their share of setbacks for Wednesday's meet but the Bulldogs managed to come out on top with a 54-30 victory.
On Island Trees' side, the varsity team was forced to enter the meet without three of their starters due to sickness and injury. Valley Stream North was at a disadvantage having to forfeit a total of five matches.
"Valley Stream's forfeits definitely helped in determining the outcome of the match, although many of those forfeits came against our most experienced wrestlers," Island Trees Head Coach Damian Garcia said. "We had three starters out of the lineup, so I was happy to come away with a win period."
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Bulldogs seniors Craig Shapiro, Joe Manna and Keith Andersen were among the five wrestlers who were left without an opponent Wednesday night, along with freshman Nick Fogarty and sophomore Lucas Panebianco.
Valley Steam began strong with two early victories but came up short by the end of the night. Junior Tommy Mignone came out with the first win for Island Trees with an 8-2 defeat, wrestling at 119. Also leaving the mat victorious was junior Matt Jiminez, who according to Garcia is a key competitor this season, and Tommy Sinclair, a young sophomore who has stepped up for the varsity team.
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This past weekend the boys of Island Trees came out on top at the Valley Stream South tournament. Senior wrestler Keith Andersen placed in first and senior heavyweight, Joe Manna, achieved record breaking pins.
"I think the team came out a bit flat tonight after such a huge victory at Saturday's tournament," Garcia said. "It was definitely a tough turn around for such a young team, and tonight's win was just another step in the right direction."
Who's next? The Bulldogs will compete this Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 28 and 29, at the Uniondale Duals. Senior captain Chris Altamura will make his debut Tuesday at 145, coming off the sidelines from an early-season knee injury.
"With Chris Altamura set to return, the team will now have some additional depth in the middle of the lineup," Garcia said of his captain's return.
