Merrick Wrestlers Shine at Sprig Gardner

The mats were set, the gymnasium packed full, and the wrestlers and coaches were ready; the finals of the Sprig Gardner annual wrestling tournament were under way. Calhoun and Bellmore JFK wrestlers rose to the occasion on Saturday, combining to win five of the fifteen individual weight-class tournaments.

Calhoun and Bellmore JFK were among nine schools competing at the Sprig Gardner tournament, a two-day long affair that concludes every year at Mepham High School. The other seven schools competing were Mepham, Beekmantown, South Side, Lawrence, Clarke, Patchogue-Medford and Half Hallows Hills East. Calhoun wrestlers were particularly efficient, winning the three finals they were competing in.

"I think our kids rose to the occasion in the finals and that we saved our best wrestling for last," Calhoun coach Greg Muscarella said. "I thought my kids wrestled very aggressively and assertively. I was extremely pleased with their effort in the final."

The first Calhoun champion of the day was Anthony Abidin, who took the title for the 119-pound weight class, defeating Patchogue-Medford's Armani Hendrickson by a score of 10-1. Abidin also won an individual award for executing the most pins in the least amount of time.

"I felt like I wrestled well and felt good on my feet," Abidin said. "I met my potential, I'd say."

Also victorious for Calhoun were Mac Maldarelli and Jesse Bader, who won the 145-pound and 152-pound weight-class tournaments, respectively. Maldarelli's win was one of the quickest matches of the night, as he defeated Peter Avellaneda, of Beekmantown High School, by pin fall in just over two minutes.

"It felt good," said Maldarelli of his quick victory. "I beat a kid that was two-time all-state, and I pinned him in the first. So it was a nice win."

As a team, Calhoun was not as successful, finishing seventh in total points with 125. The total point-system is based on the scores of the individual matches throughout the entire tournament, with extra points given for wins via pin fall.

Bellmore JFK had more success as a team. The school finished in second place, totaling 280.5 points. It featured six finalists, with two of them reigning victorious. Robert Person won the 96-pound weight-class tournament over his Bellmore JFK teammate, Mark Levine. Also winning was Jordan Goldberg, taking the crown for the 140-pound weight-class. However, Goldberg's victory was bittersweet.

While trailing Mepham's Mike Paccione 4-3 in the third period, Goldberg was granted a point to tie it at four on what was declared an "illegal slam" by Paccione. Following the slam, Goldberg grabbed his right shoulder in obvious pain and had to be attended to by the team medical staff. His arm was put in a sling and he was unable to complete the match. Since the injury came as a result of an illegal move, Goldberg was awarded the victory via disqualification.

Only one was team was more successful than Bellmore JFK, and that was the hosting team, Mepham High School. They finished with 313 points, winning the overall title at the Sprig Gardner tournament.

Frank "Sprig" Gardner began his coaching career at Mepham in 1936, and helped create the high reputation for scholarship and wrestling that has carried on in the Bellmore-Merrick High School district and all over Long Island. The tournament is held every year in his memory.

"To wrestle in this tournament really gives respect and homage to the past and the history behind this district as far as wrestling goes," Muscarella said. "It is an honor for my kids and our program at Calhoun to wrestle in this tournament."