Sachem North wins 19th league wrestling title

Sachem North wrestling can add another year to its championship banner in the gymnasium.

The Flaming Arrows captured league tournament championship No. 19 on the heels of seven individual county champions Saturday in the Suffolk County League II tournament. Sachem had nine wrestlers in the finals and 14 place winners who qualified for next weekend’s Suffolk County tournament.

Trailing by six points entering the finals of the tournament, Sachem’s collective performance in its respective matches allowed for a 273-point finish, enough to edge Connetquot, the next best team, who compiled 260 points.

After wins from Matt Stallone (99 pounds) and Anthony Nunziata, who received a forfeit over Sachem teammate Alec Ross at 126 pounds, Sean O’Hagan and Connetquot’s Gino Titone provided the most entertainment of the night at 132 pounds. Like last weekend during the regular season dual-meet finale, the boys put together a spectacular match that kept people entertained to the final seconds.

What happened after, however, was unpredictable. After O’Hagan beat Titone, 9-6, avoiding a last second takedown, a brief scuffle took place on the mat involving a spectator from the stands who was eventually ejected. Sachem security, event supervisors and coaches rushed to defuse the situation before it escalated.

Following cheers of “Sachem, Sachem, Sachem” from the black and gold faithful, Matt Marino registered a nail-biting, 4-3, victory over Greg Chery from Connetquot at 138 pounds. Marino, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, earned two points on a takedown in the final seconds of his match against Chery.

“Marino figured him out, but it was almost too late,” said Sachem coach Ray Pickersgill. “He got him there right in the end.”

Adding to the excitement swirling through the gym at Sachem after his match, the second straight win over a Connetquot opponent, Marino saluted the crowd and pointed to his chest that proudly has “Sachem” written on the singlet.

Ross, who missed part of the season due to injury, had to forfeit to his own teammate in the finals, but will wrestle at counties next week. He pinned Connetquot’s Anthony Scaffedi 49 seconds into their first round match, which paid dividends the rest of the afternoon.

“That set the tone,” Pickersgill said. “Knocking out their guy put us on our way. Last week against Connetquot he could barely walk coming off the mat. We knew what we wanted to do and gave him a shot and it’s the third time he’s place in the league. He’s done a great job.”

Sachem’s Mike Falcon won a league title at 152 pounds. Gio Santiago, who recorded the most pins in the least amount of time (four in 4:33), won the 182-pound league championship with a pin over Connetquot’s Chris Beal in 1:17. Steven Mills also won a league title at 220 pounds due to a forfeit.

Earlier in the day, Santiago earned career win No. 100 when he pinned Lindenhurst’s Peter Leonardi in 1:24. He currently ranks No. 4 all-time in program history with 102 career victories (see list below for historical info).

“It’s a great accomplishment for me,” said Santiago. “Not many wrestlers can say they’ve done that, but I’m not going to base my career on that. I look forward to earning a state title and being a two-time county champion.”

Anyone who has watched Santiago this season has noticed his fluid winning and matter-of-fact style on the mat. It’s almost too easy in many cases. That will change as the counties and states roll around in a week.

“I’m going to work as hard as possible,” he said. “I have to push myself every day in practice and not thinking that I’m just going out there and winning. I have to think everything through and all the possibilities of what could happen.”

He hopes to defend his county title next Monday at Hofstra and shoot another Arrow at the crowd at the David S. Mack Sports Complex.

RELATED: PHOTOS: See more images from the League II tournament

Championship finals results

• 99: Matthew Stallone (Sachem) def. Mike Ludwig (Northport), 5-0
• 106: Mike Figueroa (C.I.) def. Jack Scurti (Hills East), 7-2
• 113: Eddie Hart (Connetquot) def. Milton Cerna (Lindenhurst), pin at 4:46
• 120: Steven Bulzomi (Connetquot) def. Mark Sanchez (C.I.), Major Dec. 10-1
• 126: Anthony Nunziata (Sachem) def. Alec Ross (Sachem), Forfeit
• 132: Sean O’Hagan (Sachem) def. Gino Titone (Connetquot), 9-6
• 138: Matt Marino (Sachem) def. Greg Chery (Connetquot), 4-3
• 145: Brendan Dent (Connetquot) def. Joe Justiniano (Lindenhurst), 3-1
• 152: Michael Falcon (Sachem) def. Allon Avgi (Connetquot), 10-8
• 160: Tom Digiglio (Northport) def. Nick Mastro (Connetquot), 3-1
• 170: Maleik Henry (Hills East) def. James Schreck (Sachem), 6-4
• 182: Gio Santiago (Sachem) def. Chris Beal (Connetquot), pin at 1:17
• 195: Matt Giannelli (Lindenhurst) def. Michael Morris (Hills East), 7-6
• 220: Steven Mills (Sachem) def. Josh Gutierrez (Connetquot), Forfeit
• 285: Damon Aguilar (Hills East) def. Jon Reyes (C.I.), 3-2

Team point totals from League II

1. Sachem North, 273
2. Connetquot, 260
3. Lindenhurst, 145
4. Northport, 143.5
5. Hills East, 128
6. Central Islip, 94
7. Bay Shore, 24

-Words and Photos by Chris R. Vaccaro