On Dec. 19, the Mamaroneck wrestling team picked up its fifth win of the season, a 44-28 victory over visiting East Ramapo. As the Tigers begin to eye the second half of their season, they are hoping that the lessons they have learned early on—as well as the continued maturation of some of the team’s younger stars—will lead the program to new heights.
Captain 160-pounder Trent Wechsler set the tone for the Tigers, topping the Titans’ Coby Simexian with a 4-2 decision in the opening match of the afternoon, but the Tigers got contributions from younger grapplers as well, including Andrew Rosenfeld at 113 pounds, that helped Mamaroneck carry the day.
According to co-head coach Scott Gilberti, the communication between the team’s younger and older wrestlers has been a major bonus for the Tigers this season.
“We have that core group of upperclassmen, and we have younger guys, not really first-timers who are also contributing,” Gilberti said. “Because we have such a strong youth program, we’ve been gaining momentum for a couple of years now, and that definitely helps, especially when guys get injured and we need people to fill in.”
With so many youngsters on a roster that boasts nearly 40 athletes, Gilberti said it’s incumbent upon the team’s four captains, Wechsler, Jon Suarez, Crew Fullerton and Mike McGowan, to set the tone.
“The thing that makes them special is that each guy brings something different to the table,” Gilberti said. “And we want the younger guys to be cognizant of what they’re doing each day so that when they step into those roles, we aren’t going to have a lack of leadership; we want them to pass things forward regardless of their individual records on the mat.”
At 5-3 on the season, the Tigers are eyeing a tough end to 2017 with a meet against Clarkstown South on Dec. 21, after press time, followed by a trip to the Mid-Hudson Tournament that will be held at Arlington High School on Dec. 27-28.
The 24-team tourney could see the Tigers wrestle as many as nine matches over the course of two days and should be a steppingstone, especially for the team’s newer wrestlers.
“It’s tremendous when you look at the amount of mat time and experience they have the chance to pick up,” Gilberti said. “We are guaranteed at least five matches there, and it was really a great pickup to be asked to take part in it.”
