2010-11 Preview: Sachem North Wrestling

This team is young and loses Ryan Gerondel, arguably one of the best wrestlers in Sachem history.

Around the hallways at Sachem North this fall there were marketing signs seeking young athletes to give the mat a try. With likenesses of professional athletes like Brock Lesnar, who wrestled in college, to familiar faces like Sachem lacrosse coach Jay Mauro, or Sachem dean and football great Mark Wojciechowski, who both wrestled in high school, the walls were plastered with important figures who mastered the sport.

"Every year I come up with different things," North head coach Ray Pickersgill said. "You have to try and find a way to hook them."

North's main threat this year is Frank Napoli at 119 pounds. There are other juniors and seniors that are proven, but as a group, you'll have to see how they adapt with an overall younger look.

Last year: 18-8 overall and 3-3 in League II

Head coach: Ray Pickersgill, fifth season (64-23 record)

Wrestler breakdown

-96 pounds: Fr. Matt Stallone, Fr. Chris Wall, So. Nick Perez

-103 pounds: Fr. Sean O'Hagan: He has wrestled 100 matches already and is the younger brother of Kevin, who recently graduated and placed third in League II at 125 pounds last year.

-112 pounds: So. Alec Ross: He started last year at 96.

-119 pounds: Jr. Frank Napoli: A two-time league place winner, he has 65-career wins and won a match at the county tournament last season. "He spent a lot of time in the off-season working with Connor O'Hara [from Sachem East]," said Pickersgill. "He put in a lot of mat time and we've expecting a lot from him."

-125 pounds: Fr. Matt Marino: He has wrestled since seventh grade. Sr. Tyler Marko and Sr. David Johnson.

-130 pounds: Jr. Frank Blais: He wrestled JV last year and won the Bellport Tournament. So. Mike Foley and So. James Sanzone.

-135 pounds: So. Mike Falcon, So. Justin Chernick, Fr. Nick Ward

-140 pounds: Sr. Nick Iannello

-145 pounds: Sr. Tyler Itzkowitz and Sr. Rich Avella

-152 pounds: Jr. Vincent Provenzano, Jr. Matt Spear, So. James Schreck and So. Ryan Gudema

-160 pounds: Sr. Jeff Pfalzgraf and So. John Quinn

-171 pounds: Jr. Anthony Marino and So. Gio Santiago

-189 pounds: Sr. Chris Schultz, an empire state wrestler, and Sr. Allen Arons

-215 pounds: Sr. Mike McCarthy and So. Steve Mills

-285 pounds: Sr. Matt Cosgrove, Jr. Anthony Confessore, Jr. Jacob Starling and Kevin Touhill. "It's nice for us because we have four guys that can battle it out and make us better," Pickersgill said.

Key Loses

• Ryan Gerondel, 125 pounds: County champ, placed fourth in the state and is now wrestling at Division I SUNY Binghamton.
• Joe Kirchner, 215 pounds: A tough-as-nails athlete that would do anything for the team, Kirchner is playing football at SUNY Cortland.

Key Matches: The League II favorite is Connetquot, who returns many top grapplers from last season. Lindenhurst should come out strong as well.

• Dec. 11, tournament at Walt Whitman
• Dec. 18, tournament at Wantagh
• Dec. 29/30, holiday tournament at Sachem North
• Jan. 7 vs. Lindenhurst
• Jan. 19 vs. Central Islip (alumni night)
• Jan. 21 at Connetquot