2011-12 Preview: Sachem North Wrestling

Sachem North wrestling coach Ray Pickersgill is confident about his group of grapplers this year. This is the season he and his assistants have waited for, where a handful of skilled wrestlers have matured to take charge of the mat and bring Sachem North back to the top of the pack in the county.

This season, however, Sachem North jumps up to League I, which is no easy task to maneuver with perennial state favorites Longwood and Brentwood on top.

“That’s going to be a challenge,” Pickersgill said. “Longwood might be the best team in the state. We’ll be battle tested and know where we’re at by the time league tournament comes around.”

Senior Anthony Confessore will be the main threat on the mat for Sachem this season. Committing himself to the sport in the off-season, he’s gone through a major change physically and will be a beast as he storms his way through the league and most likely the county in 2011-12.

“Last season I came close, but it didn’t really end how I wanted it to,” said Confessore, who was runner-up in League II at 285, and did not place a counties. “I’m confident in everything that I’ve done. I believe this is my time, my year and nothing is going to get in the way of that.”

Confessore has been a vocal leader as well, running drills in the wrestling room, keeping his teammates there to run after practice and buying into a winner’s mentality that has swarmed through that room by many great grapplers for decades.

“As a team, all of us have worked hard,” he said. “I expect big things from everyone on the team. I feel like the team needed a leader and I was someone who could fulfill that spot. This is something I was born to do. I was born to make an impact in this school.”

Confessore and his teammate began their sudden impact with seven champions at the Andrew Peers Tournament last week. Confessore pinned all three of his opponents, including Shoreham-Wading River’s Max Goldfarb in 1:41 to win the 195-pound crown.

To recap that tournament in its entirety, .

Head coach: Ray Pickersgill, 7th season

Last season: Finished 15th in the county

Key Wrestlers

99: Matt Stallone: He finished fourth in League II last season and is very strong for his weight. He’s also improved his footwork and overall technique.

106: Nick Perez and John Onken

120: Sean O’Hagan and Alec Ross: O’Hagan finished fifth in the county last season and Ross placed at leagues. O’Hagan wrestled about 50 matches in the off-season and improved on his feet.

126: Frank Napoli: He is a three-time league place winner, and missed placing in county by one match last year. “Hopefully this is the year he breaks through,” said Pickersgill. He was also 31 wins away from breaking the 100-win plateau prior to the season.

132: Matt Marino: He placed second in the league last year.

138-145: Frank Blais, Mike Falcon and James Sanzone: Blais placed fourth in the league last year and went to counties. Falcon is finally coming into his own and Sanzone should have a strong season as well.

152: Lou Guardino

160: James Schreck: Placed third in the league last season.

170: Anthony Marino: Placed third in the league last season.

170-182: Vinny Provenzano: Placed third in the league last season.

182: Gio Santiago: Placed third in the county at 189 pounds as a sophomore, which is very difficult to do. “You’re talking about seniors,” Pickersgill said. “He beat a couple of upperclassmen to get there. Now he’s starting to become a wrestler, where in the past he relied mainly on strength. He’s become more complete."

195: Anthony Confessore: “He has worked on everything,” Pickersgill said. “He’s a better mat wrestler, he was okay on his feet last year and he got even better. At that weight you can’t get a guy who can shoot take downs. He’s going to come out there and take guys down.”

220: Steve Mills: He arrowly missed placing in leagues last season.

285: Combo of Lenny Suddler, Vin Juliano

Key Losses

• Mike McCarthy, League champion at 215 pounds, playing football at Cortland
• Nick Iannello, League runner up at 140 pounds, playing lacrosse at Elizabethtown

Key Matches

• Tournament at Wantagh, December 17
• Holiday tournament at Sachem, December 29-30
• Tournament in Battlefield, Va., January 6-7
• Dual meet vs. Brentwood, January 18
• Dual meet at Longwood, January 27