Bill Swertfager and the Section 1 coaches set four numerical goals when they brought the kids together for practice last week.
1) Two state champions: Check. First Brian Realbuto won the 103-pound title and James Brundage the 160-pound title in Division I. Realbuto’s was the first finals match for Section 1 and got the proceedings off to a roaring start. He had to earn every bit of this victory over Huntington’s Damon McQueen, who beat him 10-8 last year in the state semis. This time it was 9-8 in his favor. The winning takedown came in the last minute of a back-and-forth match. He said he couldn’t remember any of what happened, that as soon as the buzzer sounded the previous 10 minutes became a blur.
People have been expecting great things from him for a year and a half now, ever since he started winning at a torrid pace as an 8th grader. Then he went and placed fourth in the state. As a freshman he passed the 100-win mark in going 53-1. It became clear he would become the section’s winningest all-time wrestler sooner than later. All that was left was his first state title. He wanted five. He’ll settle for four. Can he manage three more?
Brundage, as you can read in my newspaper article, was too good for his own good. He was too athletic, too quick, too strong. He was a wrestler in an elite running back’s body. At some point about halfway through the season he realized that nobody could stand up to him at 160 pounds. So he made what could be considered a ridiculous vow—he would tech or pin everybody through divisionals, sectionals, and states. He called it higher goals. Really it was the mindset of a bored multi-time champion. Only Brundage had never won a championship. Third last year—that was it. He just had so much faith in himself.
And it came within an inch of happening. He teched and pinned through divisionals (“He teched a few guys to get some extra work in,” coach Larry McRae said. “But he could pin whenever he wanted to.”), pinned through sectionals, including one in 17 seconds in the final, and pinned his way into the state title match. Against T.J. Neidhart he nearly got three separate pins, but came out with a mere 17-10 decision. And I’m telling you, when I interviewed him in the tunnel, he looked genuinely stoic. Not bummed out, but not happy either. He insisted he felt good, but I’m not so sure. Give the guy credit, he was really committed to that promise.
2) Eighteen wrestlers make the second day. Check. To make Day 2, a guy couldn’t lose two matches. While Division II dropped its early-round matches like flies, Division I kept winning. And DII people like Derrick Longo and Penn Gottfried who lost early battled their way back into the second day.
Section 1 sent 19 in total to the second day. That was half the 38 it put in the state tournament. Aside from those who ended up placing, Joey Hauser, Chris Orlando, and Ryan Osleeb also made the second day.
I was afraid that 2/3 or more of the section would be wiped out after that first day, leaving fewer stories to follow the next day. I bet plenty of fans were also afraid of long gaps between local wrestlers.
The one thing that ended up happening was that all the big guys were wiped out immediately. No one over 152 pounds made Day 2 from Division II. No one over 171 made it in Division I. Was part of that the result of Jon Didio and Alex Othmer getting upset in sectionals?
3) Fifteen wrestlers place in the state. Check. Sixteen placed from Section 1, a new record. Placing requires a top-6 finish.
First place: Brundage, Realbuto
Second place: Steve Rodrigues, Justis Flamio, Joey Grippi, Genta Murayama
Third place: Steve Ramos, Gottfried
Fourth place: Ryan Tompkins
Fifth place: Sam Spano, Luke Speno, Clay Neivert, Dan Manley, Will Carter
Sixth place: Udit Thakur, Derrick Longo
4) One hundred eight five total points. Check. Section 1 blew this goal out of the water, scoring 259. Keep in mind this is combined points between small and large schools. Division I did most of the heavy lifting. It had 186.5, good for third, but only 4.5 points behind second-place Section II. Section 11 handily won the tourney.
Section 1 should be proud of itself. Overall their wrestlers were more competitive than anyone expected, and a lot more than last year, which was actually moderately successful. They picked up almost 100 points on the 2008 total.
So that’s four goals set, and four accomplished. Is it the start of a significant rise for the Section or just an abberation? We won’t know until next year. Either way I’m glad I could be around for it.
One more note: Fox Lane’s 63 points placed it third among all schools, and just a point behind Port Jervis. Swertfager said it was the best he could remember since Mount Vernon was second in 1976. Wantagh finished on top.
OK two more notes. Shenendehowa’s Austin Meys won MOW for the big schools, and rightfully so. He pinned his way through in the following times: 0:25, 0:20, 0:52, 1:59. Imagine that. Like reader s1wss said, the kid didn’t see a coin flip the entire tournament. And you thought Brundage was dominant.
33 Comments
Thank you John Degl
Enough with giving Degl all the credit. Sure he does a great job with the section one elite, but name one wrestler that came into his club below average and won sections, he takes the B+ wrestlers and make them A’s, as opposed to the high school coaches who improve all of their wrestlers regardless of levels. It takes both the high school coaches, the kids clubs,and the mat clubs to produce the athletes that are ready to make it to the next level that they achieve under Degl. Look at John Jay and Fox Lane they have produced year in and year out but do you hear their coaches touting their “credentials”, no you don’t because there is a level of pride in their work that does not need the ego stroke from the parents or the “bloggers”... So do not thank John Degl for section 1’s success, thank the coaches who put in countless hours mentoring their athletes, going to tournaments with them week in and week out, thank the wrestlers who made the sacrifice to be the wrestlers they have become and their family’s who supported them along the way.
thank sIwss hahaha
well time to turn to nationals for a couple of these kids I hope to see Realbuto, Flamio, Grippi, SRod, Brundage, Genta all go….
I hear with the newer nationals format (not the way it was pre 2000’s – make the finals as a JR/SR) that some kids don’t make it because of budgets, time missed from class, other things, but I would love to see some Section 1 kids do big things at Nationals, because you know the LI guys and even the section 9 guys who finished behind us our thinking well it was just a lucky year, they wont do anything at nationals, lets keep proving people wrong
Jake thanks for the shout out
I think one of the flaws at the final was seeing two wrestlers from the same section facing each other in the finals. I think that if two kids from the same section go they should both be in the same 1/2 of the bracket. Section II was by far the dominant section. The Realbuto match was one of the most eciting matches of the night in Division I. In Div II the 135 lb match between two 3X Champs was amazing. Paddock was trying to break the state record for the most wins ever (state record 267). He lost to Alex Exstrom by 1 point in a classic.
Joe B,
I don’t consider 2 kids from the same section in the finals a flaw. Rather, it gives both wrestlers, excellent wrestlers at that, an opportunity to win the state title. Remember a few years back when only section champs went to states, and states was one division only? My we’ve come far. Back then the hot recruit was the runner up in the section 11 tournament – a top level kid who would place at states but couldn’t go. Now he contends for a state title.
i love the fact that they seed it now…...
how can anyone say Sec II was superior…...
10 finalists for Sec XI i think it was …...
and is a predicted top 3 at 96, Joe B do you really think they deserved to finish 1,3,5 in your format, when they proved on the mat to be the top 3 wretlers
Just my opinion…I go back to the old 1 Division format. Section champs only. Sorry if I hurt anyones feelings..Just Old School.
Dear Former Coach,
I agree with you 100%. I don’t deserve any thanks or credit.
The people who deserve the credit are the athletes.
The sacrifices and dedication of the coaches, schools, and families need to be recognized as well.
I am not asking for credit. If people want to thank me why do you take exception? Why do you make statements that are false? Don’t make blanket statements that are so easily refuted.
I run a business. I need to advertise and this is free advertising. I went to all the coaches in Section One at the beginning of this season and asked if I could be part of the solution. Last year ten of the eleven Section 1 wrestlers who placed in the NYS tournament for Section 1 were ISW athletes. However we placed a dismal tenth. Clearly my model was working for my athletes. BUT that wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to run a successful business and help raise the level across the board. So far this year the coaches have been much more receptive than the past 8 years. I admit that my style was a bull in a china shop prior to this year. I am thankful for the 2nd chance. I am thankful for how hard the Section 1 coaches have worked. A few years back the process began and this year the results prove that what coach Swertfager and others have done by uniting the coaches with open mats and a team effort the section can compete.
However to counter your ridiculous statement I will offer some facts.
The Horace Greeley program – My track record with your so called below average wrestlers” You say,”but name one wrestler that came into his club below average and won sections”
Anthony Tortora and Greg Einfrank – Both D 1 wretslers now.
Greg went from obscurity to beating Paswall twice to win his 1st Section 1 title.
Mike cuculo was fourth in Section 1, one year later he took 4th in a one division NYS tournament.
Gibby Craig beat Superstar Mike Martinez to be one of Pleasantville 1st section champ in many years
The list is long and you can check out Brundage’s place the year before he was at ISW and the year after, but I admit James just needed a challenge , anyone could coach him. He is special.
Mike Colagiovanni and Dave Colagiovanni also jumped on the scene. Dave won as an 8th grader lost in ninth, never to lose a Sectional Title match again. (4 timer)
Pat McCabe, Mike Day, Mike Esteves also come to mind. Tito Rodrigues never won he took third but he was not what you would call gifted. He worked his tail off.
The all time greatest success was Harrison Cook. Ask his coach. He was not above average at this sport and he won a title.
This year I have to admit all the place winners are above average, but I have coached Brian Realbuto since he was 8 years old. There is a picture of him doing a pullups in the barn at age 8. He was special then and now and anyone could coach him as well. Justis has been here since he was in third grade. Lenzi since 5th grade. Justis is now at Olympic club but he is an integral part of why Grippi, Rodrigues, Realbuto, Stauber, Lenzi, Osleeb, Kane, Tanio, Genta, Watterson, Ahearn, and many more kids are where they are now.
I won’t brag about anything I ever done. I am the first person to admit the athlete deserves all the credit. The support of family, coaches and schools are of course requisites.
There are facts and lets just stick to those. Your statement is false and indefensible. Coaching matters. Look at Iowa and how quickly they went back to the top. Look at Ohio State. Those coaches made the difference. While I don’t consider myself in the same universe as Brands or Tom Ryan, they were my teammates and I worked for Tom Ryan for three years. Don’t dismiss that or how hard I work with these kids. You will never know what I do. I will never tell but if ISW stands for anything it is this, through hard work you can go beyond you potential and achieve things your talent won’t get for you. Work conquers all!
JOHN DEGL
i thought ISW stood for Iowa Style Wrestling ?
I’ve got to give credit where credit is due and from my own personal observations this year, John kept his word. As he stated, when he did speak to the coaches at our meeting last fall, he did acknowledge that in the past, his style was a bull in a china shop. But he promised to step back during competitions, to observe without coaching his kids at events, to be supportive of the high school programs, and to avoid any provocative postings on-line that may split out section into the ISW kids and everyone else. John, in my eyes, did exactly those things this season and I believe may have built up a level of trust with many coaches in the section that may have been a bit reluctant to believe he could change his approach. I also must add that John did make a point of speaking to my wrestler, Steven Ramos, in the stands during the finals to compliment him on how well he wrestled and to tell him what a great job he did. Ramos is not an ISW kid and John could have easily walked right past him instead of sitting down to talk to him because he “wasn’t one of his kids”. Also, earlier in the year, at the Mamaroneck Tournament when Speno and Ramos wrestled in the finals, John sat against the wall and watched without yelling out once during what turned out to be a wild match. At the Sections, I saw him pulling for his kids without shouting over coaches or bringing attention to himself. And it is only now, at the conclusion of the season, not during the season, have I read any major posting on-line by him or any of his kids. These were the types of changes he promised to make and John, at least to me, kept his word. Some may still not like his style but few can question his passion for the sport.
is someone going on a bunch of computers at work and voting for Speno or something ???? i mean no disrespect for the kid, who had a great tournament, he won the matches that he needed to, he ran into some studs, this group of place finishers at 96lbs isnt done, they will def get some more medals at states from that group, and i would guarantee at least a few more state championships out that group, with the 7th grader who took 2nd Corey Rasheed, the Soria twins 1st & 3rd are 11th graders, Brienza the St. Anthony’s kid who beat Speno in consi-semi’s (beat Kramer 6-0, beat Speno 6-4, good work Sam) is only an 11th grader, Speno is a freshman and Barbato is a sophmore 1-6 all back next year, 96-103-112. 119 should be pretty interesting next year at the state level and we will play a part in it with Speno probably still at 96, if not 103 he looks small but i dont know his actual weight, Realbuto probably up to 112, Srednicki whoever at 119 thats if Rodrigues is up at 125 (he looks like he is going to grow a bit)
Here is the info on the Cifuni tournament this Sunday March 8th:
http://68.192.133.253:8000/Desktop/kids_club_tourn.pdf
To Former Coach,
If you take the time to write about John Degl and make comments, why not sign your name. It’s easy to talk crap and then not sign your name, why cause you sound stupid? John’s passion and love of this sport goes beyond anything I have ever seen. Just because he runs this club and many of our boys enjoy going,doesn’t mean they are taking anything away from their school coaches.This is just an extra perk that we can do for our boys to make them better at a sport that they enjoy and take much pride in. Degl is a club for our boys to attend all year long, mostly on the off season and if they choose to go during the season. Why is it that when someone is doing something good and along with the boys learning from their coaches at school, there is always someone like yourself making comments that makes no sense. Yes I am a fan of John Degl’s wrestling club, I support his club,because he supports, teaches and helps my son without taking anything away from his coach at school. He is man who cares when our boys do good and when they have a bad day. He is hard on the when needed and shows them and makes them understand what it is to want to be the best at something, this is why he will never sign his name as “Former Coach” . John deserves much “Thanks” as do our boys coaches in school. What about all the camps that kids go to in the summer months? Why not comment on that! Anyway, John,don’t cut yourself short by reacting to the Former Coach by stating you don’t deserve credit, you do and our boys love your club and most of all love what you do and what you stand for.
diane
John Degl, you do a great job. Your club is the elite club of section 1 and the young men that wrestle in it are tough. You don’t need to justify what you do to anyone, you have my respect as a fellow wrestler.
I look forward to the challenge of building a program that will catch and pass the programs that benefit from the ISW club being in their backyard. They are good and it will take alot, I am up for the challenge.
Competition is good. Never mind the “everybody is a winner” garbage that bleeding hearts have tried to jam down our throats for the past decade or two. There is only room for one person on the top of the podium. If you don’t like being beneath it, out work your competition and take it next season.
April 1 the Clarkstown South open mats start. Mondays and Wednesdays until August from 7-9:00pm we will welcome all wrestlers that hold a current USA wrestling card. Come with the intentions of working hard and getting better, no bleeding hearts allowed!
Coach Rogers
Brown & Gold Wrestling
What ever it takes for the Kids and Sect one…what ever it takes !!
cya
Hi I am actually very interested in joining ISW and would love some more information on what its all about or when it starts up again.. does anyone know where i can go about getting this.
John,
My apologies for not being clear in what I was saying, you do a great service for some of the wrestlers in section 1. My purpose was not to rile up a crowd or illicit a response from you but rather put the credit back on the athletes and their families where it belongs. No one who has ever coached a high school sport has ever done it to get their name out there and if they have they are wrong. Again I am sorry that I came off as the way I did, I have a great amount of respect for you and the ISW program as a whole, I just feel it takes ALL aspects to make a great section not just one club. By the response of parents and other coaches alike it is clear that you have ammended how you go about business and that can only better the future for the wrestlers in this great area.
Pleasantville Parent,
I am not hiding behind anything, however blogging is just that blogging, and when I see John again face to face which inevitably I will as the wrestling community is small I will apologize face to face man to man for the misinterpretation of my message, but that is between him and I not between someone parent who I do not know… But since you were so offended by my ststement I apologize to you as well… congrats to your son on his wildcard.
Former Coach,
I do think the athletes deserve all the credit. If coaches made champions then I would have 4 NCAA titles under Gable. Clearly my career was my own for good or bad.
I hope anyone who is training for Nationals is willing to scrimmage because we start workouts tomorrow for the next step and our ultimate goal, National Champions.
JOHN DEGL
Pleasantville mom, why do you call someone out for hiding behind a screen name, when you do that same thing? Unless the mom family named you pleasantville than im sorry.
Oldschool,
if you read my email, I signed my name, which is Diane, I was not hiding at all, not my style.
Former Coach,
thank you for your response, It is that we do have a lot of respect for John and his club. My son did not get the wild card, so I’m not sure why you said that, but I just wanted to make that clear. There was just on wild card given and that was to Mike Kane, which is not my son. With that said, I thank you for taking the time to clear things up, we are all here to support our son’s and the wrestling community which is really made up of some very nice people,so again thank you to your response.
Diane
Diane
John Degl
great job.
i wish you were still coaching MAHOPAC.
mahopac sleeper,
i think we all wish john was still coaching mahopac
You two mahopac people are crazy. Yes Degl does a great job with his club there the best club in town(the only club in town)and I might not of had a section champ if there was no isw. But Sal is the best coach in section one he might be a lil nuts and marchs to his own beat but no matter what group of indines he is coaching them to a sectionl tittle. I know its been a few years but Sal will be back on top you can bring that to the bank
Those of you who know me know i wouldn’t be the first person to come on here and defend Imbimbo, I almost think the people making those posts aren’t even from Mahopac, unless its some parent that is made and doesn’t see that their kid isn’t that good, or its the kid himself.
Ossining could have gone on a big slide after Ken Calao’s solid late 80’s early 90’s teams, but Imbimbo comes down from Monroe-Woodbury, enough said there, when he got a teaching job down here. Maybe two kids were winners without Imbimbo, Julius Smith and Bill Denholm. Julius was an amazing athlete that probably could have won state with any coach not to take away from Imbimbo but the kid was a beast, imagine a bigger, more athletic James Brundage, for today’s fan a hybrid of Brundage and Austen Meys ( not an avg, but a cumulation of their skills). Bill placed at states in his first full season, but the kid was a football player and had freak strength and athleticism for his size,pretty easy to coach.
Other than that it was just good athletes, that he made very good/great wrestlers. He didn’t coach a run of winning season, it was a run of dominant seasons, dropping 1 match or none, sometimes only losing to Monroe-Woodbury. He would get the most out of everyone in the wrestling rooms, we were a dual meet machine. Countless all-section wrestlers because he would have kids peaking come divisionals and sectionals. I think we wrestled a divisional final with 10 kids one year, the year we won the sectional title we had 8 kids in the semi-finals.
8 kids-
John Ryan would have probably quit wrestling if it wasnt for Imbimbo,
John Barrett was a product of the Imbimbo era at Ossining from day 1-graduation and then on to Ithaca himself,
Diego Santiago was a kid who most coaches let slip through, Imbimbo turned him into an all-section wrestler and a kid who struck fear in top-seeds because of his strength, with more dedication you could almost compare the kid to Tim James but thats tough to do)
Rex Harris, a great athlete that Imbimbo pushed to be the best of his class
Jake Hughto a kid who ran on guts and effort and fashioned his wrestling after Imbimbo
Rich Galen, he was a product of Imbimbo’s wrestling room, in great shape because of his conditioning, working with great wrestlers because of what Imbimbo did for every wrestler shark bait groups were loaded with all section wrestlers (Gallen, Tornambe, McRae, Downer, Hughto)
Rich Downer, kid was an amazing football player, Imbimbo took that and made him a great wrestler
Myself I feel short on two fields but not on the mat, he wouldnt let me fall into the same traps i feel into in other seasons, he got more out of me than any other person did, because he cares about pushing people to better themselves.
Anyone that doesnt want that can have Degl. Now I’m sure anyone would want an Iowa guy as a coach, but to air it out in a public venue, makes it seem like you don’t want Sal….
don’t bite the hand that feeds you …..
watch what you wish for…..
whatever else you might want to apply
because the guy can flat out coach, and has done enough already
and for all you who think all he cares about is winning, the guy reached out and helped Joey Hauser even though he wrestles for L/P not Mahopac
sorry for the book, actually i just hope someone sees it because the blogs are going quiet now…...
but i just wanted to show the guy didnt just win because he had a ton of talent, he wasnt winning with the talent of fox lane, with Degl’s club putting all the studs together, he was breeding his own, the Ossining wrestling room might have been the closest thing to working out with Degl’s if you look at the list of Ossining all-section guys during his time, more all-section guys coming back to the room to work out, the strong Pee-Wee program that he made sure had lots of help, Now that he is gone there isn’t even a Pee-Wee program anymore…
First and formost, CONGRATS TO ALL THE SECTION ONE PLACE FINISHERS, ESPECIALLY BRUNDAGE, WAY TO BRING IT HOME JAMES!!!
I have been to many, many states and this was by far the best one and the KIDS made it possible. Hope to see you all do as well next year.
As for Degl vs coaches, whatever makes kids better. One thing section one does not need is more EGOS at the top.
Degl Shmeegle.
John works hard, the coaches work hard, the kids benefit. What we do need is more strong clubs and different places for kids to go. Coach Rogers is correct in that.
As for you folks up in Mahopac, stop your complaining. All you ever do is bitch and moan. You had great coaches there like Iasollo and the guy before Degl(sorry I cannot remember his name) your complaining drove them off.
Degl was there and drove himself off. He was a little immature at the time to be a high school coach. But he has learned from his mistakes and has grown personally and professionally and continues to help kids throughout the section.
You want Degl back, fine. But Sal is one of the best coaches in section one, in the room and on the mat.
No offense to Larry but I would love to see him back in O’Town tommorow.
S1wss is a little biased but everything he said is legend.
To add to what he said, Billy was a direct result of Imbimbo. Yes the kid had the raw ability, but we all know that big strong football players do not become state placers without a great coach, especially in only 2 years of wrestling. Without a great coach Billy would have been just another big strong all section wrestler but not a champion.
Also, one cannot forget how Sal molded Fermin Figueroa. Fermin and Billy were the first 2 of “Sal’s” home grow section one champs, the first 2 of many.
In closing I hope all the kids do well at nationals.
And to James Brundage, thanx again.
To the Ossining AD: Don’t you think it is about time we get 2 more trophies in the gym for Julius and James. I mean Julius was Ossining’s first state champ in anything and 15 that is fifteen years later, still no recognition. LONG OVERDUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lets get a multi-sport athlete award going in Ossining, and lets make Julius and Stephanie Leveille honorary firsts for winning the award…
I just can’t bite my tounge any longer. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a wrestling guy. I actually never had an interest growing up because my HS didn’t even have a program, (at least I din’t know about it). Since I’ve been around section one coaching different varsity sports I’ve had the pleasure to see some wrestling matches. I must say that I am very impressed with what it takes to suceed in this sport. With that said I do know Coaching and if you know one you know them all as far as what it takes to suceed as a program and how to keep that winning mentality for years at a time. Not many programs in section one including all sports can say that their program is consistantly in the top five year in and year out. This is why I have a hard time reading about guys like John Degyl, Sal imbimbo, bill swartzfeger among others, and for some reason don’t see JOE AMUSO”S name written anywhere. Let it be notes I have nothing against those men, just the names I see and hear about.Unless I am blind to what good coaching is all about, this guy screams “what it’s all about!!!! A high school program that WINS every year for thirty yes I said thirty years. I say win but when I say it I mean more….. This man has one an infiniti amount of wrestling matches in his career but what he needs to be recognized for is the man he is and the ethics and character that his wrestlers get to see and imitate everyday. I’m not Naive to the new age training methods and influence and importance that outside clubs and summer teams have had on high school sport. I now coach a t the D1 level and know that high school coaches have it rough in todays world. For that reason alone Coach Amuso’s numbers and personality of his program should be honored. Its about becoming a better all around individul and learning what it takes to suceed in life. It is obvious that this man knows how to do both. How does he coach this everyday? By being Coach Amuso!!!!! THis is earned as a coach. When your character and personality take over and your athletes follow based on what they see. Its not about telling whoever you see about “your guys” and getting them a D1 scholarship. ITs not about the list of guys you coach over the summer or during the season. Just a wake up call for alot of people ” none of the kids you train or coach are”YOUR KIDS!!!!!)if they were yours you’d be taking them home everynight. This is why Coach Amuso’s sucess is so impressive. He’s been able to keep the same phylosophy he ’s had for 30 years. His kids still show up and wrestle for him. That to me is what its all about. Do your athletes perform everyday without worrying about making a mistake or embarresing you or better yet fearing what he may hear from you after the match or game. Coach Amuso demonstrates what coaching is all about. That it can be done without putting undue pressure on your kids or making them commit to one sport only. I’d love to see some of these profit organizations punch into work everyday at 3:00 for practice after working all day and not speak about what they will do for you or who they know or even worse what your coach doesn’t know!!!!Then tell that person that he will only receive 40cents for the day. The reaction will tell everything. If that person can put the 40 cents behind them and do it for the kids and demonstrate what a good person is all about, then I want that person as my coach the next Joe Amuso!!!!
ummm yeah there was a lot of posts about Amuso congratulating him when he got inducted into the state hall of fame…... the Imbimbo/Degl stuff came up from someone posting they wanted degl back at ‘pac… no one mentioned Joe because why in the world would he leave fox lane?
Hello The Booch and S1WSS,
I read your posts regarding the 2 other Mahopac posts. I like both of your responses but I don’t think you can pass judgement that quickly unless you’re directly involved in the present day situation. It’s a nice gesture to help out another kid who is not a teammate of Mahopac, he is willing to do that but he is not willing to give other Mahopac teammates the time of day while they’re on the mat. If you were there to witness what goes on behind the scenes your post would be a lot different. It was a shame to see Mr. Oddo step down, he was a big asset to the Mahopac wrestling program in previous years.
So i guess Sal had nothing to do with all those sectional champinships.Sure he had the horses.Its always the same at Mahopac,Moheney ,Tony,Keevins,Corace.You drive every coach out of town.
There was some kid from Ardsley, i dont remember who he was, and no offense to Pete V. and whoever else was down in the Ardsley wrestling room but Imbimbo basically adopted the kid into our wrestling room, he would come up from time to time to work out with us, and was up a lot in the off-season, a lightweight kid, not a superstar, so much different story than the Hauser one, but still the same story, the guy does care, and he reached out to help a wrestler, there was the Hen Hud kid with the prosthetic leg, he would come down and work out along with other Hen Hud wrestlers, guys in our league and he would let them come down and work out with us every now and then.
he gives up summer after summer to run empires…
when i was at Ossining wrestling was year round almost a break between empires and fall open mats…. we would go to spring tournaments as a team. not just 2/3 kids in one car, but would like up a bunch of rides and get a whole lineup out to spring tournaments. and yeah maybe other coaches do that, but he would have to at the very least not do that to be considered a bad coach