Grapplers Win Big In Locust Valley!

Quinn Knauer and Danny Simmons pose for a photo-op between matches.

Members of the GC Grapplers Youth Wrestling Tournament Team made a very impressive showing at the Annual Locust Valley Tournament last Sunday, Jan 21st, and they brought home the "hardware" to prove it!

18 Grapplers - including 4 GC Town Team members - competed and wrestled fantastically, and most left that day with a medal around his neck. All together, 15 medals were won: 7 Gold; 4 Silver, and 4 Bronze.

The a.m. Midget group (3rd & 4th graders) was outstanding: Tournament Team boys John Simmons, Timmy Schmelzinger, and James Sullivan all demonstrated superb moves and superior strength in their bouts to win Gold in their weight classes. New-comer Chris Moscatiello of the Town Team brought home the Bronze in his first wrestling tournament!

The Novice group (5th & 6th graders) wrestled hard against some very stiff competition and nabbed many medals. The Reina twins, Jack & Thomas, dominated their bouts and proudly brought home matching Gold medals. Matty Schmelzinger, who has won a reputation for totally dominating his opponents, won the Gold; spectators and coaches from all local teams can often be heard commenting on Matty's outstanding talent! Louie Hernandez won all of his matches to earn the Gold as well.

GOLD is GREAT! John Simmons, Timmy Schmelzinger, and James Sullivan all brought home Gold Medals.

Tom Cozier, Quinn Knauer, Brian Defliese, Eddie Gillespie, as well as Town Team Dan Moscatiello, all wrestled hard and well, winning their first bouts; they each took the Silver in their respective weight classes.

Danny Simmons, coming off a Gold medal victory in last week's Massapequa Tournament, faced an extremely tough opponent in his first bout and lost, but nabbed the Bronze in an exciting Sudden-Death overtime period in his final bout.

Matt Jarvis is so fierce and so quick, and he has all the moves, but his opponents always seem bigger than him! Matt wrestled his you-know-what off and made off with the Bronze, even after being the victim of an oblivious referee who did not stop illegal choking by his opponent!

Matt Greene came up against unusually tough opponents this tournament and really worked his moves and strength. Matt unfortunately came up short this time, after having won Silver in Massapequa last week.

Matt Jarvis flips away for a reversal - 2 points!

Town Team wrestlers James Guerriero and Patrick Murphy showed great promise as they wrestled in their first tournament; they are on the right track and just need a bit more experience to get' em next time!

The GC Grapplers Tournament Team is a dedicated group of boys who are committed to excellence, practicing hard 3 times a week under the second-to-none coaching of Paul Gillespie and Hofstra star wrestler John Masa. Rob Jarvis and Ron Lofrese provide outstanding matt-side coaching, and Kathy Lofrese does a terrific job as manager and administrator.

Many thanks to Larry Schmelzinger and Rich Sullivan for their generous donation of the boys' new "Penn State" singlets; the boys look great in them! Also many thanks to Donnelly Mechanical Corp for their continued sponsorship, providing sweatshirts, tee-shirts and shorts for the Tournament Team.

Thomas Reina dominates! Jack Reina has this opponent PINNED! Matty Schmelzinger has total control over the situation!