Chaminade Wrestlers Excel Against City Schools

It was, as Flyers wrestling coach George Dlugolonski likes to put it, six hours of “free matches.”

Sunday’s dual meet at offered his wrestlers a chance to go head to head against some of the top talent in the CHSAA statewide, in anticipation of state competition later in the year.

“A dual meet is a chance to see what other schools have,” he said. “And see where you’re going to be competitive and where you may need to change what weight class an individual wrestles at.”

Dlugolonski and team will have plenty to think about following the meet. After two relatively decisive team wins versus Iona Prep and St Joseph’s by the Sea in the 10-12 morning session, the Flyers faced talented foes on the mat – struggling against Msgr. Farrell first and then narrowly edging out Fordham Prep.

By the numbers, the day looked impressive. Chaminade beat Iona Prep High School 49-21 and St Joe’s by a 48-30 margin. Against Fordham, it was Chaminade on top again, this time by 42-36.

It was only against the imposing Msgr. Farrell that the Flyers were on the short end of the result, managing to eke out only 24 points against their opponents' 51.

Forfeits also figured prominently in the results for at least one match, as Fordham handed over a full 30 points in weight classes for which they had no wrestlers on hand.

But for all that, the individual performances had to be heartening for Dlugolonski. “I’m proud of the way we wrestled,” he acknowledged after the event. "These are free matches – they don’t count all that much – so it gives us an opportunity to give other younger wrestlers work.”

Key performers for Chaminade on the day were numerous. Declan Gray, wrestling at 140 lbs, earned three wins on the day, pinning wrestlers from Iona, St Joe’s and Fordham – his only defeat coming on a fall against Farrell.

Paul Sferazza got a pin and a big 12-6 decision against Iona at 135 lbs. At 145 lbs, Faglione went 2-2, with a fall in 36 seconds against Iona and another in 5:20 against St Joe’s.

Sean Andrews got his pin against Iona at 215 and was a bright spot for the Flyers against Msgr Farrell, earning a 9-3 decision. Paul Jan earned a fall facing Fordham at 189 lbs.

At 96 lbs, Flyer Michal Maffucci earned a fall against Iona at the 2:31 mark, but was pinned at 102 lbs against St Joe’s. Also winning on pins against Iona were Aloysius Posillico (160) and John Sikula, at 285. Earning falls against St Joe’s were Peter Rooney (119), Robert Wallace (125), and James D’Angelo (130).

Next up for the Flyers is an away meet at Kellenberg 4:30 pm on Feb 2.