Bears Top Beacon, Struggle at Duals

BREWSTER—The Brewster High wrestling team took down Beacon last week in a League 1-A match, 44-31, but the Bears went into a tough dual meet tournament short-handed over the weekend, and ended up struggling.

Brewster’s Ricardo Lopez controls Andrew Grella of Beacon on way to a pin against Beacon last week. JACLYN IARoss I Brewster, which went into the weekend with a 10-1 dual meet record, went 2-5 at the 12-team, Battlefield Duals in Stafford, Virginia, leaving the Bears at 12-6.

Brewster defeated River Hill (MD), 36-30, and topped Hayfield (VA), 49-24. The Bears lost to Huntington (WV), Connellsville (PA), Colonial Forge (VA) , Hickory (VA) and Sachem North (NY).

“We expected the tournament to be tough,” Bears coach Tom Looby said. “That’s why we went. But we gave up three forfeits a match… we have some injuries, and that hurt us. We didn’t expect to go in there short-handed. But the kids got a great experience, and wrestled some tough competition – which they would not see in Section 1.”

Mike Parisi looks to score points in win over Beacon last week. JACLYN IARoss I Ricardo Lopez – the Putnam Courier’s Athlete of the Month for December – went 6-1 in the 135-pound weight class. Nick Ghelarducci was 5-2 at 152, Dan Santiago went 5-2 at 189 and Mike Parisi was also 5-2 at 103 pounds. Jon Peragine went 3-4 at 125.

“Lopez had a very good tournament,” Looby said. “His only loss was to a kid from River Hill who was fifth in the state last year, and is currently ranked No. 2 in the state (MD). He lost by one point in overtime. Dan was also impressive, he won some close matches, and Mike Parisi wrestled very well – he lost to a Virginia state champ. Nick Ghelarducci also did well in some close matches.”

Nick Ghelarducci stays on top on way to a win against Beacon. JACLYN IAROSSi The prior Tuesday against Beacon, the Bears got wins from Ghelarducci, Bernardo Magalhaes, Santiago, Parisi, Liam Erickson, Jim Duncan, Peragine, Kyle McAlpin and Lopez.

Brewster was set to visit Arlington Monday at 2pm
Jon Peragine of Brewster (top) keeps the pressure on Beacon’s Dorian Shaunn last week. JACLYN IAROSSi