Young ‘Pac Wrestling Team Tasted Success

MAHOPAC—The Mahopac High School wrestling team enjoyed a solid first season under coach Juan Torres, going 9-4 in dual meet competition and finishing in first place at the Super 16 Tournament. The Indians also made it to the semi-finals at the Section 1 Dual Meet Championships.

Justis Flamio SKIP PEARLMAN Torres, who came to Mahopac after coaching at Sleepy Hollow, was proud of how the Indians performed this season, despite the fact that they were very young.

“We did not know what to expect,” Torres said. “We finished the season proud of our team. The effort that they gave made it easy for us coaches.”

Many of the team’s wrestlers also achieved individual honors. Senior Justis Flamio was named All-State, All-Section and All-League. Juniors Steve Pagliuca, Tom Viento and Andrew Scopino were all named to the All-Section 1 and All-League teams.

Flamio, who wrestled at 125 pounds this season, was a team captain. Flamio was the Section 1 champ in his weight class the last two years before losing in the finals this season and has been the runner-up at the state championships for the last three years. Flamio, who joined the varsity team as an eighth-grader, also finished in fifth place at the Super 32, one of the most respected tournaments in the country.

Andrew Scopino SKIP PEARLMAN Torres said that one of the reasons why Flamio has become so successful is because he is constantly trying to improve his skills.

“He is around year in and year out training and working out,” said Torres. “He is unbelievable.”

The coach believes that the younger wrestlers learned that they can achieve anything they want through hard work just by watching how Flamio went about his business.

“I think a lot of them saw that first hand with Justis,” Torres said. “He always wanted more.”

Steve Pagliuca SKIP PEARLMAN Scopino is the Section 1 champ in the 285-pound weight class, and made it to the New York State Championships.

Torres said that one of the things that stands out the most about Scopino is the fact that he is very quick and has great balance for someone his size.

“He is a 285 pounder with a 125-pound mind,” Torres commented. “We are looking forward to him having a very special year next year.”

Pagliuca, who wrestles at 130 pounds, was credited by Torres with being one of the team’s best all-around wrestlers.

“He can take you down from all angles and all places,” Torres said. “He brought excitement to the mat.”

Viento, another team captain, reached the sectional semifinals in the 160-pound weight class. Torres credited him with being a great team leader.

Tom Viento SKIP PEARLMAN “He is a true captain and lead the kids by example,” Torres said.

Nine Mahopac wrestlers, including Flamio, Pagliuca, Scopino and Viento, were named to the All-League Team. The others were freshman Zach Boker, freshman Danny Quarto, sophomore Max Bachmeir, senior Brian Carson and sophomore Mike Spinelli.

Torres believes that Boker has what it takes to be very successful over the next three years.

“He competed all year at 96 pounds,” Torres said. “He is very strong and he is going to have a good career over the next few years.”

The coach pointed out that Quarto, who wrestled at 119 pounds, was an unknown at the start of the season but got a chance because one of his teammates got injured. Once he got to compete, he did very well for the Indians.

“We did not really know much about him,” Torres commented. “He was just phenomenal for us.”

Torres credited Bachmeir, who competed in the 125 pound weight class, with doing well despite being in one of the toughest weight classes in the area. He believes the youngster will get better if he fixes a few things.

“He was in a tough weight class,” Torres said. “He knows he has got to work on his takedowns.”

Carson, who was a first-year varsity wrestler, competed at 140 pounds and was praised for his hard work and attitude.

“He was a class act,” said Torres. “He just went about his business and let his wrestling do his speaking for him.”

Torres believes that Spinnelli, who wrestled at 152 pounds this season, will be a star for Mahopac down the road.

“He is going to be very, very special for us,” he said. “He is very strong. He is going to be somebody to reckon with next year.”

Although they did not receive postseason honors, Torres credited sophomores Jake Srednicki, Alex Kinkler, Tyler Otero, Mitch Valen, Paul Caruso and freshman Danny Walsh with having good seasons.

“They just came in every day and left everything on the mat,” Torres said. “They made the coaches’ jobs very easy.”

Despite losing Flamio and Carson to graduation, the coach believes that next year’s Mahopac wrestling squad will have what it takes to be successful. That is because the younger wrestlers who experienced success this year will be coming back with more experience under their belts.

“We are going to be very good,” Torres said. “Some teams will be aware of us and some teams will not.”