Young Freeport gaining experience

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A youthful Freeport wrestling team has gained valuable experience during January that could pay dividends in next month’s individual county championships.

Three Freeport wrestlers were sent to the prestigious Eastern State Duals at Sullivan County Community College on Jan. 12 to compete against the state’s best. A week later the Red Devils stood strong against Mepham in the Nassau County dual meet championships taking five matches in a 49-30 defeat.

“The young guys got out there and could see what they are made of,” said 23rd-year Freeport coach Joe Chetti. “It’s good for them.”

Juniors Lee Mauras and Myles Norris are county champion contenders after strong sophomore season where they finished fourth and third, respectively. The duo tested their mettle against the top state grappler at the Eastern States with Mauras placing seventh at 145 pounds and knocking of four returning state placements in the process

“The way he was competing was tremendous,” said Chetti of Mauras. “It helped him show where he stands.”

Norris won his first Eastern State’s bout at 285 pounds and was then removed as precaution due to back spasms. Despite his time on the mats getting cut short, Chetti was impressed with how Norris stood strong in a challenging environment.

“He didn’t back down from anyone,” said Chetti of Norris, who has battled back from an injury suffered during the Freeport football team’s Long Island championship win against William Floyd in late November. “The experience of him being there was a big plus.”

After the grueling experience upstate, Norris and Mauras were kept out of Freeport’s Jan. 17 county dual meet championship preliminary match against Mepham as a precaution so they can be healthy for the upcoming individual qualifiers. Sophomore Jerry Ellis, who also took part in the Eastern State Duals, junior Neo Fearon and Angel Cazares all, made strong statements in the Mepham match with pins. Jason Figueroa (152) and Giancarlos Solano (170) also recorded victories by decision that Chetti hopes can provide a confidence boost heading into the home stretch of the season.

“We lost the match but I thought we faired very well,” Chetti said.

Freshman Ty`Liel Robinson (99) and junior Troy Saraldi (220) also have potential to achieve All-County accolades in February. Both recorded pins in a 76-12 dual meet win on Jan. 9 against Sewanhaka East.

Freeport will next take to the mats for county qualifiers on Feb. 2 where the Red Devils will compete against wrestlers  from Division 1 dual meet county champion Massapequa and a strong North Shore program. Chetti said he hopes to send around eight to 10 wrestlers into the individual county championships currently slated for Feb. 9-10 at Hofstra University after 16 competed on the big stage last year with a senior-laden team. Any county champions will then head upstate for the New York State Championships at the Times-Union Center in Albany on Feb. 22-23.

 “You want to be peaking at the right time,” Chetti said. “Nobody remembers who won the Christmas tournament, but they remember county champions.”