The Hauppauge wrestling team added the League IV tournament title to the Dual meet championship won this year in the League Championships held at Hauppauge qualifying sixteen wrestlers for the Suffolk County tournament next week.Hauppauge entered twenty wrestlers into the tournament sending an unbelievable seventeen to the semi-finals. The Eagles won the tournament with 335.5 points winning by over 100 points to the second place finisher Riverhead. This was the most points scored in a league tournament by any Hauppauge team. Twelve wrestlers won in the semifinals equaling a Hauppauge record for most finalists since 1998. Hauppauge ended with six champions. Jesse Marro an 8th grader won his first tournament at 96lbs. pinning two opponents and winning a close 4-3 match. John Oschmann followed at 119lbs. with an impressive win over last years Suffolk County runner-up Nikken Fauntleroy, 6-3. This was John second league championship and hopes to add a second Suffolk title next week. Sophomore Keith Collado won the 125lb championship with four wins including an impressive 11-1 decision in the finals. Senior Kevin Stimpfl won at 130lbs. with two exciting come from behind wins in the semi’s and finals. Austin Schneider, a sophomore won the 145lbs title for his first league placement with two tech-falls and a 4-2 victory in the finals. Senior Paul Novacek won his first title at 215lbs. Paul ended with two pins and a forfeit for the championship. Placing second for Hauppauge included Stephen Dutton 112lbs., Jon Potts 140lbs., James Billig 145lbs., Derek Bobek 160lbs., Dave McGarry 189lbs. and Scott Munro at 215lbs. Potts, seeded sixth pinned the third seed Chris Lugo in the quarter-finals avenging an earlier season loss. He then pinned two more opponents earning him the Most Fall Trophy with three at eight minutes and five seconds. The surprise of the tournament came from McGarry and Munro. McGarry seeded fourth had a great tournament pinning three opponents to get to the finals. Rarely does a sophomore do well in the upper weights however David’s been improving all season and was ready in the leagues. Freshman Scott Munro was a last minute addition to the tournament losing his wrestle-off for the second 189lb spot earlier in the week. Do to his hard work all season both Coach Messina and Goodfellow felt, although he was moving up a weight class they would enter him in as the second wrestler at 215lbs. for the experience. Much to everyone’s delight Scott, unseeded, knocked out the second seed of the tournament Chris Dean from Copiague and followed with two more wins to get to the finals, including a win over the third seed Ed Powers from Riverhead. Wrestling JV all year, this was Scott’s first varsity competition and he came up big as the league runner-up.

In all, the day was outstanding for the Hauppauge community, not only to host the tournament, but to have the team dominate and achieve success in such a fine fashion. There are many factors that make all tournaments, seasons and careers successful but one thing is for sure, without the help of all the parents and alumni who spend hours donating their time continuously, success would not be realized. I am fortunate to live in Hauppauge and feel blessed to be surrounded by family members, former wrestlers, terrific parents, and administrators who all add to the success of our entire program. Having Hauppauge’s former Assistant Superintendent and my high school wrestling coach, Lou Curra by my side once again helping at the tournament along with my wife, son and daughter not to mention my entire family all adds to the enjoyment and longevity of our success. Joe Tasman, our Athletic Director supports every program in Hauppauge while spending countless hours away from his family insuring our excellence and success year after year. Surrounding my self with quality people like Jerry and Ana Goodfellow, Roy Rodas, Charlie and Donna Clackett, Hauppauge’s youth coaches Nick and Sheila Mauriello, Ramona and Paul Bisono, Scott Munro, Steve Dutton, Mark West, Tom Mullen, Stu and Fay Lepkowsky, Ken Lesser, Sal Dinolfo and all the other Hauppauge parents from the youth to the varsity level that have contributed their time and effort towards our program and for making the 2006 League IV Wrestling tournament a success.

John Oschmann went 4-0, Winning three matches by pin was Steven Dutton. Also winning three matches on the day were Jesse Marro 96lbs., Keith Collado 125lbs., Jeff Lesser 130lbs., Kevin Stimpfl 135lbs., Austin Schneider 145lbs., James Billig 152lbs., and Dave McGarry 189lbs.