Wrestling: No complaints, just wins, titles for 4-0 Tuckers

Cory Dolson could not have asked for a better start from his high school wrestling team this season. His Mattituck/Greenport squad already has won two tournaments and four dual meets.

Not a bad beginning.

The Tuckers (4-0) defeated a tough Longwood team in a Dec 18 dual meet, 39-30, and topped that off with a victory at the Phoenix High School tournament in Syracuse Dec. 21 and 22.

Their most recent win was at the Sal DiFazio Holiday Wrestling Tournament at Half Hollow Hills East this past weekend. They finished almost 100 points better than their closest competitor as they accrued 280 points to Kings Park’s 287 1/2.

“We usually don’t go into that tournament thinking we could win it,” Dolson said. “We didn’t just win it. We crushed everybody.”

While the Tuckers took home four individual championships, their win was buoyed by their depth. Six wrestlers reached the finals and another 12 placed at the tournament.

“I don’t think we ever came in the top three in the Hills East tournament,” Dolson said. “The kids wrestling real well. I have no complaints. The kids are wrestling at a high level.”

Adam Goode, an unseeded junior, led the way by defeating Brandon Ottomano of Half Hollow Hills West, 7-3, in the 220-pound final. Goode was so good that he was voted Champion of Champions by his fellow titlists.

“It’s very cool,” Dolson said.

The win had to be doubly gratifying for Goode, who missed last season after breaking an angle in a scrimmage. He was so focused on returning that he attended about six weeks of wrestling camps over the summer.

“It’s nice to see him succeed, especially after all the turmoil last year,” Dolson said. “I know he was itching to get back.”

The other three champions included:

• Senior Brian Pelan, who raised his record to 12-0, defeating Kyle Maddock of Westhampton Beach, 5-3, at 132 pounds.

“He’s solid right now,” Dolson said. “He’s working very hard to get to the states.”

• Senior Christian Angelson pinned Dan Murphy of Sayville in 1 minute 44 seconds at 160.

• And senior Stephen Ostrowski, who backstopped the Tuckers’ soccer team to the Suffolk County Class B title, decisioned Nick Procopio of Sayville, 4-1, at 285.

Eighth-grader Jack Bokina took second at 99, pinned by the hosts’ Philip Spadafora in 5:32, and senior Ryan Bergen was pinned by Dan Arkow of Bellmore Kennedy at 152 in 5:55.

Dolson certainly has liked what he has seen, but he expects improvement. He plans to use reserves at a dual meet at Smithtown Christian Friday, saving his starters for the Westhampton Beach dual tournament on Saturday. Last year the Tuckers finished second in that tournament.

“We’re going to try to win it,” Dolson said. “We’re going to have some tough competition, so we’ve got to get ready.”

But so far, so good.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more right now,” Dolson said. “It’s early. I want to save our best for the very end.”

He meant the county championships on Feb. 15.

“We’re doing great,” Dolson said. “We’ll get even better, though.”

Not exactly words that the Tuckers’ opponents want to hear.