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Wrestling: Tuckers extend unbeaten league match streak to 25

Mattituck:Greenport:Southold wrestler Carmine Vergari 010616

Having wrestled and beaten bigger schools and powers like Brentwood, Islip and Patchogue-Medford this season, it can be hard for Mattituck/Greenport/Southold’s wrestlers to get up for the lesser competition they see in Suffolk County League VII.

Nevertheless, the Tuckers have a streak to uphold, and they did so again on Wednesday night.

The Tuckers didn’t send their full “A” team out onto the mat. Lucas Webb was given the night off. Tanner Zagarino was rested as well to recharge his batteries. Some second- and third-string wrestlers were given a chance on the mat at Mattituck High School. A couple of Tuckers wrestled out of their normal weight class, said coach Cory Dolson.

A team has the luxury of doing that when it knows it has 24 free points coming its way from four forfeited bouts by Port Jefferson. It all added up to a 52-20 win by the slightly watered-down version of the Tuckers, their 25th consecutive league win over a period covering three undefeated league seasons.

Port Jefferson went in front on three occasions, the last time when Matt Murphy edged Lucas Johnson, 6-5, at 152 pounds for a 20-18 Royals lead.

After that, though, the Tuckers’ Jake Skrezec scored an 11-2 decision over his opponent at 160 pounds, Chris Lepore; Tim Schmidt pinned Port Jefferson’s Ryan Walsh in 58 seconds; and then the four forfeits were rung up on the scoreboard.

Perhaps the most anticipated bout of the evening was also the most exciting, turned in by two sophomores at 113 pounds. The Tuckers’ Jack Bokina triumphed, topping Vin Miceli, 5-4. Bokina has a 3-0 career record against Miceli.

Bokina’s twin brother, Luke Bokina, needed only 32 seconds to pin Robert Williams at 106 pounds.

The Tuckers’ entry at 138 pounds, T. J. Beebe, was impressive, defeating Dallas Brett by technical fall at 5:59.

Carmine Vergari was a 12-2 winner for the Tuckers at 145, beating Alex Frohnen, 12-2.

Sterling Nenninger brought Port Jefferson 6 points from his pin of Johnny Lisowy at 5:37 of their 132-pound match.

Port Jefferson’s Matteo DeVincenzo won by technical fall at 126, stopping Steve Massotti at 3:33.

Also having their arms raised for Port Jefferson were Ricky D’Elia (7-1 over Brian Feeney at 99) and Joe Evangelista (7-1 over Thomas Hoeg at 120).

The Tuckers’ James Hoeg (170), Dylan Marlborough (182), Charles Zaloom (220) and Chris Schwamborn (285) won by forfeit.

It has been an impressive season so far for the Tuckers, who hold a 19-1 record, including their first two league matches. The Tuckers have competed in four tournaments, winning three of them and taking second place in the other one. The team’s only loss has been by 6 points to Rocky Point.

Port Jefferson is the last team to defeat the Tuckers in a league match. That was four years ago.

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Photo caption: Mattituck/Greenport/Southold’s Carmine Vergari has a hold on Port Jefferson’s Alex Frohnen. Vergari won the 145-pound bout, 12-2. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)