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P'edge wrestlers are NC Champs
Plainedge thrived against legendary larger wrestling programs and placed second in Nassau County individually while winning the dual meet championship. The undefeated season in dual matches (totaling all wrestlers points) comes just two years after Plainedge and other sports teams nearly had their season canceled when voters rejected the proposed budget before a massive fund-raising effort helped salvage the program. "We beat teams three times the size of us," said Plainedge head coach Rob Shaver of the schools with higher enrollments that the Red Devils edged out in 2007. Some of Plainedge's impressive triumphs included a 36-22 win over Wantagh on Feb. 3, 47-17 over Island Trees on Jan. 17 and 43-15 over Bethpage on Jan. 10. The success carried into the off-season with Shaver coaching the New York State team that competed at the 2007 Brute Showcase Duals in Delaware from April 13-15 with several Plainedge wrestlers participating. Helping to lead Plainedge toward the conference and county titles were juniors Rocco Cervini, who broke the school record for wins with 42 and pins with 30, and Ed Giron, who also hit the Red Devils record books with 157 takedowns. Cervini was named All State and All County finishing fifth in the state, while Giron earned All Conference accolades and will continue his wrestling career at the collegiate level for Springfield College this fall. Other wrestlers who shined for Plainedge in 2006/ 07 included All County honorees Evan O'Brien, Tome Rende, Peter Stramiello, Matt Rich, John Makastchian and junior Jesse Sgaglione. O'Brien, a senior, was also a National Collegiate Wrestling Association scholarship recipient and along with senior teammate Stramiello will continue his wrestling career at Nassau Community College next year. Rich was a New York State qualifier during his successful 2006/07 season. Shaver said the point of the season he knew he had something special was at the Red Devils second tournament at Sayville High School when his team stepped up to major competition and came through under pressure. "It was just one kid after another that seemed to have a great match," said Shaver. "They just came out of nowhere." Plainedge's All Conference wrestlers in 2007 included Jason Casazza, Patrick LaScala, Rob Ishak, Stephen Spurgeon, Ed Giron, Nick Camera, Anthony Minnici, Rob Gawrych, Steve Speranza, Steven Corrado and Mike Avona. Joe Cusimano, Mike Rossi, Rich Rizzo Donald Polizzi, and Bryan Fitzgerald all earned All-Division accolades during the Red Devil's dream season. Shaver was also named Conference III Coach of the Year.
Shaver said the team's work ethic contributed to their success with the wrestlers lifting and training on their own after practices and during the off-season. The Red Devils also had numerous 6 a.m. practices throughout the year. "They trained like nobody else," said Shaver. "I can ask anything of them and they will do it."
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