YORKTOWN, N.Y.—Yorktown junior Rocco Lore was on center stage at the Westchester County Center in White Plains in the Section 1 Division 1 Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, and he proved he could handle the white-hot spotlight that the historic building encompasses, by winning the sectional title in the 285-pound weight class.
“To win a section title it means everything to me,” Lore said. “I’ve been working for this since I was a little kid in third grade that was brand new to the sport and grabbing this title has been my goal for a very, very, long time. So the fact that I was finally able to reach my goal, it almost doesn’t feel real and it’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had, it’s basically indescribable.”
Lore, who is 36-6 on the season, was bumped up from the 215-weight class for the postseason.
“The adjustment wasn’t really anything special considering at club I’ll see 285s every day and last year I went with George (Gjergji) all season every day, so I know what it’s like to against the best of the best heavyweights and what I had to do to beat them,” Lore said. “That was stick to what I’m good at, because not one kid at 285 was on my skill level.”
Lore will now make his second straight trip to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Division 1 Tournament, which will be held Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday March 1, at the MVP Arena in Albany.
Last season, Lore wrestled in the 215-pound class at the state tournament, going 2-2.
“I’m really looking forward to the state tournament this year, but I’m going up there to really make some noise, a lot of guys go up to this tournament just happy to be there and not even thinking much about wrestling,” Lore said. “My goal is to place top three and to do that the key is going be just chip away at these big guys, because I won’t be able to run at all of them, and beat them with the big weight and size difference, so I’ll have to do damage in increments.”
Sophomore Tyler Caricati (170) also earned All-Section honors with a second-place finish.
“My goal in the sectionals was to place top four,” said Caricati, who finished the season 35-11. “Last year I didn’t make it to day two, I missed it by one match. Each year I try and raise the bar and set achievable goals for myself. I worked at keeping healthy and improving my skills each tournament. My coaches, workout partners, and the Empire Wrestling Club, were big supporters to me.”
As a team, Yorktown (19-7) stood out as well, tallying 96 points, to finish in second to champion North Rockland (111.5 points).
Mahopac (93.5), Tappan Zee (93), and Somers (90) rounded out the top five.
“Placing second was really cool as a team because I don’t think our team has ever placed at sections before, so making history felt great,” Lore said. “However, we were able to do this because the intensity we picked up at the end up the season. We ended the season on a high note and each practice it felt like everyone in the room wanted it more. That’s how we were able to get second.”
Two other Huskers earned All-Section honors, Luca Lore (101, fourth), who became the first seventh grader from Yorktown to do so, and sophomore Rowan Larsen (145, fifth).
“I was so proud of us as a team,” Caricati said. “We all get along and support each other match by match. I knew if we all worked hard we would definitely be top three as a team. We have a talented group and I only expect next year to be better.”
Lakeland/Panas
Lakeland/Panas (13-7) had six guys qualify for the Section 1 Division 1 Tournament, including Matt Clyman, who earned All-Section honors by placing sixth in the 145-pound weight class.
“It’s always great to have an athlete make it to day two of the sectional tournament,” Lakeland/Panas coach Dave Bergen said of Clyman, who completed his campaign with a 33-9 record. “It’s a nice way to finish this season and sets him up to be a contender next season. Matt is an extremely hard worker and this taste of success will just fuel his fire to improve for next year.”
Nate Horowitz (101) and Dan Horowitz (116) both finished 2-2 in the tournament, each losing in the blood round, a series of matches that determine which wrestlers advance to the podium at the end of a tournament, leaving them just one match short of being All-Section.
Brian DePascale (131), Dan Hurley (285), and Joe DeSantis (190) each went 1-2 in the tournament.
“Overall, we did OK as a team,” Bergen said. “We qualified six guys which is great, three of them will return next year, which will bring great experience to the room and hopefully set us up to do even better next year.”
Those returnees are Clyman, a junior, freshman Dan Horowitz, and eighth grader Nate Horowitz.
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