Newburgh wrestlers off to a good start

By Mike Zummo
Posted 12/21/21

It’s been 22 months since the Newburgh Free Academy wrestling team has competed.

But they’re off to a good start, after dominating the Kingston Tigers in their second home match of the …

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Newburgh wrestlers off to a good start

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It’s been 22 months since the Newburgh Free Academy wrestling team has competed.

But they’re off to a good start, after dominating the Kingston Tigers in their second home match of the season, 54-9 on Wednesday night at Newburgh Free Academy.

“We’ve had two home matches in the last two weeks, and having had 22 months off, I’m pleasantly surprised at how well we’ve wrestled,” Newburgh coach Chris Leggett said. “We went to Columbia two weeks ago and did very well up here. Last week, we’ve only lost one match.”

The most recent dual meet was no contest either, as Kingston only managed one victory, Myles Gordon’s hard-fought victory, 9-7 win over Anthony Manzi at 172 pounds. Kingston’s other six points came to end the night when Bryan Martinez accepted a forfeit at 285 points.

The meet started eighth-grader Cooper Merli, ranked No. 1 by new York Wrestling News at 102 pounds bumping up to 110 to face Logan Shultis. He pinned Shultis in the third period.

“He barely makes the minimum to wrestle 110 and he’s been as good as advertised,” Leggett said.

Merli’s older brother, senior captain Jackson Merli had a shorter night at 145 dispatching Simon Kiluba in 51 seconds. Jackson Merli is Newburgh’s only returning state qualifier from 2020.

“He’s a great leader for us and he’s off to a tremendous start, also,” Leggett said.

Matthew Mercado (126), Matthew Casazza (160) and Joseph Ponesse (215) also had pinfall victories for the Goldbacks.

“Joe Ponesse has been a beast,” Leggett said. “We’ve been bumping him up to 215. He only weighs about 180 pounds and he’s come back. He’s strong and lifts a lot, so he’s been impressive. Even though Anthony Manzi lost tonight, he’s been impressive in his first couple of weeks.”

Losing last season to the COVID-19 pandemic was a hit for the Goldbacks, who don’t have a modified team this year because no one was available to coach it and there are only 26 wrestlers on the Goldbacks’ roster.
This problem is not unique to Newburgh.

“We’re all kind of in the same boat,” Leggett said. “Numbers are down. It was a little transition the first couple of weeks, now that we’re a month, five weeks into it, we’re starting to get the rust off.”

Despite the sporadic schedule in December, the Goldbacks have kept busy mixing in weekend tournaments with Wednesday dual meets and they will compete in the Mid Hudson Tournament at Arlington High School over the Holiday Recess.

The season will kick into higher gear in January.

“We’re always traditionally late bloomers so our kind of easier start as we haven’t had as many matches as we’ve had the past has been good for us,” Leggett said.

Newburgh 54, Kingston 9
102: No contest.
110: Cooper Merli (NFA) pinned Logan Shultis, 4:34
118: Jordan Busby (NFA) def. John Mera, 11-8
126: Matthew Mercado (NFA) pinned Cody Maddix, 3:32
132: Kevin Segali (NFA) won by forfeit.
138: Tyler Busby (NFA) tech. fall Zachary Waddell, 15-0, 5:59
145: Jackson Merli (NFA) pinned Simon Kiluba, 0:51
152: Alec Grogan (NFA) def. Leo Burns, 12-2
160: Matthew Casazza (NFA) pinned Aaron Dovel, 0:55
172: Myles Gordon (K) def. Anthony Manzi, 9-7
189: Christopher Leggett (NFA) won by forfeit
215: Joseph Ponesse (NFA) pinned Spencer Radell, 0:36
285: Bryan Martinez (K) won by forfeit