team title at the 40th annual New York State Wrestling Championships held at the
Onondaga War Memorial. Over 7,000 spectators witnessed a superior display of
wrestling prowess as Suffolk County showed its strength as the senior laden squad
crowned five individual champions and for the first time had all of its 15 qualifiers
achieve all-state status. They also set an all-time scoring record with 256 points and
claimed their state leading 14th sectional championship. Section Eight (Nassau County)
had a great showing as they crowned three champions and had 11 place-winners for a
runner-up finish with 194.5 points and edged Section Four (Binghamton area) which also
crowned three winners and finished with 187.5 points.
Steve Palacios (125) and Stephen Sair (145). Flynn (35-0, 136-13) won four bouts and
had a tough finals opponent in Gregor Gillespie (43-3) of Webster . He opened the
scoring by using his overhook/stepover to score the first takedown and later added a third
period escape for his 3-0 verdict and claim his second state title. Palacios (35-0, 137-18)
handled his first three opponents but was pushed in the finals by Jason Chase (38-4) of
Rush Henrietta, he managed to score early on a single leg takedown and later with his
relentless leg attacks took a 5-3 lead. Chase battled back and forced the match into
overtime, here Palacios shot a quick high crotch and secured the takedown and a 7-5 win
to earn his state crown. Sair (34-0, 135-29) defeated three foes en route to the finals
where he squared off with Section Three's top wrestler, Chris Horning (45-1, 169-16) of
Baldwinsville. Sair scored on his snap/spins takedowns, but Horning rallied to take a 5-4
lead into the third period. In a wild finish, Sair who had a 7-5 lead saw Horning tie the
bout at 7-7 after an escape and a clasp call with 38 seconds in the match. Sair hit a
lightning quick double with four seconds on the clock and posted an exciting 9-7 victory
and concluded a superb senior season and a spectacular career.
Islip's Jose Viera at 152. Finnerty (35-0, 77-10), a senior, won three matches before
reaching the finals. In the championship bout he was embroiled in a back and forth match
with Scott Pruzman (32-1, 101-17) of Valley Central, as he scored a late third period
reversal and held on precariously in the waning seconds for a close 8-7 decision, much to
the delight of the entire Brentwood coaching staff. Viera (32-1, 101-17) was impressive
after posting a 4-3 opening round decision, he recorded two falls before gaining the
finals. In the finals, he shocked previously unbeaten Dwayne Hash-Barberis (39-1) of
Scotia-Glenville, as he scored on a chin drag takedown and converted it into a stunning
fall at the 3:42 mark.
its five finalists and earning state crowns were James Strouse (140) of MacArthur, Greg
Lawrence (171) of Calhoun and Chris Weidman (189) of Baldwin. Strouse (39-0, 102-
30) won three matches en route to his state title. In the finals, he led 4-0 over Nick
Hawrylchak (42-3) ofGuilderland, but as the bout tightened, he scored on a double leg