2004-05 Eagles Home

ONTARIO — Gus Zaso admits he considered giving up.

His older brother wrestled three seasons for the Wayne High School varsity team. Zaso was stuck on the JV last season, save for an emergency call-up when some of his teammates had to deal with injuries and issues.

"The thought crosses your mind being a junior on the JV," Zaso said about quitting.

But pride is an invisible, yet very large muscle found in Wayne's wrestling room. Zaso did not quit, made into the Eagles' varsity lineup and is very glad he gave it another try.

"It was just relief to finally be a part of an amazing team," the 152-pound senior said.

What a high school wrestling team it is.

The Eagles made local history after they defeated Spencerport 28-20 during the third-place match at the Union-Endicott Duals. Wayne became the first Section V or area school to beat Spencerport after 114 dual meets during almost an 11-year period.

Real wrestlers know the score, so when 189-pounder Joe Paz won his match, 3-1, the Eagles were soaring after jumping for joy.

"People knew that we were tough," Wayne 171-pounder Ryan Lamagra said. "They didn't know we were tough enough to beat Spencerport or Canandaigua."

Wayne edged Canandaigua, its Wayne-Finger Lakes League rival, 28-26, on Dec. 22. Again, it was sweet redemption for the Eagles after losing matches by six points to Spencerport and Canandaigua last season.

"Wayne has a good program," Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot said. "It's well-coached. It's a program that puts its time in.

"When you keep doing good things, that's what happens."

What develops is a product a team takes pride in.

"You always have the previous year in mind and want to make this one better," 137-pounder Luke Baum said. "Every now and then, we have alumni come back.

"Leo Urbinelli is a Division I wrestler (at Cornell University), but he comes back to show us stuff. You want to come back and help the program get to the next level."

The Eagles are ranked third in the state among large-school teams. No Wayne team has had a losing season in Scott Freischlag's 15 as coach.

"It's a way of life for everyone in this room," Lamagra said.

It's why a Section V champion like 140-pounder Nathan Patterson can be found working with a struggling teammate during and after practice, or matside cheering on teammates after a tough loss.

On the nights that Wayne has a meet, team members wear a shirt and tie, similar to how football players wear their jerseys at school before games.

Wrestlers also help organize bus trips to tournaments for people who follow the team, including adults who have watched the Eagles for 20 years. It's common for 700 to 800 people to attend home Wayne matches.

"Everyone is always into it," Zaso said. "They don't just sit there. People at school ask each other, 'Are you going to watch the match?'"

Next up for the Eagles is the Eastern States Wrestling Classic at Sullivan Community College in Liberty, Sullivan County. Wayne tries to make a mark in an event that includes 44 teams from seven states.

"Our guys are going to see every style of wrestling," Freischlag said. "They have come to realize in the last two years that they can compete with anyone."

Ted Hargarther has watched a Wayne wrestler or two compete.

Hargarther, Freischlag's assistant, wrestled for the school team and is in his 25th season coaching the Eagles.

He watched the team, in leaner times, work around pillars inside the room it used for practice.

Hargarther also watched the program take gradual steps forward under Freischlag. Each year Freischlag added more structure to his practices and encouraged team members to build their skills at off-season tournaments, like the Empire State Games.

"They pay attention if they want to be champions," Hargarther said. "He's constantly doing homework, and lets them know on their level what's expected.

"If they aren't lifting weights, they are in here working."

And working. And working.

"I was very unsure of myself my first year," sophomore 103-pounder Steve Singley said. "Watching these kids practice, I was taken back by it. It takes awhile before you can stay with them.

"To be on the Wayne varsity, you really have to push yourself. A lot of good kids get bumped out of the lineup and have to wait."

Zaso did just that for three years, and is glad that he did.

"I would lose wrestle-offs by one or two points," Zaso said. "Everyone knew we would have a good team again.

"But we beat Spencerport this year. We look at it as a good way to end the first half of the season."