SOURCE: www.democratandchronicle.com

February 22, 2004

Chinn, Gillespie to defend titles

By James Johnson , Democrat and Chronicle

Full Text: Copyright © 2004 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Company Inc.

BROCKPORT — It's not simple to maintain championship form for an entire wrestling season.

Yet Canandaigua senior Trevor Chinn and Webster Schroeder junior Gregor Gillespie make it look so simple.

The only 2003 state champions from Section V earned another chance to show they are among the best in New York after winning their large-school weight divisions Saturday during the SuperSectionals at SUNY Brockport.

Chinn joined Canandaigua assistant coach Marty King as the only Section V wrestlers to qualify for the state meet five times.

King was a two-time state champion, and Chinn will try to earn another title next weekend at University at Buffalo after he won at 135 last season.

"It's a pretty good accomplishment," Chinn said after he defeated Spencerport's Adam Snook by technical fall in the 145-pound final and improved to 39-0 and 229-22 for his career. "I haven't believed what people are telling me.

"It still feels like I'm the young one, like I'm trying to fill the shoes of the seniors. It hasn't sunk in yet that I'm a senior and that everyone is looking at me."

Gillespie defeated Greg Gelinas, Chinn's teammate and friend, by technical fall in the 130-pound final to earn his fourth trip to states. He was New York's top 119-pound wrestler last season.

"It's probably the most excited I've been since the first time I went," Gillespie said after he improved his career record to 183-10. "There was a lot of built-up pressure.

"It's relieving to go again. I've been working for it. I'm really looking forward to next weekend."

Gillespie is one of the few wrestlers who can get away with wearing a Superman T-shirt. No one has defeated Gillespie in nearly two seasons, including 42 matches this winter.

It almost seemed bizarre to watch Gillespie easily handle an aggressive, sectional class champion like Gelinas. The match was over in 3:26.

"He's a friend of mine and he's always a tough match," Gillespie said. "I felt really good today, I felt on. Everything just clicked."

Pittsford 112-pound junior Jasen Borshoff had to recover from two surgeries on his right knee in a span of eight months before he charged to a 36-3 record and his first trip to states.

When Borshoff arrived at SUNY Brockport, he ran into two wrestlers who beat him earlier this season.

He edged Spencerport's Derek Gray on overtime criteria during the semifinals and joined his 103-pound brother Kyle on the large-schools state team with a 5-1 win over Brockport's Nick DellaRocco.

"I had a rough start to the season coming back from those couple of surgeries," Jasen Borshoff said. "I lost to those two kids, but I came out to win today.

"It's nice to go with my brother. We are the only brothers going. It's my dad's birthday today, so it's a gift. He's happy."

So is 135-pounder Nate Patterson, one of three Wayne wrestlers to earn berths on the large-schools team.

Patterson was a second away from losing on overtime criteria, but he broke the grip of Canandaigua's Kevin Morrice to just beat the clock. When time expired, both wrestlers celebrated but Patterson's arm was raised after a quick conference between referees.

"I saw the referee give me a point and I saw (Morrice) celebrating," Patterson said. "I didn't think they were going to change their minds.

"I was trying to get a reversal, then I just tried to push away. We were kind of sweaty so (it worked)."

Irondequoit junior Al Gianforti pulled off his first win over Spencerport's Mike Terenzi in four tries during the large-schools 140 final.

Terenzi topped Gianforti during the dual meet between their teams, then in the Monroe County Tournament finals and the Section V Class AA finals, before Saturday's 3-1 result.

"The score kept getting closer each time," Gianforti said, as he sported a huge smile after raising his hands in triumph over his head earlier. "It was my turn I guess."

Spencerport, the top-ranked large-school team in the state, will send two wrestlers to Buffalo.

Senior 189-pounder Alex Baxter is 39-0 after he pinned Greece Athena's Matt Rowntree in 1:05. He also earned his 100th varsity win during the tournament.

Eighth-grader Bryan Bourne switched the momentum his way during the large-schools 119-pound final and pinned Hilton's Joe Ranzenbach using a half-nelson hold.

"I got my half on him and I kept driving and driving," Bourne said. Gates Chili 275-pounder Phil Byers joined Attica 119-pound junior Pat Hagerty, Kendall 145-pound senior Donald Williams, Pembroke 103-pounder Nicholas Price, Canandaigua 112-pounder Kyle Ingraham, Baxter, Gillespie and Chinn as repeat members of Section V's state team.

"You have to wrestle everyone, be on your toes all of the time," Williams said. "You mess up, that could be it."