SOURCE: www.democratandchronicle.com

February 27, 2005

Brockport's Irwin earns trip to states
By Kevin Oklobzija, Staff writer
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY
Sunday, February 27, 2005

Full Text: Copyright 2005 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Company Inc.

BROCKPORT - Trevor Irwin was so looking forward to his own little spring break.

A week of afternoon free time sounded so good to him. Just a little getaway from those steamy hours on the wrestling mat before the spring track season started, not to mention some quality time with a junk-food burger or three.

But then the Brockport junior went and canceled his own vacation. On purpose.

Stringing together the best two days of wrestling of his life, Irwin won a trip to the New York State Wrestling Tournament by winning the 96-pound weight class at the Section V SuperSectionals.

Irwin decisioned top-seeded Nick Terenzi of Spencerport 9-7 in the semifinals Saturday afternoon, then decisioned Pittsford freshman Corey Borshoff, the No. 2 seed, in the evening finals, 6-4 in overtime.

"We always say the boy who can put it all together is the one who's going (to states)," Brockport coach James Cannon said. "Trevor wrestled the best he ever has, by far."

A lot of wrestlers can say that. Like Zac Condidorio of Le Roy, who decisioned Nick Price of Pembroke, the defending Division II state champion, by a score of 9-4 at 112 pounds. Like Warsaw eighth-grader Ian Paddock, who posted a dominating 14-0 victory over Attica's Jamie Carpenter at 96 pounds.

And Webster Schroeder senior Gregor Gillespie capped his own strive for five with a blitz of the Division I 145-pound weight class. When he finished off Justin James of Brockport in just 1:05 to win the title, he triumphantly held up an open right hand to signify his five trips to the state tournament.

Gillespie, who won a state title in 2003, was certainly expected to advance. Irwin probably wasn't. At least not in his own mind. But his first-period pin of Newark's Justin Gushlaw in Friday's quarterfinals changed his thinking. "Pinning the kid in the first match gave me all the confidence," Irwin said.

He then defeated Terenzi and Borshoff with creative and inventive moves on the fly.

"We didn't really have a move but we had to come up with something out of what we call scrambles," Cannon said. "He showed tremendous heart this weekend."

Irwin had lost to Borshoff twice this season, 9-0 in January and 11-6 at last week's sectionals.

"Going into the third period he was only down by 2 points (last week) and that showed him how close he was," Cannon said.

The third time was indeed a charm for Irwin, with a takedown giving him the win in sudden-victory overtime.

"I knew everything was on the line and I didn't want to lose to some young kid again," Irwin said.

He lost his free time, however.

"I don't want to go to practice for another whole week," Irwin said. "I was looking forward to a break between sports."

He's looking forward to the state tournament a lot more.