Trabert achieves wrestling milestone
East senior breaks school record for career wins
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's Sean Trabert, back, set the school record for most career victories after winning the 140-pound weight class at the 2008 Pete Rao Memorial Lewiston-Porter Invitational Wrestling Tournament last weekend at Lewiston-Porter High School. Trabert has 99 victories. File photo

Ever since he started wrestling for Williamsville East in eighth grade, Sean Trabert has had his eyes on the school record for career victories. Now it's all his.

The East senior won the 140-pound weight class at the Pete Rao Memorial Lewiston Porter Invitational Wrestling Tournament last Saturday at Lewiston-Porter High School to give him 99 career wins. The old record was 98 set in the 1998-99 season by Steve Joyce.

"I've been trying to get it for the past five years," said Trabert, who improved to 21-6 for the season. "All of my workouts, all of my focus has gone towards getting the record."

"I was real happy for him," added East coach Henry Fumerelle. "He's been wrestling really well. I can remember when I brought him up as an eighth grader and he won the East Aurora Tournament before it was the ECICs."

Trabert defeated Eden's Derek Zittel, 7-4, in the finals. Trabert said he was winning 2-0 after the first period and 7-2 with 13.3 seconds when Trabert gave up a reversal. After the match, Trabert said he stayed on the mat with his head down overwhelmed with emotion. He also gave his big brother, Justin, a 2003 East grad, a huge.

"He's been my main motivation for the record," said Trabert. "I've been wrestling him since I was in fifth grade."

Trabert beat St. Joe's Scott Ketcham, 9-0, and Lockport's Jack Green, 4-2, in the first two rounds.

Trabert is 99-29 in his high school career. Another win would make him the only East wrestler in history with 100 wins.

"That would mean a lot," said Trabert, who wants to major in business management in college.

Trabert is deciding between Oswego State College, West Virginia University and Bowling Green State University.

Trabert was the only champion East crowned but the Flames had several wrestlers place to earn 104 team points and take fourth out of 14 teams with 104 points.

Sam Beichner, Max Cohen and Will Kelly each placed second at 96, 130, and 171 pounds, respectively. Jacob Beichner took third at 125. Matt Callari finished fourth at 135.

Beichner pinned Grand Island's Zach Wojnar in 4:38 and beat Franklinville's John Wilcox, 7-2, and was pinned in 2:52 in the finals by Fredonia's Carlene Sluberski.

Cohen pinned Fredonia's Kaleb Puleo in 5:20 and North Tonawanda's Derrek Drass, 9-4, in the semifinals. In the finals, Cohen was beaten 8-4 by Medina's Dominic Montesante. Fumerelle said Cohen was up 4-2 going into the third period.

Kelly pinned Franklinville's Phil Anderson in 3:16 and doubled up Fredonia's Vinnie Scienza, 4-2, in the quarterfinals and semifinals. In his first appearance in a tournament final, Kelly was pinned in 3:46 by Lockport's Shaun Reynolds.

Beichner defeated North Tonawanda's Tyler Bruce, 4-2, to take third. Beichner opened the tournament with an 8-2 victory over Lockport's Dennis Emke. His only loss came in the semifinals, an 8-2 loss to eventual champion, Eric Velez of Medina. Beichner beat St. Joe's Eric Konwiczka, 8-3, in the consolation semifinals.

Callari won his first round match over Eden's Pat O'Brien, 5-4, but lost in the semifinals to top seed, Dylan Duncanson of Medina, 11-2. In wrestlebacks, Callari beat Grand Island's Andy Lalonde, 13-3 and was pinned in 30 seconds by Fredonia's Alex Lacen, to take fourth.

Steve Meyer and MP Joseph each went 1-2 at 160 and 189, respectively.

Meyer lost his first match to Jeff Schrecongost of North Tonawanda, 15-3. In wrestlebacks, he pinned Franklinville's Seth Swartz in 4:55 and lost to Lockport's C.J. Ralyea, 4-0, in the consolation semifinals.

Joseph pinned Grand Island's Noah Yanicki in 4:57 and lost 5-2 against Fredonia's Corey King in the semifinals. Joseph was pinned in 1:34 by Niagara Falls' Ken Hamilton in the consolation semifinals.

Ben Mikac went 1-2 at 112. He opened with an 8-6 loss to Evan Wells of Medina. In wrestlebacks, he beat Niagara Falls' Mike Calvello, 3-1 and fell to Lockport's Kyle Burdick, 3-0, in the consolation semifinals.

East (7-1) wrestles at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against Amherst and at 6 p.m. on Friday at Pioneer.

Amherst Central

Matt Weber led the Tigers with a fourth place finish.

Weber pinned Williamsville South's Mike Lang in 2:24 and beat St. Joe's Pat Kraft, 17-1, by technical fall in 5:01 in the first two rounds. He was beaten 18-4 by Niagara Falls' Dan Mitravich, in the semifinals.

In wrestlebacks, Weber edged Anthony Gugino of Grand Island, 5-1, and fell 10-9 to Garrett Farrington of Franklinville to take fourth.

Corey Damon went 2-2 at 189. Pete Battaglia finished 1-2 at 215 as did Nick Hernandez at 171.

The Tigers' finished in 13th place with 25.50 team points.