Fox Lane's Speno Closes Out Career in Final

ALBANY, N.Y. – Even though it was not the desired result Sam Speno wanted in the Division I 126-pound final at the 50th annual New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships, Fox Lane coach Joe Amuso said he was proud of his senior.

“Sam has had a fantastic career at Fox Lane,” Amuso said. “He set a high standard for himself and worked hard to get to this plateau. He made me proud of him as his coach. “This will hurt for a while, but Sam will realize what he accomplished and that he has a lot to be proud of.”

Maverick Passaro of Eastport-South Manor surprised Speno with a 2-1 victory in the title match Saturday at the Times Union Center.

Speno led, 1-0, going into the third period, but Passaro executed a reversal, at the edge of the circle, with 46 seconds remaining in the match.

A three-time Section 1 champion, Speno, who will attend Binghamton next year and wrestle, finishes with a 44-2 record and overall is 160-13. Speno joins former teammate and current Illinois wrestler, Steven Rodrigues, as the program’s only two-time state finalists.

“This was two fine wrestlers going at it,” Amuso said. “Sam had some really nice shots and the kid had some good counters. I thought it would come down to one takedown, either way, and unfortunately, the kid got the reversal.”

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