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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. -- David Occhipinti has spent his life around the Croton varsity wrestling program, beginning as a four-year-old, coming to matches, rolling around on the mat and sitting in the coaches corner cheering on the team and his father, coach Sam Occhipinti.
The senior was anxiously awaiting his opportunity to one day put the black and orange Croton singlet on and help contribute to the tradition his father and wrestlers established.
Occhipinti was honored for his most recent accomplishment Tuesday, then he and his teammates went out and registered a huge 40-37 win over visiting Ossining. The young athlete was joined by his parents when he received a plaque in honor of establishing a new program standard for wins with 135. This eclipsed the former mark held by 2000 Croton graduate Jon Ratki, who amassed 134 during his varsity career. Occhipinti pinned Ossinings Basten Pasten for his 138th varsity victory.
I remember watching all of the varsity wrestlers when I was a kid and I remember looking up to them as role models and professional athletes. I was always excited about the possibility of wrestling for Croton and my dad. When I started varsity in eighth grade, I thought I would be able to help the team, but I never imagined having 138 victories early in my senior year, said Occhipinti, Crotons only two-time Section 1 champion. "It was awesome, spending and sharing the day with my mom and dad, but also with my teammates as well. This may be an individual award, but I accomplished this as a team and it was great to celebrate with my teammates.
Ossining, which defeated Croton 49-25 in the Yorktown Dual-Meet tournament third-place match last month, won six of the first nine matches. The Pride had a 32-15 lead, thanks to pins by Devonte Harrell (170), Liam McCarthy (195) and Trent Lofaro (220).
Croton seized the momentum when D.J. Frederich, who was trailing in the third period, pinned Alex de la Cruz at 4:17 of the 126-pound bout. Frederich was trailing 12-7 but he took down de la Cruz and put him to his back, resulting in the pin.
Occhipinti and J. P. OMalley (132) followed with pins and John Martin (145) sealed the match with a decision.
D.J. Frederich going out and pinning Alex de la Cruz, one of the best wrestlers in the section, was a huge win for us, Occhipinti said. That gave me a huge adrenaline rush for my match.
Croton was looking forward to this match with Ossining because the Tigers were without a few starters for the Yorktown tournament.
This was a complete team effort and a great win for us, Occhipinti said.
The most exciting match of the day came in the 106-pound weight class as Ossinings Michael Carnivalle scored an 8-7 double-overtime win over Tommy Schlultz. Carnivalle forced overtime with a takedown in the final 30 seconds, then scored the decisive point, on an escape, in a 30-second extra session Croton 40, Ossining 37
160 -- Eli Greenstein (Cr) dec. Christian Rodriguez, 5-1; 170 -- Devonte Harrell (O) pion. Devin Lewis, 1:14; 182 -- Greg Lamb (O) technical fall Sam Goldsmith, 19-4; 195 -- Liam McCarthy (O) pin. Matt Seputro, :40; 220 -- Trent Lofaro (O) pin. Alek Pavloff, 1:01; 285 -- Chris Kraft (Cr) won by forfeit; 99 -- Andrew Barsuch (Cr) pin. Senai Motley, 5:37; 106 -- Michael Carnivalle (O) dec. Tommy Schultz, 8-7 (2OT); 113 -- Henry Sanchez (O) won by forfeit; 120 -- D.J. Frederich (Cr) pin. Alex de la Cruz, 4:17; 126 -- David Occipital (Cr) pin. Basten Pasten, 2:50; 132 -- Dan Guido (Cr) major dec. Frank Lazo, 9-0; 138 -- J.P. OMalley (Cr) pin. Doug Rothman; 145 -- John Martin (Cr) dec. Kevin Gamboa, 3-1; 152 -- Andy Balcomb (O) pin. Andrew Horan.
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