SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – Larry Courtien did not want to leave anything to chance Saturday in a Section 1 Large School Wrestling divisional at Sleepy Hollow.
The Somers junior recalled 2012, when he failed to qualify for sectionals because he did not place among the top four at the divisional meet. Courtien said he would earn a wild card into the 2012 Section 1 Large School Wrestling Championships, but that was not satisfying enough.
Courtien cemented his place in the 2013 Section 1 Large School Wrestling Championships with a 6-0 win over Sleepy Hollow’s Edwin Jimenez in the 138-pound final.
The top four finishers in each weight at each of the four divisional tournaments advance to the large-school championships Feb. 9-10.
Teammates Dylan Realbuto (126 pounds) and Mark Lasar (160) also won their respective weight classes. Courtien said coming into Saturday, he did not feel that great.
“I felt a little tired and I felt I didn’t have a great first two matches,” said Courtien, who is now 33-4.
Courtien was prepared for the final after losing to Jimenez, 4-3, in the Kohl Tournament 138-pound final two weeks ago.
“I knew it was going to be a really tough match so I trained really hard this week, working on the things I felt I needed to improve on,” Courtien said. “I knew I had to stay low and watch for his doubles. I wrestled well the first time we wrestled but I kept going out of bounds, so I wanted to make sure I wrestled in the center of the mat.”
Scoreless after one period, Courtien opened the second with an escape, added a takedown, then scored three back points for a 6-0 lead.
“I planned on working reversals but I was able to get out right away,” Courtien said. “I had turked him in the Kohl, but we went out of bounds. Once I got the three backs, I wanted to make sure I held him there and held my lead after that.”
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