LINCOLNDALE – The championship match wasn’t exactly what Charles Przymylski had envisioned, or what a lot of local wrestling fans had expected, but the Mahopac senior still was pleased with the process. And certainly the result.

Przymylski won the 138-pound title on Jan. 19 at Somers’ annual D’Agnese Memorial Tournament, picking up a 15-0 technical fall over Washingtonville’s Gianni Gennaro.

Przymylski and Somers star Ryan Ball have seemingly been on a collision course all season, as two of Section 1’s top 138-pound wrestlers, but they keep missing each other. They didn’t meet at Eastern States. And, on Monday, Ball aggravated an ankle injury in the waning moments of a 6-5 loss in a semifinal to Gennaro, so the pair of Empire Wrestling Academy training partners were again denied a chance to square off.

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“I’m really excited for that match; I’m really looking forward to it,” said Przymylski, who likely wouldn’t face Ball until perhaps the late rounds of the Section 1 Div. I championships the weekend of Feb. 7 to determine who is better in that weight class.

A Season of Challenges and Triumphs

This year has been a mix of challenges and triumphs for Przymylski. As a senior, he’s been preparing for this moment for years, and the tournament victory marks a significant milestone in his high school wrestling career. The 15-0 technical fall over Gennaro was a strong statement, showcasing his dominance and resilience.

Despite not facing Ball in the final, Przymylski remains focused on the bigger picture. He knows that the upcoming Section 1 Div. I championships will be a critical test of his skills and determination. The opportunity to face Ball in a high-stakes match is something he’s eagerly anticipating.

The Road to the Championship

The journey to the championship was not without its hurdles. Przymylski had to navigate through a competitive bracket, facing tough opponents along the way. Each match required a combination of strategy, strength, and mental toughness. His performance in the tournament demonstrated his ability to adapt and overcome adversity.

The technical fall against Gennaro was a highlight of the event. It showcased Przymylski’s ability to control the match from the start, using his experience and technique to secure a decisive victory. This win not only added to his trophy case but also solidified his reputation as one of the top wrestlers in the region.

Looking Ahead

As the season progresses, Przymylski is focused on the next steps. The Section 1 Div. I championships are just around the corner, and he’s determined to make the most of this opportunity. The potential matchup against Ball is a highly anticipated event, and both wrestlers are eager to see who will come out on top.

For now, Przymylski is taking time to reflect on his achievements and prepare for the challenges ahead. His dedication and hard work have brought him to this point, and he’s ready to continue pushing himself to new heights.

Przymylski said he had a tough time at Eastern States, where he fell short after placing at 124 pounds there last year, but he insists he has turned the corner.

“I worked on it with my coach at Empire and at Mahopac, being able to be disciplined while pushing the pace like I’ve been doing,” Przymylski said. “So I figured that out and I feel back to 100%.”

When he’s at his best, Przymylski is relentlessly aggressive, often stopping just short of crossing a line. He said opposing fans might not understand it, but “that’s the game that wins championships.”

Przymylski wasn’t the only Mahopac wrestler to prevail at Somers. Hector Perez won the 165-pound title with a 7-0 decision over Yorktown’s Adam Yakout and Peter Grishaj won the 285-pound title with a pin in 2:42 over Horace Greeley’s Harrison Weinstein.

Chris Nocca holds on for another big win at 157

Horace Greeley’s Chris Nocca doesn’t lose often, but he sometimes makes his big matches a little more interesting than he would prefer.

Nocca did that again Monday, trailing early 8-0 before rattling off eight straight points and ultimately picking up a 12-10 decision over Middletown’s Daniel Aviles for the 157-pound title at Somers.

“I’ve been, recently, starting matches slow for whatever reason,” said Nocca, who had similar comeback wins at sectionals and states last season. “I think, probably, I’m not getting warmed up enough. I’m not fully ready to wrestle, even if I think I am. Little adjustments as we get to the end of the season.”

Nocca will be among the favorites in his weight class at the Westchester County Championships Jan. 24 at Sleepy Hollow High School. Nocca’s Quakers teammate, Nick Debellis, won the 150-pound title on Monday, beating Somers’ Derek Kuchinsky in a 23-7 technical fall.

On Jan. 20, Nocca announced he had committed to Brown University for wrestling.

T.J. Mauro brings the house down at 190

Three Somers wrestlers before T.J. Mauro fell in finals at the Tuskers’ home tournament. Loghan Dwyer dropped a 5-2 decision to Middletown’s Israel Rosales at 118. Cal Ehrmann dropped a 4-2 decision to Baldwin’s Frantz Byron at 144. And Kuchinsky fell to Debellis at 150.

So the home crowd at Somers had a little noise in their throats as Mauro stood in the circle to face Nick Duran for the 190-pound title. “Let’s go, T.J.,” they yelled. Mauro got going.

He pinned Duran in 5:15 to give Somers one trip to the top of the podium.

“I knew I needed something big, and at the end, I just went for it and I got it,” said Mauro, who also won this tournament last year at 170. “A lot of time wrestling, feeling positions. It wasn’t a real move. I just did it. You’ve got to feel for it.”

Somers coach Ron DiSanto gave Mauro high marks for the win.

“I think he showed a lot of courage after the other kid took the lead in the beginning,” DiSanto said. “T.J. stayed determined. He stayed focused. He fought, little by little, and then he found a position where he was able to pin the kid.”

DiSanto said Mauro’s season has been up and down.

“Overall, he’s doing very well,” DiSanto said. “He’s had some setbacks and he’s been able to persevere. This was a nice way to build some momentum.”

Finals results and wrestler comments

103: Victor Leguillow (Middletown) dec. Nick Hobson (Yorktown), 6-4.

110: Nakhin Stevens (Baldwin) tech. fall Luca Lore (Yorktown), 19-4.

118: Israel Rosales (Middletown) dec. Loghan Dwyer (Somers), 5-2.

126: Carlos Deoleo (Yonkers) pinned Oscar Franco (Middletown), 1:49. “The main thing I like about my approach would probably be my good usage of my environments and probably getting better at my tilts,” Deoleo said.

132: Anthony Noboa (Middletown) maj. dec. Jonathan Suarez (Croton-Harmon), 18-4.

138: Charles Przymylski (Mahopac) tech. fall Gianni Gennaro (Washingtonville), 15-0.

144: Frantz Byron (Baldwin) dec. Cal Ehrmann (Somers), 4-2.

150: Nick Debellis (Horace Greeley) tech. fall Derek Kuchinsky (Somers), 23-7

157: Chris Nocca (Horace Greeley) dec. Daniel Aviles (Middletown), 12-10.

165: Hector Perez (Mahopac) dec. Adam Yakout (Yorktown), 7-0.

175: Alexander Llano (Middletown) pinned Tyler Caricati (Yorktown), 3:59.

190: T.J. Mauro (Somers) pinned Nick Duran (Yorktown), 5:15.

215: Rocco Lore (Yorktown) pinned John Brew (Clarkstown South), 2:24. “I’ve wrestled him twice already, so he knows a lot of my stuff and I know a lot of his stuff,” Lore said. “I know what he’s good at. He knows what I’m good at. But I always have new things I’m adding to my inventory.”

285: Peter Grishaj (Mahopac) pinned Harrison Weinstein (Horace Greeley), 2:42.

Phil Strum is local sports editor for The Journal News/lohud.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Dream wrestling match eludes Przymylski, who wins Somers tournament