SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga varsity wrestling team is preparing for another season, and aiming for “lofty but realistic goals,” according to coach Jake Zanetti.
“I feel like last year was a really good year for us as far as putting ourselves on the map,” Zanetti said.
The Blue Streaks faced some fierce competition last season from Burnt Hills and Ballston Spa. Although Saratoga couldn’t quite beat those opponents, they lost by only one match.
“We were on the wrong side of it, but we were right there with them,” Zanetti said. “That kind of put us on the map, and this year we’re looking to kick the door in and be on the winning side of those duels.”
The team has some returning success stories, as well as promising newcomers. Two Blue Streaks wrestlers competed in the state tournament last year. Junior Taylor Beaury finished seventh, and senior Pat McKinley qualified. This year, McKinley will return as a heavyweight.
Coach Zanetti said that junior Gianni Delgado will “make waves.” He also praised a group of sophomores that have been wrestling since seventh grade; Danny Dacey, Luke Stoutenburg, Hayden Passaretti, and Trey Edwards.
Zanetti praised his assistant coach and youth head coach Brendon Polcare for doing “a great job with our feeder program, the youth kids… he’s pumping those kids out year after year.”
“I do think we’re going to have a pretty tough lineup, start to finish, lightweights to heavyweights,” Zanetti said.
“We just want to compete every time we’re out there, whether we get the win or not. We want to put our best foot forward and at least compete to the best of our ability.”
Coach Zanetti also shared a preview of this year’s tentative lineup...
101 — Brendan Stoutenburg (7)
108 — Jayden Burke (9)
116 — Kyle Edwards (12)
124 — Chase Matter (10, 4th at Sectionals)
131 — Taylor Beaury (11, Section Champ, 7th in NYS)
138 — Luke Stoutenburg (10)
145 — Danny Dacey (10)
152 — Hayden Passaretti (10)
160 — Trey Edwards (10)
170 — Gianni Delgado (4th in the Section)
215 — Pat McKinley (12, Section Runner-Up, NYS Qualifier)
285 — Logan Devizzio (11)
