RANALLI LEADS THE CHARGE INTO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Senior is among 11 SBP qualifiers headed to Lehigh

February 20, 2010

A couple of weeks ago Rob Ranalli was a wrestler without a weight class.

Now he’s a state champion.

Ranalli capped the most tumultuous time in his wrestling career with the highest of highs when he went out and became the lone St. Benedict’s wrestler to claim a title in the State Prep Championships on Saturday held at Blair Academy.

Ranalli’s effort helped the Gray Bees place second in the team title behind nationally-ranked Blair, which sent 12 wrestlers into the finals with 11 coming away with championships. The State Tournament also served as a zone qualifier for next weekend’s National Prep Championships at Lehigh (Feb. 26-27) in which a few teams from New York also competed for the first time in the tourney’s history.

“A couple of weeks ago I felt like all the time I spent on the mat was wasted,” said Ranalli, who lost a wrestle-off to compete in the State tournament at 130 pounds, the weight class he wrestled at all year. “I was just really disappointed because I wasn’t going to get a chance to finish off my career.”

The senior was so distraught after the wrestle-off that he took a few days off away from the team. But after some reflection, coupled with some prodding from teammates and coaches, Ranalli regrouped and decided to enter the State Prep tournament up two weight classes at 140 pounds.

“Wrestle-offs are part of wrestling and what transpired is what transpired and there’s nothing I could do about that,” explained Ranalli. “I just needed some time off to get my head together and actually came back refreshed and ready to give it everything I had.”

Ranalli said the time off allowed him to come back stronger because he didn’t have to cut weight anymore. He was able to give his body some time to rejuvenate after the rigors of a long season of dieting and training. He capped his comeback in stunning fashion by winning all of his bouts at 140 and claimed the title with a decision over Jack Wedholm of Blair in the final.

“It would have been easy for him to hang up the shoes, but Robbie stuck it out and came back after soul searching and gave us a big shot in the arm,” said St. Benedict’s coach Solomon Fleckman. “It was a very gutsy performance.”

Ranalli, who placed second in the State Preps last year at 125 pounds, will now embark on a run aimed at placing in the top eight of his weight class, which automatically earns All-America status, at next week’s National Prep Tournament.

“In retrospect, the rest did me some good and I feel really confident right now,” said Ranalli, who still wears a protective mask to protect the scar he has after suffering a cut over his left eye earlier in the season. “This is my last chance to prove myself and I want to go out and show what I’m made of. I’m glad it all worked out.”

Notes: Although Ranalli was the only champion, he wasn’t the lone bright spot for the Gray Bees on Saturday. Zach Jacobs (119 pounds), Whitney Forte (125), Matt Aaron (130), Ochirbat Bayanjargal (145), and Bobby Bah (152) all had runner-up finishes and qualified for next week’s National Tournament.

Jacobs advanced to the nationals at 119 pounds for the second straight year. He pulled off a shocking upset in the semifinals on Saturday by posting a fall over Justin Seim of Hackley (N.Y.), who came into the match with a 29-0 record. Jacobs (25-10), who lost to nationally-ranked Mark Grey of Blair in the finals, is excited about his return to nationals.

“It feels pretty good, but I think I could have done better (against Grey),” said Jacobs. “Now I’ve got to get back in the (practice) room and just turn up the heat and go after it in nationals.”

Also becoming a national qualifier for the Gray Bees were Chris Dowdy (135), Isaiah Cromwell (189) and Riad Abu-Smail (215), who each placed third, as well as Anthony Johns (112) and Greg Casimir (171). Dowdy picked up career victory No. 100 with his final win during the consolation round.

– By Ron Jandoli
– Photos by Christy Worsoe