As I rode upstate to Athol Springs, NY with Monsignor Farrell Assistant Coach, Jason Bross, I was told the story of how the Lions’ coaching staff assembled one day approximately four years ago and looked to the future. With a talented, but still raw group of freshmen staring them in the face, the MF brain trust knew that the day was near that the Staten Island based school would again claim the hardware
As I rode upstate to Athol Springs, NY with Monsignor Farrell Assistant Coach, Jason Bross, I was told the story of how the Lions’ coaching staff assembled one day approximately four years ago and looked to the future. With a talented, but still raw group of freshmen staring them in the face, the MF brain trust knew that the day was near that the Staten Island based school would again claim the hardware that had eluded them for nearly two decades. A lot of insiders felt that 2008 would be the year that the Lions returned to the top of the hill. However, having been left without the services of senior leader, Rich Benigno, due to unfortunate circumstances, the Lou DeStefano led Lions had to watch as Chaminade High School claimed their sixth consecutive Catholic State Crown. Since that day, every hour, minute, and second of the past year has been focused on one common goal, to win it all in 2009. With a core group of four returning champions, and six additional CHSAA State placewinners returning from last year’s runner-up squad, it there was ever a time to believe that the CHSAA State crown was S.I. bounded, it was now….
And today, at a little past 6pm, belief turned itself in reality. Led by five champions and four runners-up Monsignor Farrell had finally earned the right to call themselves the best Catholic league wrestling team in New York State. The blood, sweat, tears, etc endured over the last 365 has yielded a gold mine. And in this gold mine, was a community of parents, coaches, and overall friends of the program that were brought to outbursts of tears as they watched their boys realize their collective dreams. Continue reading “Farrell Wins First CHSAA State Crown Since 1990; 5 Champions Repeat”