Springbrook keeps its hot start going

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006

With four consecutive victories to start the season, the Springbrook wrestling team is already on the fast track to either duplicating or bettering last year’s 12-2 regular season. On Saturday, the Blue Devils extended their undefeated streak in a tri-meet, beating Clarksburg 71-7 and Wheaton 66-18.

‘‘This is a lot of fun for me, to tell you the truth,” Springbrook coach Rob Wendel said. ‘‘It’s great — our team has a real business-like attitude. It might be the hardest working team I’ve ever had.”

Returning state qualifier Carlo Galeano appears headed for a simlar destiny this season, and with pins this weekend against both the Coyotes and Knights, moved to 9-1 in the 145-pound weight class for the season. His brother, Joe (112) also won both his matches by fall, and likewise moved to 9-1. Nadjitade Badje (171) rounded out the impressive trio with two victories by fall, and is now 10-0. Jeffrey Alcidor (140) also captured two victories, making him to 9-1.

In the competitive Northeast Consortium, along with Paint Branch and Blake, the Blue Devils are making an early run for the top spot. The three teams combined for records of 34-8 a year ago, and Wendel knows that the hot early start doesn’t make the team the best yet.

‘‘Right now we’re doing really well, but there’s a lot of season to go,” he said. ‘‘Only time’s going to tell how good we really are.”