HOME

Business Links

Wrestlers

Peter Pan in Headgear

by, Carol Carrozza

The old adage:" Old soldiers never die they just fade away" must hold true for wrestlers! I am the Wrestling Alumni Coordinator at Island Trees High School in Levittown, Long Island, and it is my job to locate former grapplers and bring them together once again for this special evening. The wrestlers bond once more and share old war stories. As I have made contact with them, the same question always comes up..."will we be wrestling at this alumni match?" The question is asked with both trepidation and hopefulness. Most proceed to say that though they are no longer in wrestling shape, they wouldn't mind training one more time and trying their skills out once more for old times sake! When I explain to them that they will not have to wrestle, but will be honored that night, I can sense an element of relief, but also disappointment. What is an organizer to do?

Any Athletic Directors nightmare is to have a bunch of out of shape , mature men, recapturing their youth and then getting hurt! I explain to the old warriors that though wrestling on the mat that night may not be possible, that I have never known a wrestler to need a formal setting nor a wrestling mat in order to wrestle!! You know what I mean, matches break out anywhere and anytime! This summer I introduced my brother Carl, a former County champ, to a friend of mine that has competed internationally and still competes today (most recently in the over 40 division, at the Las Vegas Nationals). I watched my brother , as he stood next to my friend, start to get that urge. He was moving in closer and closer, one hand just by instinct started to grab the guys shoulder...he was itchin'. Before long , I found the two of them in stance , shooting takedowns on my front lawn. Aah compulsion, instinct what? From what I have seen,

page 2. Peter Pan in Headgear

the urge to grapple may get buried under years of responsibilities and other things to do..but lies in wait , just below the surface for a lifetime!

Like any other addiction, it waits for its time to resurface from its dormancy! Men who

are total strangers may hold casual conversations, but two men, who are strangers, but know they have both spent time on the mat, do not remain so long! As an objective observer, I have sensed the energy start to flow between old warriors, and then a restlessness as the tension builds , before you know it..bam ..the match begins!! Now IF the two matmen were old friends and meet again, regardless of age, after a separation of months, or years, the energy is instantaneous.After a very mature nod, whether dressed casually or in a suit, it doesn't matter, the match will commence! Peter Pan in headgear... these men have grown up , hold down jobs, many with great responsibilities, have lived through trials and tribulations, but in the lock of a gaze, for just one moment, time has stood still, the circle appears in the minds eye, and like the bull eyeing the red cape,or a moth to a flame, they are contenders again! Its something that once it gets in the blood, never dies! So here's my dilemma, I know this year will be our biggest turnout ever for an Alumni match, the age of computers has made that possible...but how do I please the AD, and make some former grapplers very happy? Well guys, all I can say is, after the formalities, somehow, and somewhere, that mat will appear in the minds eye, and then Mr. AD, look out, cause nothing is going to stop Peter Pan in Headgear!!

dedicated to: Carl and Frank Carrozza, Joe Gonzales, Bob Mayeri and all former grapplers everywhere!

Do You Remember When?

Wrestlers wore tights.
Headgear was optional.
There was no "tech. fall".
There was "riding time".
Tatoos were covered with tape.
Island Trees matches were standing room only.
There was no "sudden death" round.
You got your "Sigma" jacket.
There was "Sportsman" fraternity.
Jolly Rogers was the place to meet.
Jahns had the "kitchen sink".
Couples went to the roller rink.
Wetsons was the hang out.
Wrestlers made the sign of the cross.
You had a "Vic Tannys" membership that the whole team used.
You "pulled" weight.
Dan Gable lost to Larry Owings.
You weighed your weight class!

By, Carol Carrozza
Dedicated to: all the Island Trees wrestlers

Island Trees High School Wrestling Alumni Match of Jan. 1999

by Carol Carrozza

Last year, I managed to get retired grapplers from as far back as the graduating class of 1962 to return their home school of Island Trees High School on Long Island.

Despite a snowstorm, we had more Champs in one place that night than anyone could imagine! They were State Champions, County Champions, Olympic contenders..on and on.. I was so worried that the bad weather would keep the grapplers away..however I should have known better! They came from all parts of the country, catching planes, renting cars, using four wheel drives, any way possible to get to see their wrestling "brothers" again..(of course, wasn't it that one-pointed driveness that made them champs to begin with?!).

They came because they all loved their coach Ted Petersen who died of Lou Gerhig's disease at age 55, after 25 years of coaching. One of his Champs made the Olympic Trials, Don Fay, and named him "the Coach of Kindness". Once youngsters of every size and background, now men, came together to speak of how wrestling gave them discipline and fortitude in addition to how "coach" gave them the love and attention many of them so sorely needed to keep them on the right path in life. These men were now successful and caring individuals who traveled far and wide to honor the coaches' wife as well as the new Island Trees coach who stepped into the awesome responsibility of rebuilding a program that had once been a wrestling dynasty but fell after coach's death.

His name is Damian Garcia, a tough determined matman from Long Beach High School on Long Island, another major wrestling dynasty here in NY. A champion and strong leader, Damian Garcia was welcomed into the Island Trees fold by alumni champs young and old! I can hardly wait to see the turn out this year..and I remembered every alumni wrestlers' career as I watched each of them through the eyes of a young girl. Now it was my honor to bring them all home again! It was a great evening!

Dedicated to: All the wrestling alumni of Island Trees High School and our coach Damian Garcia

Message from Carol Carrozza

As a you all ready know from reading my other wrestling tales, that I was a little girl when I was introduced to the world of wrestling. I watched every match of my "big brothers'" team from the same spot every time. My parents were always there, and I would sit with my fingers crossed and my heart racing. At the time, I'm sure I didn't know I was learning so much from these "grown-up" warriors. All I knew then was that I admired what they could do out there on the mat, and felt that there was something special about the closeness the teammates shared. Its as if my brother's belonged to a second family, where they could show their skill, and win or lose be accepted and loved. These guys would play together, cry together, even go hungry together! At that time, the only thing I knew was that , there was something special about the whole thing!

Years have gone by now, and the gym that was packed then is much quieter now. I enter it today as a teacher, and I can still feel all the wrestlers there; my heart still races! Those wrestlers, have become successful men with kids of their own today. But I wonder if they know all that I learned from them ? As a grown woman, I now know what watching those wrestlers taught me about life...and I want them to know much how they impacted my life!

Dear Wrestlers,

From you I learned, that whether you think you will succeed or fail, you have to rise to the challenge with courage.

I learned that fear can make you go back, when you should go forward; it is better to go forward.

I learned that you can go HUNGRY and still be tough enough to continue...and that few people really know what HUNGER is !!

I learned that if you want something bad enough you make it first in your thoughts and deeds.

I learned that if you must face an adversary, do your homework, know his moves, plan your strategy .

I learned that your body can be tired and hurting, but you always have more to give.

I learned that once you quit, it is over!

I learned that pain passes.

I learned that victory after working hard for something is a high to which nothing compares.

I learned that you can lose and keep your dignity; but it is so much better to WIN!

I learned that you can go through all the correct moves in life, but for it to be really great you must have passion, ...eye of the tiger!

Lastly, I learned, from watching my brothers Frank and Carl, as well as all the rest, go out into that circle come what may, and return, tired, battered, sometimes in victory sometimes in defeat, that in this life, you must enter it with courage, plan and work hard, take the lumps, expect to win, live with passion, you can stand more than you think you can, and never give up!

For when the next whistle blows, the champion of life is ready to go another round!

Dedicated to : My inspirations: Frank and Carl Carrozza, and all of the Wrestling Alumni of Island Trees High School, Levittown, Long Island, NY