Wrestling: Dambro, Marino both end up in sixth place at Hershey

HERSHEY — The greatest wrestling season in Garnet Valley’s history culminated Saturday night at the Giant Center, when All-Delcos Michael Marino and John Dambro bowed their bleached-blond heads to accept their sixth-place medals.

Marino became the Jaguars’ first two-time state medalist and Dambro’s breakthrough return to the PIAA Class AAA mats gave Garnet Valley another first — two state medals in the same year.

“This was, without a doubt, the best season we ever had,” Dambro said. “I definitely exceeded my expectations and we all had fun, did well and had a really close-knit team.”

Just how close was readily evident in their shocking hairdos — Dambro’s brainchild — which enabled the senior teammates/best friends to stand out in the crowded and chaotic arena, which hosted 840 bouts and crowned 28 champions in two classifications over three days.

“My goal was to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish here, but I went from last week (at the Southeast Regional) potentially a point away from not even getting here to medaling again,” Marino said. “So I’m pretty pleased.”

Garnet Valley coach Rocco Fantazzi was quick to spread credit for the program’s brilliant run, listing assistant coaches Keith Layman and John Conte among the many who helped bring out the best in the Jaguars.

On the list of accomplishments by the Jags were their Central League season and tournament team titles and a third-place finish at the Class AAA District One-West tourney. By finishing fourth at the District One Duals, Garnet Valley also became the first team from Delaware County to qualify for the state duals.

“Coming into the year, I thought it could be one of our greatest seasons ever or we could fall flat on our faces,” Fantazzi said. “It’s great to have both Michael and Johnny medal. I’m proud of them. Michael definitely deserves this for himself and what he’s done for the program, and he showed what he’s capable of when he doesn’t hold back and just lets it fly.

“Johnny proved that if you come up here and get a taste of this level of competition, even if you don’t medal your first time, you understand what it takes to get back here.”

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