DerBoghossian seeks second chance to avenge last-second loss

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Collin DerBoghossian of Schenectady wraps up Tyler Green of Schuylerville at the Saratoga Invitational Wrestling Meet Saturday, January 9, 2016.

Collin DerBoghossian already had a championship under his belt, and was in contention for an even bigger one, when the worst thing that could happen to a wrestler did.

“We were tied, and he pinned me with a second left,” the Schenectady High School senior said of his loss to Jake Ashcraft of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in last season’s Section II 182-pound final. “I think about it all the time.”

To say the Patriots’ three-year varsity veteran is hungry for another shot at that prize is an understatement.

“My goal is to get the Section II championship. Anything after that is a bonus,” he said. “You’ve got to get what you can out of it or you’ll regret it the rest of your life.”

Schenectady coach Chad Languish said DerBoghossian is a different wrestler this year, and he wasn’t speaking only of his size now that he’s dropped down to 170.

“He’s made a jump overall. Where he saw a weakness, he tried to improve,” Languish said of the future member of the United States Marine Corps. “His skill level is up. Every aspect of offense and defense. It’s a combination of everything.”

DerBoghossian has won just about everything this season, showing a 21-1 record after taking his four matches at Saturday’s Saratoga Springs Wrestling Invitational.

“He took first in Class A. He was second at the sectionals,” Languish said. “He’s definitely motivated.”

There’s a special number he’s chasing, too: 100, as in varsity wins. Saturday’s sweep that was capped by a 5-2 win over Tyler Green of Schuylerville boosted his career victory total to 87.

“It’s something I would like to get,” said DerBoghossian, who played football for Schenectady. “No too many guys get there.”

DerBoghossian was confident he could get to the top of the awards stand Saturday after scoring early-round decisions against Jake Dembrosky of Schalmont and Jacob Griggs of Champlain Valley and pinning Jon Hyatt of Niskayuna in the semifinals.

“I am seeing a lot of new guys this year. I heard about him, but never wrestled him,” DerBoghossian said of Green. “I wanted to tire him out and stop his shoots. I watched him. He went low a lot in his other matches. If I could do those things, game over.”

The 170-pound final was tied at two in the third period when DerBoghissian scored three quick points to secure his victory.

“I got an escape,” he said. “I knew I needed more points. I took a shot and took him down. It’s never over until it’s over, but that was big right there.

“We were having fun the whole match,” he added. “It wasn’t a mean match. He pushed me to the limit. What more can you ask for?”

“He’s just a tough kid,” Languish said of DerBoghossian. “He’ll grind it out. He has a motor that won’t quit.”

While DerBoghossian was waiting for his match, schoolmate Josh Reed dropped a

6-4 decision to Roland LaPoint of Northern Adirondack in the 126-pound final.

“If one of our guys wins, I’ll get pumped,” DerBoghossian said. “If they lose I put it out of my memory.”

DerBoghossian will seek to pad his win total this week when Schenectady returns to Saratoga for a dual meet Wednesday and then hosts its invitational Saturday. DerBoghossian will be looking to go 3-for-3 this season in invitationals that crown individual champions, having previously placed first at the Mohonasen’s showcase event.

“Next week at the Schenectady Invitational, I’ve got to win that,” DerBoghossian said. “It’s ours. If I don’t I will definitely hear about it in school.”

Host Saratoga had three champions Saturday in Spencer Wickert (285), Jordan Sartin (120) and Eric Griskowitz (99).