Sports Notebook: Ward Melville's Piccininni Advances to County Semis

Ward Melville's Nick Piccininni, wrestling at 96 pounds in the Division I Suffolk County championships, advanced to the semifinals.

He recorded two pins on Sunday at Stony Brook University and will face Hauppauge's Chris Mauriello.

Melville's Erik Tangen lost in the first round, but has a chance to place third if he wins out Monday morning. Thanks to the wrestle back bracket, Tangen, wrestling at 171, recovered from his defeat by Copiague’s Clint Boone and beat Islip’s Joe Sabbatino, 11-2. He’ll face Longwood’s Dyland Seybolt next.

Rob Kraus, Ward Melville’s only other wrestler at counties, lost to Central Islip’s Giovanni Sanchez at 119 pounds in the first round, and lost to Sayville’s Nick Pesko in wrestle backs.

Stony Brook battling in Division II

The Stony Brook School will have three wrestlers in the semifinals Monday: Hunter Hulse (96), Austin Hulse (125), and Tyler Anderson (171).

Ward Melville Runner Competes at MSG

Mary Kate Anselmini ran the mile race in 5:01.70 on Jan. 28 at Madison Square Garden in the 104th Millrose Games, finishing in eighth place. She came in at about 11 seconds behind winner Samantha Nadel of North Shore High School, who ran the mile in 4:50.58. Anselmini in December at the Bishop Loughlin Games, where she posted a personal best of 4:58:06 in the mile.

Fencers in the Spotlight

Sophomore Alexa Antipas nabbed seventh place in sabre at the London Cadet World Cup in January, soaring to a No. 10 national ranking in girls' scholastic fencing. Teammate Alexa Rohas finished in 56th place at the London competition, and sits ranked at No. 16 nationally.