Sophomore Underdog Rises to State Wrestling Championship

CJ Labate stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight in the final round of the in Stony Brook on Feb. 14. A mere one minute and 22 seconds later, he pinned Kings Park's Chris Powers and emerged from the mat a champion. Labate, a 15 year-old sophomore from Commack High School, was the only Suffolk County finalist to defeat his opponent via pinfall. His victory was a surprise to many, but not to those who have been following him throughout the season.

Unranked and unknown, Labate has successfully wrestled his way through the 2010-2011 season with near anonymity. Despite an undefeated 25 – 0 record and 21 pins in the 103-pound weight class, and with only one loss to the highly ranked TJ Fabian when he wrestled up at 112 pounds, Labate remained in the shadows. Entering the League I Tournament as the No. 2 seed, Labate defeated all of his opponents by pinfall, emerging from “The Toughest League in the State” as a champion. Even then, Labate’s name was absent from the list of projected County champions in forums and articles posted online throughout the Long Island wrestling community.

In fact, the Suffolk County Wrestling Tournament’s program guide featured “wrestlers to watch,” highlighting four wrestlers in each weight class thought to have the greatest chance of winning. Though entering the tournament as a No. 4 seed, Labate was not on that list.

In the semifinals at the Suffolk County Wrestling Tournament, Labate defeated New York State’s No. 1 ranked Travis Passaro 3 – 2, stunning all in the wrestling community—except those who've him wrestle this year.

Awe echoed on the pages of the Long Island Wrestling Association’s discussion forum after the tournament: “Wrestlers who deserve credit for proving me wrong or shocking me: 103- CJ Labate... all year long everyone was singing Passaro's praises, including myself... he proved a lot of people wrong and did it with style," said one commenter.

While his success may have come as a shock to some, those who have seen Labate wrestle readily acknowledge his championship potential. World champion and 15-time national champion Technical Edge Wrestling Coach, TJ Hill, considers Labate his prized pupil.

"CJ is even better at freestyle,” said Hill. “He asks the most questions at practice, and can pin anyone from any position. There is no defense to his moves."

Commack’s head coach, Mike Guercio, agrees. “CJ is a true testament to our team motto, ‘Victory goes to those who are willing to pay the price,’" he said.  "CJ’s work ethic is unbelievable.”

Throughout the season, both opponents and coaches watched intently whenever Labate—known as “that CJ kid”—took his stance on the mat. Although usually quiet and assuming, Labate transforms when wrestling, taking command of his matches, and bringing power and intensity that generates much-earned respect. Labate never  outwardly celebrates his victories. Instead, he walks off in a confident silence.

When MSG Varsity highlighted the Commack wrestling team on
Jan. 5th, producer Archie Snowden said "it is not human, the way he [Labate] has been beating his opponents this year." Snowden witnessed only a small sampling of what the Commack community has experienced all season.

As Labate preps for the 2011 New York State Wrestling Championship in Albany on Feb. 25 and 26, his fate as Commack High School's first State wrestling champ remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—come March 1st, the New York wrestling community will recognize CJ Labate.