VIDEO: Day 1 in Albany

Here are a few video highlights of Day 1 of the state wrestling championship:

Neidhart, Rasheed earn wild cards

UPDATE 2/25/09: Malik Rasheed of Longwood is now slated to compete at 103 after a wrestler dropped out, Longwood coach Mike Picozzi confirmed. Picozzi did not know which wrestler dropped out, but the Lions will now send three wrestlers to the state meet. Malik joins his brother Corey and 215-pounder Ernest James. Malik was originally listed as an alternate for the wild card berth.

Shoreham-Wading River senior T.J. Neidhart earned a second consecutive at-large bid to the state wrestling tournament. After placing second at 160 he'll get a chance to contend for a state title. He placed third in the state last year at 145.

Another local wrestler who will be headed to the state meet is Longwood seventh-grader Corey Rasheed, who lost his first match of the season in the 96-pound county finals. The experience of a state tournament at such a young age should go a long way in his development. His brother Malik, a freshman, is an alternate at 103. Malik also placed second in the county tournament. Twelve wrestlers in total from Suffolk County earned at-large bids and two were listed as alternates. This is the third year of the at-large bids.

That brings the total number of local wrestlers guaranteed to be competing this weekend up to 8:

96-Corey Rasheed

119-Steven Keith

135-Stephen Dutton

145-Anthony Volpe

160-Billy Coggins

160-T.J. Neidhart

189-Zach Buonaiuto

215-Ernest James

The wild card entrants from Section XI were as follows:

96-Corey Rasheed

96-Max Soria

112-Peter DeTore

119-Alex Gomez

125-Tyler Sinisgalli

125-Adam Troy

130-Kyle Wade

140-Nick Terdick

152-Chris Carlucci

160-TJ Neidhart

189-Marvin Titus-Casseus

215-Eric Wooley

County Finals Video

Here are videos of just about the complete matches of Steve Dutton and Billy Coggins vs. TJ Neidhart.

Keith earns some redemption

Shoreham-Wading River senior Steven Keith defeated Justis Flamio of Mahopac in the 119-pound finals of the Eastern States Classic Saturday. Keith lost to Flamio in the semifinals of the state tournament a year ago, ending his bid for a second straight state title. Keith won a 10-2 major decision. Last year Flamio won 8-3 in the state semifinals before losing to Syosset's Nick Arujau.

Keith, however, did beat Flamio at the Eastern States last year as well, 10-0, so it's no guarantee come state tournament time.

Also at the Eastern States, Rocky Point junior Stephen Dutton won the 135-pound title. He beat Andrew Lenzi of Fordham Prep in the finals, 9-1.

Dutton's teammate, Billy Coggins, won the 160-pound title over local rival T.J. Neidhart of Shoreham-Wading River, 3-2.

Miller Place senior Zach Buonaiuto lost to Shenendehowa's Austin Meys in the 189 finals. Meys, the defending state champion, is one of the top overall wrestlers in the country and the road to a state title goes directly through him. Meys pinned Buonaiuto in 1:11, handing him his first loss of the season. Still a good tournament for Buonaiuto, who has rarely been tested thus far in Suffolk County.