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Scarsdale's Berkowitz Looking for Sectional Repeat

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Following Jacob Berkowitz’s sophomore year, when he did not make it to the second day of the Section 1 Division I Championships, the Scarsdale wrestler was not going to allow that to happen again.

“That made me hungry and made me want to get better,” said Berkowitz following his first match in the 36th annual Tony Carlucci Dual-Meet Tournament at Purchase College. “I was learning a lot from my high school coaches, but I also began seeking out more ways to improve, especially during the off season.”

Berkowitz’s attention to wrestling resulted in him winning the 2011 Section 1 Division I 171-pound championship and finishing with 40 wins. He defeated second-seeded Tim Coyne of Tappan Zee and top-seeded Thor McHugh of Arlington to take the title and became Scarsdale’s first sectional champ since Shintaro Higashi won the 275-pound title in 2002.

“Looking at it, I was the underdog last year going into sectionals and winning the title was grat,” Berkowitz said. This season, Berkowitz has a chance to make Scarsdale wrestling history by becoming the program’s first two-time sectional titlist.

He began his quest when he returned home from the New York State Wrestling Championships last march. Berkowitz was not pleased with himself after going 0-2 in Albany, site of the state championships.“Going 0-2 at the state championships has made me even hungrier to get back there this year,” Berkowitz said. “I intensified my workouts and started going to John Degl at Iowa Style. Going to John’s four times a week has enabled me to make leaps and bounds.”

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