Lainhart and LoGiudice share success together, or not at all, they say
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Pressing his head into an opponent is Guilderland wrestler Josh LoGiudice, who will be competing at States this weekend for the second season in a row. He wrestled at 99 pounds last year, but is the 106-pound Section 2 champion this season.
The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael
Up and over: Guilderland senior Mike Lainhart jumps over another wrestler during Tuesday’s Section 2 team training session at Shenendehowa High School. Lainhart is the 120-pound champion, and will wrestle at States this weekend for the second consecutive season. This drill is called Vision Quest, and is meant to be an elevated cardiovascular workout.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Swagger: Before his state qualifying quarterfinal match two weeks ago, Guilderland senior Josh LoGiudice paced back and forth between two wrestling mats that had live action going on. LoGiudice and his friend, Mike Lainhart, will compete at States for the second straight year this weekend at the Times Union Center.
GUILDERLAND — Mike Lainhart was worn out. He didn’t want to wrestle anymore, but said that his best friend bribed him into coming back.
This friend, Josh LoGiudice, said that it wasn’t a bribe, but it was a persuasion.
“All right, it was a beg,” Lainhart said of LoGiudice’s need for a training partner, which Lainhart had been since third grade. “As much as I wanted to get out of the sport, I felt bad leaving him.”
Since Lainhart decided to continue wrestling for his senior season at Guilderland, LoGiudice and Lainhart are now training for their second consecutive state tournament. The competition is this weekend at the Times Union Center, and both Dutch wrestlers are certain that they wouldn’t be there without each other.
LoGiudice, the 106-pound champion of Section 2, doesn’t know where he would be if Lainhart, the 120-pound champ, didn’t come back.
“I don’t think I’d be in this position, I really don’t,” LoGiudice said. “Compared to other kids in the room, Mike is one, two, or three levels above them, so he gives me better and different looks than I wouldn’t get otherwise.”