BRISTOL:Sabatini oh so spectacular

Warriors wrestler first ever to reach century mark

By Steve Sherman Sports Editor

Bristol senior Pat Sabatini became the first wrestler at the school ever to reach 100 career wins last Saturday, Feb. 14 in the Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) Championships.

The 140-pounder did it in dramatic fashion, pinning New Hope-Solebury’s Beau Schwantes to take first place in the BAL wrestling tournament at Phil-Mont Christian Academy.

Along with winning first place in the tourney, Sabatini was also named the BAL's Most Outstanding Wrestler.

A world-ranked wrestler in Tai Kwon Do and Brazilian Jujitsu, Pat uses his knowledge of the eastern fighter’s game to his advantage on the mat, says Warriors head coach Enrique Velez.

“He knows a lot about body position--where to be--in his sport and that helps him in this sport,” said Velez. “He’s always in shape; he’s a coach’s dream.”

In addition to capping the century mark, Sabatini has even loftier goals set for himself before he completes his final campaign grappling for the red and white.

This year, Sabatini wants to reach regionals on his way to the state competition. Last year in a District One Class AA semifinal bout, Pat was leading 11-0 in a 135-pound matchup when he was called for an illegal maneuver.

As a combatant who takes to the mat in several sports, Pat says not being able to separate the sports - and the rules that pertain to each - got him into trouble with officials all season long in his junior campaign. In the postseason, it cost him dearly.

Brazilian Jujitsu fighting is a lot like wrestling - there’s a point system. But instead of winning by pinfall, a combatant wins by forcing his opponent to submit.

Pat says that last season he always seemed to instinctually resort to what he’s learned Jujitsu fighting.

“Once I get to the ground in wrestling, I go on pure instinct, which is my Jujitsu,” stated Sabatini. “Sometimes, I do submissions instead of wrestling holds. That cost me lots of penalty points, sometimes disqualifications.

“That time, it cost me a defensive pin.”

Whatever the ruling, Sabatini says it won’t happen again this time around.

“I think I’ve matured a lot in the last year,” he says. “With maturity, I’ve learned to separate the sports better.”