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Manatee's Andy Gugliemini says Springstead has its facts wrong.
By BRANT JAMES
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 24, 2001
SPRING HILL -- Bradenton Manatee coach Andy Gugliemini said on Tuesday that Springstead coach Bob Levija and Astronaut's John Hackney mis-represented the facts concerning his team's controversial victory in the Astronaut Dual Team Tournament this weekend in Titusville.
Manatee won the tournament, knocking off then unbeaten Springstead, after Eagles wrestler Steve Garofano was disqualified for an underwear violation. Levija withdrew his squad after being ejected. Levija and Hackney told the Times that Gugliemini made his protest in the waning moments of the third period, with Garofano leading 1-0. Gugliemini claims he approached the scorers table to lodge a protest "15 or 20 seconds into the second period, with the score at 0-0."
Levija stuck by his version of the details on Tuesday, but said he could not verify them without his scorebook, which wasn't in his possession when he was contacted by the Times. Hackney was sitting at the scorers table watching the match Saturday, Levija said. Hackney was unreachable on Tuesday. Gugliemini said he had videotape of the match.
Garofano returned to the locker room and removed the underwear after the protest, but was not allowed to resume wrestling by official Chris Smith. Bradenton Manatee's Mike Cismesia was awarded the victory, setting off a protest that resulted in Levija's ejection. Springstead coaches resumed the protest before Levija elected to pull his team from the tournament.
"Springstead lost control, the coaches and fans," Gugliemini said. "I've never seen anything like it."
Levija doesn't contest that point.
"We probably did," he said. "This was a good match and all of a sudden this happens. Garofano is crushed. He thinks he cost us the match. I wasn't going to let this happen."
Gugliemini said he didn't anticipate Smith's reaction to his protest.
"I thought maybe we'd get a team point," he said. "Shove it up there and let's wrestle.
"That was up to the ref. I did not make the decision, and people act like I did," Gugliemini said. "I wish none of this had happened."