Leading off today: Suffolk County put on a clinic on the opening day of the state wrestling tournament, advancing 16 competitors to Saturday's Division I semifinals in Albany.

   Section 1 was the only other section to reach double figures among the large schools, advancing 10 wrestlers.

   In Division II, 47 of a possible 60 berths in the semis went to four sections, led by Section 3 with 14 and Section 6 with 12. Next were Section 5 with 11 and Section 4 with 10.

   The best story of all out of Section 11's amazing 16 semifinalists might be John Glenn 119-pounder Vinny Punzone, who thought he's be sitting out the event until being informed Wednesday that Wantagh's Joe Barbato, a wildcard in the weight class, had to scratch because of an ankle injury.

   That moved Punzone and his 41-3 record up from alternate status, but it also left him just two days to drop the 10 pounds he packed on after finishing third in Suffolk's state qualifier.

   He made weight, and now he's taking advantage of the opportunity. Punzone beat Columbia's Corey Southard 11-2 and followed that with a 3-2 triumph over Warwick Valley's Shane Connolly in the quarterfinals. He'll meet defending state champ Nigel McNeil of Huntington (38-0 this winter and on a 78-match winning streak) in the semifinals; McNeil beat Punzone 11-3 in the Suffolk semifinals.

   "You have to be here to have a chance," Punzone told Newsday. "And I'm here."

   Dramatic win: Dan Merola's desperation 35-footer at the buzzer gave Manhasset a 66-65 boys basketball victory over Floral Park in two overtimes in the Section 8 Class A semifinals.

   Manhasset, minus two starters who had fouled out, was trying to execute a set play off a screen, but Merola (15 points) had to improvise and let fly, capping a recovery after the Indians blew a 41-26 lead through three quarters.

   Manhasset (18-2) plays Lawrence March 5 at Hofstra for a berth in the state tournament.

   "Before overtime, it was ours and we lost it,'' Manhasset's Gary Tibbs (18 points) told Newsday. When Anthony Amitrano (10 points) and Alessandro Troia (15) fouled out in OT, "it was like, 'Oh, my God.''

   Calling it a day: Hudson Falls wrestling coach George Chickanis is retiring after 27 seasons on the job there and 32 overall. Chickanis, 55, has four competitors -- the most Section 2 champs in school history -- in this weekend's state tourney.

   "I've enjoyed it, but it's time," Chickanis told The Post-Star. "The program needs a younger guy with more energy."

   Including five seasons at Fonda, Chickanis went 336-202-5. His Hudson Falls teams won 11 sectional titles, and the Tigers have had 17 wrestlers earn 26 Section II

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championships. Though he is leaving his coaching and teaching jobs, Chickanis will remain the Section 2 chairman.

   "George Chickanis is Hudson Falls," said former Queensbury coach Jack LaBombard, who has known Chickanis since he was a child. "The kids are going to miss him. There's going to be a big void in Hudson Falls."

   A night at the fights: Other commitments will keep me away from one of my favorite sports events next weekend. But if you're in the Rochester area and have a taste for the unique, then head to Aquinas on Friday at 7 p.m. for the 79th annual Mission Bouts.

   The University of Notre Dame is the only educational institution in the country that has conducted intramural boxing for more years than Aquinas. This year's card is dedicated to coach Dominic Arioli to mark the 30th anniversary of his memorable bout in the finals.

   Tickets to the finals are $10 and $15. You can also check out prelims Monday and Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. for $2.