Leading off today: Large-school wrestling co-No. 1's Chenango Forks and Spencerport are one victory away from a showdown in the finals of the Union-Endicott Duals.

   Chenango Forks takes on John Glenn and Spencerport meets Brentwood in the semifinals this moring at 11 o'clock. Chenango Forks opened with a 41-12 victory over Sayville and then beat Minisink Valley 43-18 in opening-day pool matches yesterday.

   Spencerport, the three-time defending U-E Duals champion, posted victories by scores of 51-15 vs. Niagara-Wheatfield and 36-18 against MacArthur. Third-ranked John Glenn rolled past John Jay 53-4 and Greene 47-15.

   "Top to bottom, John Glenn is as solid as any team in the tournament," Chenango Forks coach Rick Gumble told The Press & Sun-Bulletin.

   The championship match is scheduled for 5 p.m.

   Close call for Spartans: Williamsville North, ranked No. 2 in Division I hockey by the New York State Sportswriters Association, improved to 7-0-1 overall with a 3-2 win over Lancaster in overtime despite allowing a pair of short-handed goals..

   Chris Marsack scored the tying goal with 41 seconds left in the third period after Williamsville North had pulled its goalie for an extra skater. Jake Rosen's wrist shot with :50 to go in overtime was the winner.

   Easley picks Gators: Dominique Easley used a break in the Under Armour All America game in St. Petersburg, Fla., to announce he will play defensive line for the University of Florida next fall.

   Though he visited Florida over the summer, the Staten Island senior had been expected to choose Oregon or Miami after backing off his verbal commitment to Penn State recently. He took an official visit to Oregon in early December and was still leaning toward the Ducks as late as Friday night.

   "He called me this morning and said he had a really nice week down there with all the kids that are going to Florida and he thinks he feels comfortable playing with all those guys and I think that was something that swayed his

decision," Staten Island Curtis coach Peter Gambardella told The Advance. "Oregon and Penn State are great programs but I think his comfort level came with the guys he’ll be playing with for the next four years."

   Easley, selected a co-MVP of the all-star contest after forcing one fumble and recovering another, was one of 10 Gators recruits in the game. He said uncertainty surrounding head coach Urban Meyer was not a concern; offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, who was Easley’s primary recruiter, will be Florida’s interim coach while Meyer is on leave.

   Easley attracted much attention at practices over the holiday week. At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds he is too small to make an immediate impact at defensive tackle, but he showed bursts of speed and enough muscle to leave the impression that he'll be on the field soon as a college defensive end.

   The Gators also got a commitment at the game from 5-11 Pahokee, Fla., senior Chris Dunkley, rated one of the nation's 10 best wide receivers.

   Veteran coach dies: Long-time Union-Endicott coach Lawrence R. "Larry" Hynes died Dec. 28 in Delray Beach,Fla., at the age of 67, The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported.

   Hynes was a retired English teacher who coached his 45th season of Union-Endicott cross country this fall. He coached the modified track and field program for more than four decades.

   "His numbers were phenomenal -- phenomenal, it's a word I keep using about Larry," said U-E track coach Dan Consol "But he had 60-70 kids out for cross country, which says a lot about what the kids thought about him. And kids thoroughly enjoyed the way he taught English and public speaking. Kids who didn't care so much about the subject matter, they just loved to be a part of his class."

   Extra points: File away the name of Austin Keough for future reference. Though just a freshman, the Warsaw wrestler is a two-time participant at the state meet and picked up career victory No. 100 on Dec. 30 at the Holley Duals. He won 38 matches in each of his first two seasons and is off to a 24-1 start at 112 pounds this season.