Category Archives: Division 1

Here Come the Hawkeyes: Iowa Visits Buffalo for Annual Takedown Cancer Fundraiser

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Monday night provides a unique opportunity to fans in the Buffalo area – the chance to watch one of the storied programs in college wrestling come to town for an exciting dual as well as the chance to contribute to a great cause.

At 7:00 p.m. the #5 Iowa Hawkeyes will visit the hometown Bulls for the annual “Takedown Cancer” dual meet which will benefit a number of cancer-related charities.

Mark Lewandowski, Photo by BV

Buffalo first got involved a few years ago to benefit former Bulls wrestler Jeff Parker, who was battling melanoma at the time. While he passed away in 2010, the team’s involvement has continued. This year, according to head coach Jim Beichner, the funds raised will be donated to the Jeff Parker Foundation, Carly’s Club and to a family or families in the area with a child currently battling cancer.

Beginning at 5 p.m. there will be a number of fundraising activities, including auctions including 60-80 items, according to Beichner. The purchase of a $10 raffle ticket earns entry into the drawing for the grand prizes, which are two round trip Delta plane tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, four tickets to Jim Kelly’s suite at the upcoming Buffalo Bills-New York Jets game and a dinner for 10 at a popular local restaurant, Ilio DePaolo’s.

The Bulls are hoping to exceed last year’s fundraising total of $23,000. However, they aren’t losing sight of what they need to do – battle the Hawkeyes.

“We think this is going to be a great fundraiser,” Beichner said. “But we remember that we’re there to wrestle Iowa. We’re there as a team to compete and everything else happening is a wonderful bonus. It’s a great sign for our program to have a Big 10 or Big 12 team in our home gym for the third year in a row. Iowa’s probably the most dominant program in the last 30 years or so and we are proud to have them come to Buffalo.”

The Hawkeyes went 2-0 at the Grapple at the Garden, to push their 2012-13 record to a perfect 10-0. Eight of their starters sit in the Top 20 nationally.

Beichner said his group is looking forward to the challenge.

“We know they’re a great team,” he said. “We think we’ll have some very competitive match ups. I expect a full effort from every guy. The Hawkeye symbol shouldn’t matter. We need to have the mindset when we step out on the mat that we’ll win.”

Leading the way for the Bulls are nationally-ranked seniors Mark Lewandowski and John-Martin Cannon. Lewandowski is 13-2 at 165 pounds this year after a one-point loss to Mike Ottinger of Central Michigan in the team’s first dual meet of the season.

“Mark is wrestling very well,” Beichner said. “He lost on a penalty point and you hate to see a match between two good wrestlers decided that way on a late call. He wrestled an aggressive match – he was by far the more aggressive wrestler. He has the right mindset and will respond.”

Cannon has seen limited action due to a number of setbacks this season. He was out early in the campaign while recovering from an injury and in his first bout back, he was hit in the face, suffering a broken nose and a concussion. However, he returned and notched a victory against Central Michigan.

“[Cannon] is getting back to 100%,” the coach said. “He looks really good and he’ll be a threat no matter who he wrestles.”

A third grappler Beichner singled out was 197 pounder Angelo Malvestuto, who he said “wrestled extremely well” against the Chippewas. He expects those wrestlers and others to step up in front of the hometown crowd.

“We’re really excited about [Monday],” Beichner said. “The thing we really want to promote is that we’re having the University of Iowa in our home gym. It’s our opportunity to wrestle well against great opponents. That’s what’s so important for our program.”

To find out more about the organizations involved in this event:

Jeff Parker Foundation

Carly’s Club

 

Grapple Time: Cornell Readies for Missouri and Oklahoma State in the Big Apple

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New York Wrestling News will be providing a live blog of the Grapple at the Garden.  The link is here.

Cornell started off the season with victories in its first four duals, including wins over ranked teams Oklahoma and Central Michigan while missing multiple starters, including NCAA champion Steve Bosak. This weekend will without question put the team to the test as the Big Red faces #7 Missouri at 11 a.m. and #2 Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

#7 Missouri vs. #8 Cornell

While the Tigers don’t have any former All-Americans in their starting group, they offer a balanced lineup in which every starter has been ranked in the top 20 for at least a few weeks of the season.  Both teams were at the Las Vegas Invitational a few weeks ago, where Missouri took second and the Big Red placed one spot behind in third.

“It’s hard to point to just a few key matches against Missouri, because there are big ones really all the way up and down the lineup,” Cornell assistant coach Jeremy Spates said.  “We have to win a bunch of the toss ups and have our studs put up some bonus points.”

Let’s take a look at the dual.

The Rematches

Garrett, Photo by BV

Only two head-to-head matches between the teams took place in Nevada.  One of those was a dominant 14-3 semifinal victory for Kyle Dake over Zach Toal at 165 pounds.  The other was a 6-4 title bout win for Alan Waters over Nahshon Garrett at 125.  Dake’s convincing win makes it difficult to imagine a different outcome this time around.  However, the Garrett-Waters match was competitive and we’ll see how the ever-improving Big Red freshman adjusts to the mat wrestling of Waters.  A reversal of that result would be less surprising.

“It was a really close match with some pretty close calls,” Spates said. “Nahshon likes the big stage; likes to put on a show. I’m excited to see them wrestle again.”

The Toss Ups/Battles of the Unranked Wrestlers

Chris Villalonga and Drake Houdashelt were on track to meet in the consolations at 149 pounds in Las Vegas.  However, Justin Gonzalez upset the Tiger wrestler one round before they would have faced each other. Villalonga then defeated Gonzalez 11-0 on his path to sixth.  Despite that podium finish for the Big Red wrestler, Houdashelt is the higher ranked wrestler by a few spots nationally. It appears to be a toss up match that will be pivotal in the dual.

Only two bouts feature a pair of unranked wrestlers, although Kyle Bradley (157) and Todd Porter (174) of Missouri were previously included in some Top 20 lists.  Both Tigers would be favorites on paper against Cornell’s probable starters, Chris Dowdy and Duke Pickett. (For the full lineup from the Cornell website, see here).

 The Rankings Favor Cornell . . .

Mike Nevinger looks to be back in form after a fourth place finish at the Cliff Keen at 141.  At that same event, Missouri’s Nick Hucke went 0-2. However, Hucke had been in the top 20 prior to the Las Vegas tournament.

 The Rankings Favor Missouri . . .

Arujau, Photo by BV

Nathan McCormick is off to a hot start, with a 13-1 record at 133 pounds.  His only loss was to NCAA champion Logan Stieber.  While McCormick is the favorite going into the match, Cornell’s Nick Arujau is ranked just a few spots lower in some of the national polls. Arujau missed the competition in Vegas, but in his last outing he pinned top 15 wrestler Cody Brewer of Oklahoma.  If he wrestles that way, it will be an interesting bout.

At 197, Brent Haynes is consistently ranked in the nation’s top 15 while Jace Bennett has appeared in some polls.  Their matchup could be a wild and unpredictable one with two wrestlers who pile up nearfall points and who have the ability to change a match quickly with their strong mat wrestling.

Dom Bradley is among the nation’s best heavyweights.  Fresh off his victory at the Cliff Keen, he will be the clear favorite against Cornell’s Stryker Lane, although Lane has shown marked improvement this year, placing sixth in Vegas and beating some quality competition.

Mike Larson is ranked and has had a successful 14-2 year for the Tigers.  He last faced a Cornell wrestler at the National Duals in January of 2011.  At that event, in a tight quarterfinal dual, Steve Bosak earned a 15-0 technical fall over Larson, an outcome that secured crucial points in the Big Red’s slim 18-15 victory on the way to the team title.  Larson is now #8 in the nation at 184 pounds and a favorite against Craig Scott.

Earlier in the week, Cornell head coach Rob Koll said he was ready to lean on freshmen like Dowdy and Scott as both have competed well for his squad thus far.

“They’ve wrestled in tough matches all year,” Koll said. “We aren’t going to rush anyone back and put them on the mat unless they’re healthy.”

 #8 Cornell vs. #2 Oklahoma State

Many observers expected these two teams to meet in the National Duals finals in 2011, however, Oklahoma State was upset by Virginia Tech and the Big Red then defeated the Hokies for the title.  On Sunday, the meeting between the squads will treat fans to a number of the nation’s top ranked grapplers, including a highly anticipated showdown at 165.

“Oklahoma State has a very tough team,” Spates said. “They have some of the best in the country in their lineup.  We think there are a couple of swing matches that we’re focused on.  We know they’re going to be tough to beat, but our guys will go out and wrestle hard and put it all out there.”

The ‘Big One’

Dake, Photo by BV

During the summer, wrestling fans started getting excited about a potential superclass at 165 including Kyle Dake, David Taylor and Tyler Caldwell.  Dake and Taylor met at the All-Star Dual with the Big Red wrestler coming out on top.  And all three will be entered at the Southern Scuffle in early January.  But the first folkstyle battle between Dake and Caldwell will take place on Sunday in perhaps the most highly anticipated individual match of the Grapple at the Garden. [Dake did previously top Caldwell in freestyle].

“It was a close match last time they wrestled,” Spates said. “[Caldwell] is a tough wrestler who is really hard to score on.  I know Kyle’s pretty excited about the chance to wrestle him.  We’re looking for Kyle to control the match and show why he’s the number one wrestler.”

The Rankings Favor Cornell . . .

In a meeting of freshmen, Nahshon Garrett will square off against Eddie Klimara, who was recently taken out of redshirt.  Klimara’s first match was a 3-2 loss to Kyle Garcia of Oklahoma, a wrestler Garrett beat 12-4 at the Northeast Duals.

Mike Nevinger will likely take on Julian Feikert of the Cowboys, who registered a crucial pin over Nick Dardanes of Minnesota in Oklahoma State’s dual win over the Gophers and is 8-4 overall.

The Rankings Favor Oklahoma State . . .

A pair of wrestlers ranked first in the nation lead the way for the Cowboys — Jordan Oliver at 149 and Chris Perry at 174.  Both have won all of their matches by bonus points thus far.

For Jace Bennett, Nick Arujau and Stryker Lane, the afternoon will offer a similar challenge to the Missouri dual.  Lane will face his second top 5 opponent of the day when he meets up with Alan Gelogaev at heavyweight.  Bennett and Arujau will also meet their second ranked foes of the day when they take on #7 Blake Rosholt and #7 Jon Morrison, respectively.  While Rosholt and Morrison are favored, neither has been dominant in recent matches.

Two new faces in the Oklahoma State lineup have had quick success.  Alex Dieringer has started his rookie year with nine straight victories at 157 pounds, while Chris Chionuma has solidified the 184-pound position with a 7-2 mark.

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With two highly regarded opponents and several thousand people in the stands of a storied venue, the Big Red is looking forward to what Sunday has to offer.

“It’s pretty neat to be able to be in this event,” Spates said. “Originally, we thought there was a conflict with finals, but it’s great that it worked out for us to participate. I was actually looking at the different events that have been at the Garden over the years and it’s pretty crazy.  Everything from heavyweight boxing to big Knicks games, and huge concerts.  It’s amazing.  And anytime you have a ton of fans like we’re expecting, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Please note: the dual times have changed to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., rather than the original schedule of 10:30 and 12:30.

"Time to Flip the Switch": Hofstra To Tangle With Iowa and Ohio State at Madison Square Garden

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New York Wrestling News will be providing a live blog of the Grapple at the Garden.  The link is here.

The preview story for Cornell is here.  

For more on Hofstra, read on.

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Hofstra has faced a challenging slate over the first month of the season and it doesn’t get any easier this weekend as the Pride faces a pair of top 5 foes, Iowa and Ohio State.

“I think we’ve had one of the toughest schedules in the country thus far,” said head assistant coach Zach Tanelli of the Pride’s 0-9 start.  “The results haven’t gone the way we wanted at this point and that seed of doubt has been planted.  Guys have a choice, they can choose to water that seed and go down the path of destruction or they can get back on track.  We know we have very good wrestlers and some have been in a little bit of a rut.  But our schedule doesn’t let us feel bad for ourselves.  We put it together to prepare ourselves for where we want to be in March. We need to stop the bleeding and progress toward our goals. Individually and as a team we have lot to prove and we can still get to where we need to be in March.”

This weekend is the next step in that process, according to Tanelli.

“The key word is opportunity,” he said. “The guys have to see it as an opportunity to embrace the great competition and the atmosphere.  We need to believe we’re going in not to just have a great experience wrestling in front of thousands of people but to win in front of thousands of people. We want to go in with the attitude that we’re going to punch tickets to nationals and springboard ourselves into the second half of the season.  Almost every opponent our guys will face is ranked.  We’ve fallen victim to some upsets this year and we know on paper we’re favored in very few matches. But now it’s time to flip the switch and be the ones getting the upsets.”

Bonanno, Photo by BV

There will be ample chances to do just that.  Two Pride wrestlers ranked across most polls are Steve Bonanno (125) and Luke Vaith (141). Bonanno, a returning All-American, will begin his day with two-time national champion Matt McDonough before meeting 2011 NCAA placer Nikko Triggas of the Buckeyes.

“We’re looking for both Steve and Luke to step up to the plate,” Tanelli said. “Steve will have some great tests.  McDonough’s achievements speak for themselves.  Steve has been a little dinged up and a little inconsistent.  But he doesn’t feel bad for himself.  He knows he has what it takes to get back on track.  He’s preparing for two very high quality opponents and feels confident.”

Vaith will take on Iowa’s Mark Ballweg, who is a few rungs higher in some national rankings, as well as All-American Hunter Stieber of Ohio State.

“Luke has to wrestle the way he’s capable of,” Tanelli said. “He’s very tough but he needs to be more consistent at this level.  It’s a deep weight class this year and he can compete with everyone.  He needs to minimize his lapses and if he does, I believe he can be 2-0 on the weekend with two quality wins.”

Bonanno and Vaith won’t be the only Hofstra grapplers matching up against two highly regarded foes.  133-pounder Jamie Franco has already faced four of the country’s top 20.  On Sunday, he’ll see two of the best in #1 Logan Stieber and #3 Tony Ramos.

Franco, Photo by BV

“Jamie’s working to get back to where he was last year where he was competing at a really high level,” Tanelli said. “He’s been more hesitant than in the past.  What’s good with him is that he tends to wrestle to the level of his competition and he’ll be wrestling two of the top pound-for-pound guys in the country.  He needs to dictate the pace and wrestle his style.”

A few other Hofstra wrestlers are slated to face a pair of top 20 foes. Jermaine John could see #2 Nick Heflin and #7 Mike Evans at 174 pounds, although Heflin has missed time with an injury and Evans has split the role with Grant Gambrall (a former All-American).

Heavyweight Paul Snyder has put together a strong season thus far, going 14-3, and he’ll have a chance to make a statement nationally with strong showings against #5 Bobby Telford and #12 Pete Capone, a New York native.

“Paul is having a nice year,” Tanelli said. “He hasn’t seen the competition that some other guys have, but he’s on the right path.  He’s a veteran who knows what to expect.  In the last few years, he hasn’t had the results he wanted and he’s made adjustments.  It’s been showing.  This weekend will be a great test for him.  Hopefully, he’ll show again that all the extra work is paying off.”

Another senior looking to take the mat for Hofstra is Matt Spataro, who has filled in for All-American Justin Accordino this year.

“He’s done an admirable job,” Tanelli said. “Matt’s a super athlete who just needs to believe in himself a little more.  He has embraced his role. When your number is called, you have to represent this program well and he’s done that.”

According to Tanelli, Accordino is “a little banged up” and given his injury history, the squad is being a little cautious about his return.

“Justin has been around for a while and he knows the grind and what to expect,” Tanelli said. “He has a goal of being a national champion and we want to give him the opportunity to achieve that goal.  For the time being, that means playing things a little safer and maintaining his health for the end of the season.”

In the interim, Hofstra will look to gain some momentum in front of the crowd at Madison Square Garden.  Tanelli said the team may make “match time” decisions at a few weights, including 157 (Jay Lysne and Cody Ruggirello) as well as 184 (Taras Luzhnyy and Victor Pozsonyi).

“I think the guys have some good perspective now,” he said. “We’ll be wrestling two great teams with tough wrestlers and in that situation you need to be ready every second for the entire seven minutes.  It’s a great opportunity.”

'Anyone's Kryptonite, But Not Him': Scott Kropman's Battle With Cancer

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On Friday November 30, an oncologist confirmed to Scott Kropman that he has Stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer.  So, what did he do next?

Scott Kropman

“He packed up his kids and went to a two-day tournament,” said G2 World Wrestling Academy co-owner Adam Burgos.  “He got the worst news of his life, but said, it’s time for wrestling – let’s go.  He’s amazing, absolutely amazing.”

Kropman watched the Penfield team at those duals, including undefeated performances from his sons Parker and Skylar.  They aren’t the only wrestlers in the family, as Cooper and Max are decorated youth grapplers.  In fact, the Kropman family of seven children, ranging from 14 months to a junior in high school, is heavily involved with the sport pretty much year round.  The love for wrestling is obvious.

The Kropman Children

“I would summarize Scott by saying he’s a passionate person,” Burgos said.  “He’s passionate about his wife and kids and the sport of wrestling.”

There’s very little doubt about that.  Despite his diagnosis, he has been in practice, running Friday beginner practices at the YMCA and coaching two days per week at G2, as well as traveling on the weekends with the kids.

“He’s superman,” Burgos said. “He has Stage 4 cancer but he’s at practice.  He’s determined and focused.  He doesn’t want to let anything stop him.  He’s taking it step by and step, talking about battling like it’s nothing.  The strength and resolve he has – it’s just incredible.”

Kropman didn’t have any signs or symptoms of cancer when he had a routine x-ray about a month ago, which revealed a spot on his shoulder and the need for additional tests, according to Burgos.  Those tests showed cancer in several places in his upper body, including his lung, liver and pancreas.

Last week he began his chemotherapy treatments and as those progress, he knows he isn’t alone in the fight.  He frequently says “Love Will Prevail” and he has received tremendous support from his family as well as the wrestling community.  And there are a number of ways for more people to get involved.

On December 21, there will be an event at the Irondequoit Bay Fish and Game Club in Irondequoit from 5-8 p.m., which will feature a fish fry, DJ and cash bar.  The cost is $25 and the goal is to raise money and awareness for the Kropman family in the fight against cancer.

In addition, ScottStrong bracelets (pictured) are for sale and other donations are being accepted. (See link at the end of the article).

To keep tabs on Scott Kropman’s progress, you can take a look at his Caring Bridge page, (link here) on which he has documented his journey and challenges.  What jumps out is that he is ready to face what lies ahead.

“You would think this would be anyone’s kryptonite, but not him. The odds are against him and he knows that, but he will fight,” Burgos said. “He has a lot to live for.  That’s his character – he believes he’ll get his hand raised at the end of the match.”

Indeed, he does.  In a recent entry in his Caring Bridge blog, he wrote, “They feel that I have had this cancer for years.  Being that it is stage 4, it is currently incurable, but those that know me know that I am very unique and plan on being the first.”

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To help the Kropman Family, see the following link: Scott Kropman Donations.   For more information on the December 21 Fish Fry, contact adamburgos@g2wrestling.com.

Section 2 Overview: Kelley and Almaviva Lead Nationally-Ranked Shenendehowa; Finalists Van Hoesen and Soutiere Look for Titles

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By Mike Carey

 

Division I

Returning State Placewinners (from 2012)

285 Pounds:  El Shaddai Van Hoesen, Columbia, Second Place

132 Pounds: Nick Kelley, Shenendehowa, Third Place

138 Pounds: David Almaviva, Shenendehowa, Third Place

113 Pounds: Brandon Lapi, Amsterdam, Fourth Place

 

Additional Returning State Qualifiers (from 2012)

99 Pounds: Kevin Parker, Shenendehowa

106 Pounds: Corey Ali, Shenendehowa

106 Pounds: Dominic Inzana, Saratoga

113 Pounds: Jesse Porter, Shenendehowa

120 Pounds: Zach Joseph, Shenendehowa

132 Pounds: Joey Butler, Burnt Hills

152 Pounds: Angelo Kress, Columbia

 

Top Seniors

Nick Kelley, Photo by BV


Nick Kelley (Shenendehowa) – Arguably the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the state, Kelley will have laser focus this season as he attempts to claim an elusive state title.  His only loss last season came at the hands of state champion Jamel Hudson in the state tournament semifinals.  Kelley has had a busy offseason highlighted by his fourth place finish at the Freestyle Junior Nationals in Fargo.  In August, Kelley gave a verbal commitment to continue his career at Binghamton.

David Almaviva (Shenendehowa) – At last year’s state tournament, Almaviva lost his opening match to Fox Lane’s Tom Grippi . . . and then reeled off five straight victories and took home third place honors. Like Kelley, Almaviva placed in the prestigious tournament at Fargo, earning eighth place honors at 145 pounds. He will also be continuing his academic and wrestling careers at Binghamton.

El Shaddai Van Hoesen, Photo by BV

El Shaddai VanHoesen (Columbia) – The heavyweight was one takedown away from a state title last year.  The Columbia senior lost his “all-wildcard” final bout against Evan Kappatos of Syosset by a score of 3-2.  His team’s competitive schedule affords the 285 pounder the opportunity to grapple against many of the top wrestlers in the state.  Of his seven losses last year, five were at the hands of foes who finished in the top four in New York.

 

Also Keep an Eye On . . . (Juniors and Seniors)

Corey Ali, Levi Ashley and Zach Joseph (Shenendehowa) – Seven Plainsmen competed at the state tournament a year ago and the Section 2 power will likely send a large group again. Ali, the defending Section 2 champion, is expected to be among them.  He was not able to compete at the state tournament last year, but prior to the event, he posted victories over some impressive foes, including qualifiers Dominic Inzana and Kyler Harrington and All-State wrestler Johnny Stramiello from Section 9.  Ali is motivated to make a run at a state title this year and it won’t be surprising if he does.  Teammate Ashley didn’t get a bid to states last year after taking second in Section 2 behind Matt Lashway, who was the number two seed at the Times Union Center.  However, he went 34-7 in 2011-12 including quality victories over wrestlers such as state placers Rrok Ndokaj, Andrew Jones and Tyler Morris (twice).  Frank Popolizio said he believes Ashley “will shock some people” in 2012-13.  Joseph is looking for a return trip to the state capital after going 1-2 in Albany after a season with over 30 wins.

Brandon Lapi (Amsterdam) – Without question, Lapi is extremely talented.  He finished last season with a 50-4 record, with two of his losses coming in Albany to state champion Dylan Realbuto of Somers and third place finisher Patrick Skinner, who now wrestles for Rider.  Both of those matches were tight, with a 4-3 decision against Realbuto and a 4-2 margin versus Skinner. It is likely that he’ll be high on the podium again in the state capital.

Angelo Kress (Columbia) – In a 41-6 sophomore season, Kress registered 26 pins and came within one win of making All-State at 152 pounds.  He dropped his opening round match in Albany to eventual runner up Nicky Hall of Longwood but responded with a pair of victories in the wrestlebacks.  The Columbia wrestler’s achievements go beyond the state borders, as he was an All-American at the NHSCA Nationals in both 2010 and 2011.  He also showed his prowess in the international styles, going a combined 13-1 at the Cadet Freestyle and Greco Duals for Team New York in Florida. He will be a podium threat in February of 2013.

Blake Retell (Shaker) – After winning Section 2 titles in 2010 and 2011, Retell missed the postseason a year ago while injured.  Up to that point, he had been impressive, notching a 28-2 record at 120 pounds, including a victory over Jesse Porter.  He captured his bracket at the Journeymen Classic earlier this fall and after winning one match in each of his two visits to the state tournament, he’ll be looking to get back and win some more as a junior.

Joey Butler (Burnt Hills) – Butler racked up a 41-6 mark with 29 pins.  He took second in the Section behind Kelley and got his hand raised once in Albany after receiving a wildcard bid.  Now a junior, Butler is looking to go further in a follow up trip to the state capital.  He is off to a 4-0 start.

Frank Nassivera (Queensbury) – Nassivera won over 30 matches as a sophomore at 160 pounds.  A few weeks after the season was over, he earned All-America status at the NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach.  At that tournament, he lost his first round match but responded with five straight victories in the wrestlebacks.  After a loss, he came out on top in overtime in the fifth place bout.  That performance could propel him to a breakthrough year in Section 2 in 2012-13.

Brendan Goldup (La Salle) – Goldup took sixth at 112 pounds as a ninth grader in 2010 at the state tournament.  He’s also made an impact in the international styles, including taking fifth nationally in Greco Roman at Fargo this summer at 152 pounds. According to Columbia head coach Anthony Servidone, Goldup has what it takes not only to get back to the state tournament but to do some damage there.

John McHugh (Columbia) – McHugh took third at the Section 2 event a year ago to cap off a 42-8 campaign for Columbia.  Servidone believes he’s primed for a breakout year.  His younger brother Matt has earned All-America honors in Schoolboy events and is another wrestler to monitor after earning 20 wins as a seventh grader.

 

And A Few More to Keep Tabs On . . . (Sophomores and Younger)

Dominic Inzana (Saratoga) – Inzana went 44-8, primarily at 106 pounds as a ninth grader.  Five of his losses were to New York placers, including a pair in Albany, where he came within one win of earning All-State honors.

Chris Tangora (Bethlehem Central) – As a freshman 182 pounder, Tangora won 26 matches with 18 pins for Bethlehem Central.  His offseason work put him on the radar of wrestlers to watch when he earned All-America status at 195 pounds at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo.

Kevin Parker and Jesse Porter (Shenendehowa) – Parker won more than 30 matches as an eighth grader at 99 pounds, including solid wins over Division II placer Luis Weirebach and qualifier Tyler Hartinger.  He earned a trip to Albany, where he went 0-2.  Also making an appearance in the state capital was Porter after a 36-7 campaign at 113 pounds.  Porter had a successful summer in the international styles, taking fourth in Greco Roman in Fargo at 132 pounds.

Kyle Greene (Columbia) – Greene went 41-7 as a freshman at 120 pounds in 2011-12, including a win over Zach Joseph. According to Servidone, he’s ready to take the next step this year and will be a contender in the lightweights.

 

Team Talk

Shenendehowa is currently the only Empire State squad in Intermat’s national rankings.  There is little doubt that the Plainsmen will be a force.  Servidone said simply, “Shenendehowa has an exceptional team.”

While the Plainsmen will be difficult to beat not only in Section 2 but statewide, there are several other large school teams to keep tabs on in Section II this year, according to Servidone, including Columbia, Burnt Hills, Queensbury and Averill Park.

Columbia did part with high quality wrestlers such as Evan Wallace, Matt Greene and Brendan Morgan, however the squad returns a pair of qualifiers from 2012 in state runner up Van Hoesen and Kress and several others ready to make an impact this season.

“We lost quite a lot of guys to graduation, but we still have a very good team,” Servidone said. “We’ll have some guys do very well this year.”

Burnt Hills welcomes back state qualifier Joey Butler as well as bronze medalist Race Viedt, fourth placer Jake Ashcraft and several other medalists, including Christian Gramuglia, Nolan Hale and Jack Hatton.

“I think Burnt Hills will be a very good and consistent dual team,” Servidone said.  “They return almost everyone.”

Queensbury said goodbye to Section champion Matt Lashway and second placers Casey Jones, Josh St. John, Mike Hewitt and Alex Pontiff as well as medalists Tyler Wood and Nick Rouse. However, the squad returns plenty of talent and experience with bronze winners Evan Myers and Frank Nassivera as well as additional medalists Nick Robbins, Brandon Winchip and Brian Stevens.

“Queensbury graduated a number of guys, but they always put a lot of good guys out there. I expect they will again this year.  I also think there will several other good teams in the mix, including Averill Park.”

 

Division II

Returning State Placewinners (from 2012)

285 Pounds: Alex Soutiere, Ravena CS, Second Place

182 Pounds: Tyler Morris, Salem, Fourth Place

99 Pounds: Luis Weierbach, Hoosick Falls, Fifth Place

170 Pounds: Brad Burns, Hoosick Falls, Sixth Place

 

Additional Returning State Qualifiers (from 2012)

99 Pounds: Alexis Bleau, Schoharie

106 Pounds: Carter Merecki, Salem

106 Pounds: Jerome Gladney, Ravena CS

113 Pounds: Kyler Harrington, Hudson Falls

120 Pounds: Al Aubin, Whitehall

138 Pounds: John Diekel, Whitehall

145 Pounds: Geno Brancati, Hudson Falls

145 Pounds: Connor Lawrence, Duanesburg

152 Pounds: Nick Gallo, Schalmont

170 Pounds: Mike Green, Colbeskill-Richmondville

220 Pounds: Joe Sprung, Berne-Knox Westerlo

 

Top Seniors

Alex Soutiere, Photo by BV

Alex Soutiere (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) – Soutiere had a good regular season and an outstanding state tournament.  In the semifinals, he pulled of one of the bigger upsets of the tournament when he upended Section 5 standout Kacee Sauer by a score of 5-3.  Do not be surprised if Soutiere uses the momentum of last season’s finale to propel him to his ultimate goal, the state title.

Brad Burns (Hoosick Falls) – Burns had a 27-4 record last year, with all four of his losses coming to wrestlers who placed in the top 6 in New York.  Expect Burns to have another stellar year and improve upon his sixth place finish in Albany.

Tyler Morris (Salem) – Morris earned fourth in New York in 2012 at 182 pounds for Salem.  He began the state tournament with a loss in his opening bout but bounced back with four straight wins before dropping the bronze contest to Warsaw’s Tim Schaefer. With only three of the top eight finishers back in the bracket, Morris will look to move up the podium.  Looking to join him on the stand is teammate Carter Merecki, a junior, who came within one victory over making All-State last year when he went 33-4 at 106 pounds.

 

Also Keep an Eye On . . . (Juniors and Seniors)

Brandon Lapi, Photo by BV

Luis Weirebach (Hoosick Falls) – Weirebach won over 30 matches at 99 pounds and took fifth place in New York State.  Now a junior, Weirebach will aim to move a bit higher on the podium in the lightweights.

John Diekel (Whitehall) Diekel had over 30 wins at 138 pounds, with a Section 2 championship and a 2-2 performance at the state tournament. He’ll try to make the medal stand in his final year of high school wrestling. Trying to do the same is Diekel’s teammate Al Aubin, who went to Albany as well after a 25-win campaign.

Mike Green (Cobleskill-Richmondville) – Green went 39-6 in his junior campaign at 170 pounds.  In the Section 2 final, he dropped a one-point decision to All-State wrestler Brad Burns.  He followed that up by going 1-2 at the Times Union Center and is looking for a return trip.

Joe Sprung (Berne-Knox Waterlo) – Sprung and teammate Matt Casullo were the first wrestlers in their school’s history to make the New York state tournament.  Sprung lost a match the first weekend of the season and then reeled off over 30 straight victories to win the Section 2 title at 220 pounds.  In Albany, Sprung came within one match of placing and will look to make more history for his school as a senior.

 

Youth Movement (Sophomores and Younger)

Nick Gallo (Schalmont) – As a freshman 152 pounder, Gallo went 41-7, including a pair of victories at the state tournament, which left him one victory short of making All-State.  His losses were to the third (Tristan Hamner) and fourth place finishers (Dan Dickman, by a 4-3 score).

Geno Brancati (Hudson Falls) – Brancati recorded a 31-8 mark as a freshman at 145 pounds, earning the Section 2 title and a trip to Albany.  He won a match at the state tournament, defeating fellow Section 2 grappler Connor Lawrence of Duanesburg 3-2.  It was the second time Brancati had topped Lawrence by one point in a matter of weeks.  Lawrence is also one to watch, as he went 39-8 as a ninth grader, and also made the journey to the Times Union Center. Brancati’s teammate Kyler Harrington, a senior,  had over 40 wins at 113 pounds a year ago and went to the state capital.  His opening bout was a loss to eventual state champion Sean Peacock, but he rebounded with a win by fall in his next match, which he will look to build on in 2012-13.

Alexis Bleau (Schoharie) – As an eighth grader, Bleau registered a 41-5 record at 99 pounds, taking second in the Section tournament and earning a wildcard spot at the Times Union Center.  The first state qualifier in school history, Bleau will be looking for more in 2013.

Jason Hoffman (Hadley-Luzerne/Lake George) – Hoffman is a wrestler we were told to keep an eye on over the next few years. He competed at 126 pounds as a seventh grader, winning 24 matches, and remained active in the offseason, including recent trips to Las Vegas and California to wrestle some of the West Coast’s best.

 

Thank you to Frank Popolizio and Anthony Servidone.

Season Preview Articles:

Section 1 Preview

Section 3 Preview

Section 4 Preview

Section 5 Preview

Section 6 Preview

Section 7 Preview

Section 8 Preview

Section 9 Preview

Section 10 Preview

Section 11 Preview

CHSAA Preview

PSAL Preview

Features:

Section 1 Feature:  Aslanian and Realbuto, All-State Wrestlers and Workout Partners, Seek to End Their Careers on Top of the Podium

Section 4 Feature: Looking for “Number Nine”: Reggie Williams Aims to Make History at Johnson City

Section 5 Feature: The “Miracle” Continues: The Return of Aaron Paddock

Section 9 Feature: Unstoppable: Vinny Vespa Wrestles Again After Confronting Cancer

Section 11 Feature: Nick Piccininni Looks to Continue Winning Streak

 

 

From Redman to the Top 15: Cornell's Nahshon Garrett Making His Mark for the Big Red

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By Betsy Veysman

From being Redman to being in the nation’s Top 15.

It’s certainly been an interesting month and a half for Cornell freshman 125-pounder Nahshon Garrett.

When it was time for the All-Star Dual on the opening weekend of the 2012-13 season in November, the Big Red wanted famous mascot Redman to attend the festivities in Washington D.C..

“We’d been struggling with a consistent Redman,” said head coach Rob Koll.  “Kids graduate and surprisingly don’t want being Redman to be their career.”

In stepped Garrett, who was a good candidate for a number of reasons.

“Nahshon is all about doing what’s best for the team,” Koll said. “But he’s also a dancer and pretty outgoing when it comes to those kinds of things.  He and his twin brother used to perform dances at rallies in high school.”

So the California native suited up and cheered on Kyle Dake in his dramatic 2-1 victory over David Taylor in the most anticipated match of the night.

Nahshon Garrett, Photo by BV

The experience was an eye opener for Garrett.

“It was a great time,” he said. “First of all going there and supporting Kyle — I think people take him for granted sometimes.  But seeing all those accomplished wrestlers; it was inspiring.  It pointed me to where I want to be and what I want to achieve in this sport.”

In fact, when it was over, Garrett vowed to return to the All-Star Dual in 2013 — but not in a costume.

“When it was over, Nahshon told me he wanted to be wrestling in the event next year,” Koll said.  “I have no doubt he can do it.  He’s the real deal. He’s taken people who didn’t know about him by surprise.”

That’s the truth.

Garrett earned the starting nod for the Big Red and immediately made an impact, going 5-0 at the Binghamton Open to capture the title in the opening action of his Cornell career.

The following weekend brought on more dominant performances as he cruised to a 14-1 victory in his first dual meet against Binghamton and the next day captured the New York State crown with a 13-9 win over returning All-American Steve Bonanno of Hofstra in the final.

For his efforts, especially in the title bout, he was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.  But that match also demonstrated the strides Garrett has made.  A year ago, Bonanno defeated Garrett 11-5 at the Binghamton Open.

“I remembered wrestling him before, and I knew I had gotten a lot better,” Garrett said. “I didn’t worry about the fact that I had lost to him before, or that he was an All-American.  I knew there were a lot of things I had to work on after we wrestled before and I know there are still a lot of things I need to work on now.”

Garrett is still relatively new to wrestling.  He officially began as an eighth grader, but had some (secret) experience prior to that.

“My mom wouldn’t let me wrestle for a while,” he said. “She was afraid about things she’d heard about germs and disease on the mats.  She thought I would get something.  But I went to some practices as a seventh grader without her knowing and I loved it.  Finally, in eighth grade I talked to her about it and she saw how passionate I was and let me wrestle.”

He was pretty successful right off the bat, but he marked that success with a bit of an asterisk.

“I was wrestling at 70 pounds,” he said. “I was a lot stronger than the people I was wrestling but I was also older. I mean, at that weight I was wrestling some fourth graders.”

While he enjoyed the sport, he was still heavily involved with a number of other activities.

“I was doing a lot of dancing and music (piano) and a lot of other things,” he said. “Wrestling wasn’t necessarily first on my list.  But my sophomore year, [at 103 pounds], I made it to the state tournament.  I went 1-2 and didn’t place after I lost to the fourth and fifth place guys.  I was really bummed out about that and I decided I wanted to focus on wrestling to see what I could accomplish.”

He accomplished quite a bit.  He won California state championships in his junior and senior years for Chico High at 103 and 112 pounds, respectively.  He credited Chico head coach Keith Rollins, who he called “pretty much my best friend” and assistant Jordan Mathews for his achievements.

And after he completed his high school career, he captured the NHSCA Senior Nationals crown as well, despite wrestling with a torn chest muscle.  Shortly afterwards, he made his college selection and readied for a transition from Northern California to upstate New York.

When he arrived in Ithaca, Garrett said he weighed around 120 pounds.  He spent a year with the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club (FLWC), putting on size and strength and training while taking some classes at a nearby school.   As he looked back on the year on the mat, Garrett said there weren’t any matches or wins that stood out to him, although he did place in multiple open tournaments (fifth at Buffalo, third at Edinboro).  He said the focus was on getting bigger and better and he thanked former Big Red wrestler Corey Manson, one of his FLWC coaches, for helping his development.

“There was a transition for me, getting accustomed to everything,” he said. “It was a little bit of a struggle, especially financially.  But there’s a big difference now. It’s amazing. I’m so happy just to be a part of everything here at Cornell.  Being here has helped me raise my level and my standards for myself.  I have a lot of good friends here now, like in California. Being in this environment has changed what I want and what I think I can achieve.”

He certainly has set his sights high.

“We have to write down goals before the season and I said I wanted to be an All-American, National Champion and win every tournament or at least place at every one,” he said. “I’ve always believed in myself but I wasn’t sure at the beginning of the year whether those things could be a reality.  Now I think they can be.”

Koll does as well.

Garrett and Burroughs, Photo by Lindsey Mechalik (http://zephyr.exposuremanager.com/)

“He gets better every single practice,” the coach said. “His learning curve is so much higher than everyone else’s, especially because he’s pretty new to the sport.  A number of people have said he wrestles like Jordan Burroughs, especially with that double leg of his and I think he does.”

The mention of the name “Jordan Burroughs” during the interview yielded a laugh from Garrett.

“I reacted that way because I get made fun of a lot because I’m so starstruck about Jordan Burroughs,” Garrett said. “I met him in Vegas and it was awesome.  I was really excited about that.  Getting compared to him is humbling.”

Humbling is a word Garrett used quite a few times.  He said he’s humbled by all the praise he has received from the coaches.  He’s humbled by being part of the academic and wrestling communities at Cornell.  And as someone who deeply values his religion, he said he’s “humbled by all that God has given me.”

That includes his wrestling talent.  So far on the mat, he’s compiled a 17-1 record with 11 bonus point wins.  His one loss was in the title bout at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas when he dropped a 6-4 decision to #4 Alan Waters of Missouri, an opponent he will face again in New York City on Sunday.

“I think I’ve wrestled pretty well so far this year,” he said. “[Waters] wrestled a very smart match in the finals and is obviously very good on top.  I need to keep getting better in every position because I believe I can do more.  There were a few matches where I was frustrated that I didn’t get the pin or the tech.  I want to get those results.  I’m trying to push myself to the level of complete dominance like Kyle Dake. I watch how Kyle does things, how he’s preparing in the room, how he dominates all the time, even in practice.  I ask him a lot of questions and I’m trying to do the same things he does.”

Things like wrestling in the All-Star Dual, which Garrett hopes to do next year.

Someone else will have to be Redman.

 

Weekend Notes: High School State Finalists Battle; Binghamton Picks Up First Two Victories and Much More

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Here are a few news and notes from some of the college and high school action around the state this weekend . . .

Binghamton Goes 2-for-2, Army Tops Drexel

Donnie Vinson, Photo by BV

After dropping the first six duals of the season against a tough schedule that included ranked teams such as Cornell, Illinois, Oklahoma and Lehigh, Binghamton began a winning streak this weekend.  On Friday night, Matt Dernlan picked up his first victory as the leader of the Bearcats program as the CAA squad defeated Princeton, 23-12.  On Sunday, Binghamton followed up by capturing six of the 10 contests against league foe Boston to win 26-13.  Going unbeaten on the weekend were nationally ranked wrestlers Donnie Vinson (#3 at 149 pounds) and Nate Schiedel (#6 at 197 pounds) as well as Patrick Hunter (125), Vin Grella (165) and Cody Reed (184).  The Bearcats return to action at the Midlands in Illinois on December 29.

Army also was victorious, earning a 22-15 triumph over Drexel on Thursday night.  The Black Knights once again received key wins from 165-pounder Paul Hancock, who recorded a fall, as well as 141-pounder Connor Hanafee and 184-pounder Collin Wittmeyer in pivotal matches.  The squad will take the mat again on January 1 at the Southern Scuffle.

In the first dual meet action of the season for Buffalo, the Bulls were defeated by Central Michigan, 28-7. Six of the 10 bouts were decided by two points or less and unfortunately for Buffalo, the Chippewas came out on top in five of those six close matches.  Winning for the New York squad were Angelo Malvestuto at 197 and John-Martin Cannon, in his return to the mat after missing a few weeks with injury.

All-State Wrestlers and State Finalists Square Off 

A year ago, the dual between Wantagh and Shenendehowa at the Civil War Duals ended in a tie, with the Nassau County team earning the win on criteria.  With both squads going undefeated the remainder of the year, that result was instrumental in Wantagh earning the award as the state’s #1 Dual Meet team.   The powerhouses are both loaded again this year and were set to meet this weekend in Clifton Park as part of the 2012 Civil War Duals.  However, due to a tragic accident in which two Shenendehowa students were killed, the event was appropriately postponed.

However, there were still some top notch matchups this weekend as the 2012-13 season picked up steam.

Drew Hull, Photo by BV

In a dual meet in Section 6, two podium finishers from February took the mat at 152 pounds.  Two-time All-Stater Drew Hull of Royalton Hartland, who captured second place in Albany at 145 pounds a year ago, topped fourth place finisher (at 138) Dan Reagan of Lewiston Porter by the score of 6-0.  (However, Lewiston Porter won the dual 48-30).

At the Herkimer Invitational, a pair of state finalists, Canastota’s Zack Zupan and Carthage’s Shayne Brady sat on different sides of the 182-pound bracket.  The two cruised into the finals, setting up a meeting in the title bout.  However, that match didn’t go the distance, as Brady suffered an injury and defaulted.  (Zupan had taken the early lead).  We hope to see the runner up from Carthage back on the mat soon.

Another Section 3 standout, two-time state champion Nick Tighe of Phoenix, also met a state runner up this weekend, Hilton’s Vincent DePrez, in the 138-pound championship contest of the Matthew Marino Tournament at Webster Schroeder High.   The Binghamton-bound Tighe dominated, grabbing a 16-3 major decision.  It is worth noting that DePrez was one of three second placers for his squad – and for the DePrez family.  His brothers Anthony (145) and Lou (120) also took silver while nationally-ranked teammate Yianni Diakomihalis was the victor at 99 pounds.

In the team race at the Matthew Marino event, which featured strong entrants from Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6, Vermont’s Mount Anthony High took first.  Earning second place was Section 6’s Fredonia, led by four gold medalists — returning state placers Dakota Gardner (126 pounds) and Jude Gardner (145) as well as Zach Buckley (170) and Christian Saden (220).  Buckley had a solid win over Section 5 champion Jared Mesiti, 7-4.

Also taking top billing were state qualifier Colton Kells of Fairport at 195 and state placer Bryan Lantry of Wayne at 113.  Lantry’s teammate Jake Yankloski registered an impressive bonus point victory in the 106 title match against 2012 qualifier Bryan Ruggeri of Fairport.

More Contenders in Action

Matt Leshinger, Photo by BV

In the first weekend of action for Section 11, the Sayville tournament showcased several state title contenders.  Among them were Ivy League-bound seniors Tyler Grimaldi of Half Hollow Hills West (Harvard) and the host school’s Matt Leshinger (Columbia).  Grimaldi, who was second in the state at 160 a year ago, captured Most Outstanding Wrestler honors in Sayville after cruising at 160 pounds.  Meanwhile, Leshinger, who took bronze at 120 in February, had a solid debut up a few weights as he won the tournament at 138 pounds.

Another strong event on Long Island was the Bruins Cup at Baldwin, which provided another opportunity to see a number of strong wrestlers ramp up their seasons.

Steven Sewkumar of Long Beach collected Most Outstanding Wrestler honors for the second consecutive weekend as he took the 113 pound title in a close match against St. Anthony’s Ben Lamantia.  St. Anthony’s celebrated a number of champions, including former All-State grappler Freddie Dunau (126) and 2012 qualifier Johnny Vrasidas (170) as well as Joe Russ (120).

Vito Arujau, Photo by BV

Syosset’s Dan Choi, who came within one match of the medal stand at the Times Union Center in Albany registered four pins on the way to the 195-pound crown while his teammates Joe Scholl (182) and Vito Arujau (106) also made the top of the podium.  Arujau looked dominant for the second straight tournament, earning the title by technical fall.

Led by champions Anthony Messina (132), Jackson Mordente (145) and John Vigh (220) and runners up Conor O’Hara (138), Mike Pistone (152), Mark Tracy (170) and Josh Edmonsen (285), Sachem East took the team title by over 50 points, with Longwood next.

 

MacArthur Takes First at the Mahopac Duals

While multiple Section 8 teams wrestled at the tournaments listed above, MacArthur traveled to Section 1 for the Mahopac Duals.  The Generals were impressive throughout the competition, including a 42-25 victory over Section 4’s Johnson City in the title tilt.  The host team from Mahopac was fourth.

And From the Midwest . . .

While Empire State teams can’t compete at some of the large in-season national events, a pair of 2012 New York State silver medalists made the podium at one of the most challenging tournaments in the country this weekend —  the Walsh Ironman in Ohio.  Jose Rodriguez, who took second at 99 pounds last season while competing for Wantagh, was the runner up at 106 pounds at the Ironman behind Eli Stuckley of St. Paris Graham.  Rodriguez now attends Massillon Perry in the Buckeye State.

Former Longwood star Nicky Hall notched seventh place on Saturday while representing Wyoming Seminary.  Hall is a two-time New York medalist, including a second place showing at 152 pounds in 2012.

For more dual meet results from around the state, see here

To report results, e-mail newyorkwrestlingnews@gmail.com

 

Post Las Vegas Cornell Update With Rob Koll

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By Rob Koll 

Finals started this week which means amazingly we are almost halfway through the season.  I am pleased with the team’s first semester performance but of course we still have dual meets against Missouri and Oklahoma State to change my mind. This past weekend we competed at the Las Vegas Invitational.  This is typically a brutal test for our guys and this year was no exception.  Although the travel and time change is tough on the team I enjoy the competition because we get to face many Western and Midwestern competitors. 

Vegas Recap

Photo by BV

125 Nahshon Garrett (2nd) is currently 17-1 and I believe he should be 18-0.  He lost a tight might to the #4 ranked wrestler from Missouri. Fortunately he will have an opportunity to avenge his only loss next weekend at the Grapple in the Apple.  Nahshon started wrestling in eighth grade so his learning curve is ridiculously high.  He gets better every practice.  I called this one early and I don’t mind saying I told you so!

133 Bricker Dixon (DNP) wrestled hard but got a little overpowered on the mat.  His losses were all to good wrestlers but there is no such thing as a good loss.  Bricker needs to add a few pounds over the break.

141 Mike Nevinger (4th) continues to improve after getting off to a painfully slow start.  He continues to be difficult to score upon on his feet and he is brutal on top.   Going forward Mike needs to get his offense back on track.  He has a history of finishing strong therefore I expect to see continued improvement over the next couple months.

149 Chris Villalonga (6th) came into the tournament’s deepest weight unseeded and came away with a 6th place finish.  I guess we should be pleased, but Chris is much better than his placement.  Chris has been banged up and he let his injury affect his performance.  We don’t expect the injury to bother him throughout the season, but if it does, he will learn to tolerate the pain by wrestling through it.  The good news is that Chris’s worst would be considered very good on most teams.  Of course we won’t accept his worst so you can be assured he will improve.

157 Chris Dowdy (DNP) won two matches and looked very good at times.  As I’ve said before, Chris needs to gain some power to go along with his speed and technique.  This will only come with time but Chris is only a freshman so we have high hopes for his future!

165 Kyle Dake (1st) was his normal dominant self.  Kyle dominated every opponent he faced. His closest match came in the finals where he won 6-0 against the country’s #7 ranked wrestler.

174 Duke Pickett (DNP) went 2-2 on the weekend. Duke is very good on his feet but is getting beat up on the mat. This is not atypical of freshman but is unacceptable for a Cornell freshman.  Duke knows this and is working intensely to fix this weakness.

184 Craig Scott (DNP) like fellow freshmen Dowdy and Pickett, also went 2-2.  Craig also struggled getting off bottom and I attribute a great deal of that to physical strength.  Craig is 6’3’’ so when he gets extended he does not have a great deal of power.  He needs to do a better job of keeping perfect position on bottom.  He also needs to do a better job of using his length in his attacks.  He permitted a couple of his opponents to tie him up and to wrestle from the inside.  This negates his length.

197 Jace Bennett (7th) came away with a 7th place finish.  Jace has the ability to beat just about anyone.  He has great offense and is brutal on top.  His weakness is an unattractive quality of getting reversed to his back.  This is a habit that needs to get kicked quickly.

285 Stryker Lane (6th) was our third unseeded wrestler to place. Stryker has made slow but consistent improvements over his career.  He is tough to take down, good on top and bottom. He struggles offensively but has been competitive in every bout this year.

For complete results go here.

Grapple at the Apple Important Information

Ticket Information (After Friday tickets will be returned to MSG)

To purchase tickets in the Cornell section please go to: http://cornellbigredtickets.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=780&cid=58

Bus Trip (Friday cutoff)

We have 16 fans signed up to travel to the city for on December 16th for the Grapple. We need a few more travelers to make this possible. The round trip from Ithaca to NYC is $40.00 – shopping for the day if they don’t want to do wrestling …

If interested e-mail Cathy Pace – cmp2@cornell.edu

Update on Sectional Singlets at States: NYSPHSAA Executive Director Discusses the Petition

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A few days ago, a petition was posted asking the NYSPHSAA to bring back Sectional singlets for the 2013 state tournament.  (In May, Sectional uniforms were eliminated for all sports in New York).  As of 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, over 815 people had signed that petition.

New York Wrestling News spoke to one of the people the petition is addressed to, Robert Zayas, the Executive Director of the NYSPHSAA, to understand his response to the petition and to get his input on what can be done for those looking to bring the singlets back.

 

New York Wrestling News (NYWN): I’m sure you are aware of the petition going on now to bring the Section singlets back.  What is your reaction to that petition?

Robert Zayas (RZ): Yes, I am definitely aware.  I appreciate the passion people have for the sport of wrestling here in New York.  I have received several hundred e-mails as have members of my staff.  Unfortunately, we don’t have a say in whether the singlets come back or not.  The Executive Committee made the decision back in May and therefore any change will have to come from that committee.

NYWN: Who makes up the Executive Committee?

RZ: There are two representatives from each Section.  If there will be a change, it will come from them.  We really are a grassroots organization, which is bottom up, rather than top down.  If the Sections come together and say that they want this change, it might be possible.  But if it’s only a few Sections, it probably won’t happen.

NYWN: When is the next Executive Committee meeting?

RZ: The next meeting is January 29.

NYWN: Let’s take a step back.   In May 2012, the uniform change was approved.  The language from the meeting notes was “Approved the elimination of Section uniforms in all sports and therefore requiring athletes to wear their school uniforms at State Championships even if a sponsor provides them.” Why was that last part about the sponsors specifically added?

RZ: I think it was to make sure things are fair and consistent across all sports.  Some sports have the ability to get a sponsor or sponsors to provide those uniforms and some don’t.

NYWN: So if booster clubs or donors came together and bought singlets, would they be permitted?

RS: I believe those would not be permitted at this time.

NYWN: In the October Executive Committee notes, a Section representative brought up the fact that wearing Section uniforms could be beneficial from a safety perspective.  The quote from the meeting notes was: “The Safety Committee agrees the wearing of Section uniforms at the State Wrestling Championships would improve the efficiency and time in which the appropriate medical personnel could respond to an injured athlete.”  What was the outcome of that discussion?

RS: That was presented at the October meeting.  The Executive Committee did not approve the proposal.

NYWN:  Since the elimination of Section uniforms was made across all sports, do you think a change is possible in a single sport like wrestling or do you think it would have to be made across the board?

RZ: Other sports have brought this issue up as well.  Cross country is one of them. But in the end, it’s completely up to the Executive Committee.

NYWN: Some of the arguments made for returning to the Sectional singlets are the years and years of tradition and the ability for family, fans and media to be able to follow the action in Albany.  Are there other impacts you see?

RZ:  It is obviously a big tradition here in New York and I have heard many people talk about how it will change viewing the tournament from the stands.  We also will need to make some changes with the referees because in the past, they could quickly look at the Section singlets, make sure there weren’t wrestlers from their Section competing and referee that match.  We’ll have to come up with a method for officials to quickly see that the wrestlers about to compete are not part of their Section.

NYWN: So, for those who want their voices to be heard on this issue, what should they know?

RZ: The Executive Committee made the change. My understanding is that cost was the focus of the decision.  They’ll need reasons to reverse the decision.  I don’t mind hearing the passion and perspectives of the member schools and constituents on this issue.  But I don’t have the ability to overturn this and neither do a number of others on the petition.  The people who want their voices heard should make sure their opinions are heard by the Section representatives.

NYWN: Thank you.

Further information on the Executive Committee is available here.

No Sectional Singlets for the State Tournament: Petition Asks NYSPHSAA to Reconsider

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Every wrestling season brings change.  There are always new coaches, new state title contenders and some young guns who show they are ready for varsity competition.  This year, there is another new development in the Empire State – the elimination of Sectional singlets for the state tournament.

This is not unique to the sport of wrestling.  Sectional uniforms were eliminated in all sports, according to the NYSPHSAA meeting notes from May of 2012.  To see those notes (the relevant item is #16 on page 1), the link is here.

After that decision, the topic was revisited at the October 2012 meeting.  After an inquiry by a Section 2 representative, it was reported that the Safety Committee agreed that wearing Section singlets at the state tournament would “improve the efficiency and time in which the appropriate medical personnel could respond to an injured athlete.”  No further comment on the issue is included.  To see those October notes (the relevant topic is on page 8), the link is here.

[The next meeting of the Executive Committee is January 29, 2013, according to the November 2012 edition of NYSPHSAA News].

Several wrestling fans have voiced their opinions on the subject.  One such voice is that of Armdrag.com Editor Tim Herman, who has put together a petition asking the governing body to reconsider the decision for this year’s state championships.  The content of that petition is below:

By Tim Herman, Editor of Armdrag.com

We the people of the NYS high school wrestling community were shocked to hear that our qualifying wrestlers will no longer have the honor of wearing their section colors during state tournament competition. This tradition of nearly 50 years has been a longstanding symbol of pride and respect for wrestlers, fans, and parents alike.

Earning a state championship singlet is not only the goal of nearly every wrestler in NYS, it’s something the spectators look forward to. Fans dress in their section colors, families have custom colored t-shirts made, and some athletes even dye their hair to match! Not to mention, in a sea of athletes, it’s nearly impossible to closely follow the action as a spectator without the visual cue. Some spectators, many of whom travel from several hours away, take time off from work, and spend the weekend in Albany, will indeed be turned-off by this decision.

Some sections allow their wrestlers to keep their singlets only if they pay for them. If money is the issue, perhaps this is a solution. Together with team warm-ups and some creative-thinking, you might even be able to turn it into a money-maker! This could work not only for wrestling, but also for other individual sports that might benefit from color-coded uniforms.

We urge you to reconsider your decision. Please bring sectional singlets back to the New York State wrestling tournament.

To go to the petition website, click here.