N-O and NFL combine for wrestling schedule

With both leagues missing schools due to the Covid-19 restrictions in Erie County the Niagara-Orleans and Niagara-Frontier League are joining together for a joint wrestling schedule this season.

Because of the restrictions in Erie County the N-O League is minus Akron while the NFL is minus Grand Island, Kenmore East and Kenmore West. In addition, Starpoint, which is the only Niagara County school in the Erie County League, is without any league opponents.

So with Wilson of the N-O and Lew-Port of the NFL fielding a combined team that leaves a total of only 10 wrestling teams in Niagara and Orleans counties.

The merged league will give each team a full schedule of dual meets as each team will wrestle each of the other nine teams.

In addition to the merged Lew-Port-Wilson squad, the Niagara and Orleans counties league will include Albion, Medina, Roy-Hart/Barker, Newfane, Lockport, Niagara-Wheatfield, Starpoint, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls.

The joint schedule is slated to begin on May 18 with Lew-Port-Wilson at Medina, Albion at Roy-Hart/Barker, Lockport at Newfane, Niagara Falls at Starpoint and Niagara-Wheatfield at North Tonawanda. All matches are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Medina will visit Albion on May 20.

NFL Executive Director/President Patrick Burke adds that “if by chance the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) makes a new decision in the very near future we will have to first figure out the plans of Akron, GI and the Kenmore Schools on what they would like to do for the season.  Once we have that information we will try to put together a plan that works best for all.”

Section VI wrestling teams, except for those in Erie County, began practicing for the season on Monday.