Area wrestlers seek sectional titles this weekend

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Tom Follman will be one of over four dozen area wrestlers who ail be seeking a sectional title this weekend.

A berth in the state championship is the big prize that over four dozen area wrestlers will be seeking as they compete in the sectional championships this weekend.

Niagara-Orleans League wrestlers from Albion, Medina, Barker/Roy-Hart, Akron and Newfane will be competing in the Section VI Division 2 (small schools) championships on Saturday at East Aurora. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with the finals slated for 6:30 p.m.

The three Orleans County Genesee Region League mat squads, Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville, will be competing in the Section V championships at SUNY Brockport. Competition is scheduled to begin this afternoon with the quarterfinal round slated for 4 p.m. Wrestling will continue Saturday with the semifinals at 12 p.m. and the finals at 5 p.m.

Lyndonville has the largest contingent as the Tigers are sending a dozen matmen to the state qualifier. Lyndonville’s contingent is led by five grapplers who captured Section V Class B titles last weekend including Jeff Gress Jr. (106), Tony Recco (120), Chris McDonald (138), Tom Follman (152) and Devon Joy (160). Recco is a defending sectional champion. The Tigers will also be represented by Garren Bayne (113) and Dustin Joy (145) who both placed second; Reese Ledford (99), Cullen Heveron (113) and Dustin Hinkley (132) who each took third place along with Dawson Joy (182) and Frankie Carrasquillo (285) who both placed fourth.

Holley will be sending seven matmen led by Martin Beadle (145) and Lucas Silvis (220) who both placed second at last weekend’s Section V Class BB Tournament. The Hawks will also be sending Nick Shenck (132) and Austen Vroman (285) who both placed fourth, Brandon Morrell (113) and Zach Day (170) who took fifth and Ross Pinson (195) who placed sixth.

Albion will be represented by five grapplers led by Cade Aina (99) who placed first at the Section VI Class B Tournament last weekend. The Purple Eagles also have Preston Flugel (106) and Aaron Burnside (145) who both placed third and Blake Aina (138) and Merlin Moyer (195) who both took fourth.

Medina likewise is sending five wrestlers led by Kalvin Packer (285) who earned a first place at last weekend’s Section VI Class C Tournament. The Mustangs will also be represented by Brennen Callara (113) who took a second place along with Joe Velez (120), Cody Crane (152) and Ryan Kruger (220) who each placed fourth.

Kendall will be sending a trio of matmen including Paul Urguhard (106) who placed fourth at last weekend’s Section V Class B Tournament along with Billy Miller (195) and Mike Raschke (285) who both took sixth.

Barker/Roy-Hart’s six member contingent is led by Brent Bachman (120) and Sam Dauphin (285) who both placed second at the Section VI Class C Tournament last weekend. The group also includes Ryan Ulrich (138), Dan Gardner (160) and Kirk Fay (285) who each placed third along with Dan Wheeler (126) who took fourth.

N-O champion Newfane will be represented by a large group of eight wrestlers led by a trio of Section VI Class C champions including Charles Johnstone (126), Paul Dunbar (145) and Jake Kubala (182). The Panthers contingent also includes Cyrus Simmons (160) who took second, Adam Nowicki (152) and Chris Johnson (195) who both placed third and Zach Brown (113) and Tyler Simmons (145) who both took fourth.

Akron is sending a group of five matmen including Johnny Fiebelkorn (113) who placed first at the Section VI Class C Tournament, Jacob Sarow (152) and Ethan PeQueen (170) who both took second, Jacob Clark (220) who placed third and Matt Fiebelkorn (132) who took fourth.