Five N-O wrestlers place at states
Five Niagara-Orleans League wrestlers have earned place finishes at the Division 2 state championships which concluded this evening at Albion.
Wilson senior Hamza Merrick captured the 285 lb. championship with a 4-1 decision win in the title match while his teammate senior Jacob Stephenson finished second at 160. Hamza was seeded No. 3 and Stephenson No. 1.
The Newfane senior duo of Aidan Gillings and Ayden Buttery finished third and fourth at 145 lbs. after Gillings edged Buttery 4-2 in the match for third and fourth place. Buttery was seeded No. 3 and Gillings No. 4.
Medina senior Reece Senske (116) finished sixth. He lost in the semifinals by a first period pin to top seeded Tommy Aiello (John Glenn, Section 8) who went on to capture the title. He then went 0-2 in the consolation bracket to finish in sixth place.
It was the second straight appearance at the state championships for Senske who finished eighth a year ago. He was seeded No. 5 this year.
