Hawks to host season opening mat tourney

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Holley-Kendall wrestling squad include, in front, Frank Flynn, Hunter McLean and Dawson Custer. In back are Jayden Pieniaszek, David Farruggia, Eli Stanton, Cade Aina, Erik Balys and Tristyn Moyer.

Bolstered by a good nucleus of over a dozen returning regulars, the Holley-Kendall wrestling squad is prepping to open the season on Saturday as the Hawks host their annual Team Tournament beginning at 10 a.m.

The tournament field will include Lyndonville, Canisius, North Rose-Wolcott, Campbell-Savona and Eastridge along with the host Hawks.

Seniors Cade Aina, Erik Balys. Hunter McLean, Frank Flynn and Eli Stanton head the Hawks veteran contingent which also includes juniors Nate Schoonmaker, Dawson Custer, Tristyn Moyer and Jayden Pieniaszek along with sophomores David Farruggia and Jakob Silpock, freshman Dylan Clemons and eighth grader Jeff Moynihan.

Moyer went 34-10, Aina 34-13, Balys 27-9, Pieniaszek 26-6, McLean 26-13 and Custer 18-8 last year.

“We’ve got a great group of returners the problem is that several of them are bunched up together in the same weight class,” said Coach John Grillo. “If we can spread our veterans out and fill all of the weight classes we could have a good solid team. Wrestling is a tough sport as you have to fill 15 different weight classes. And that is the key for us to be able to fill all the weight classes. ”

Schedule
December: 1 – Holley-Kendall Team Tournament, 10 a.m.; 8 – at Lyndonville Tournament; 11 – at Alexander, 6 p.m.; 13 – Akron, 6 p.m.; 15 – at South Seneca Duals, 9 a.m.; 18 – McQuaid, 6 p.m. at Kendall, 21 – Roy-Hart/Barker, 6 p.m.; 27 – Holley-Kendall Varsity Duals, 10 a.m.
January: 5 – at Caledonia-Mumford Duals, 9 a.m.; 8 – at Byron-Bergen, 6 p.m.; 15 – Lyndonville and St. Mary’s, 5:30 p.m.; 17 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.; 13 – at Brighton, 6 p.m.; 26 – at Medina Tournament, 9 a.m.