Local mat duo gains state semis

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Beach, Swick score two wins to advance

Photos by Mike Wertman – Medina’s Charles Beach, left, and Roy-Hart’s Cameron Swick have reached the semifinals of the state wrestling championships.

Two local high school seniors, Charles Beach of Medina and Cameron Swick of Roy-Hart, both scored a pair of victories today to advance to the semifinals of the state Division 2 (small schools) wrestling championships being held at the Times Union Center in Albany.

Beach (220) started strong with a quick pin in 1:10 over John Smith of Robert F. Kennedy High (PSAL). He then nipped Anthonhy Moffo of Morrisville (Section III) 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

Beach, who is 31-1 on the season, will next face Aaron Mann of Warsaw in the semifinals on Saturday. Mann advanced with a pin and a major decision win.

Swick (160), blanked Liam Heslin of Chester (Section IX) 5-0 in his opening match. He then decisioned Zack Loomis of Avon 9-2 in the quarterfinals.

Swick, who is 32-0, will next take on Jsson Hoffman of Hadley Luzerne Lake George (Section II) in the semifinals. Hoffman scored a pair of 5-0 decision wins in his first two matches.

The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with the finals at 6 p.m.

Two other local wrestlers, Joe Velez of Medina and Dustin Joy of Lyndonville, were both defeated in their first round matches.

Velez (126) dropped a close 3-1 decision of Nicholas Gaiser of Alexander while Joy was edged out 5-3 by Brad Dietz of Phoenix (Section III).

However, both wrestlers rebounded to score wrestle-back victories.

Velez decisioned Amir Johnson of Pietredes (PSAL) 3-2 but was then eliminated via a 5-0 loss to Ty Rifanburg from Norich (Section IV).

Joy bested Colin Hogan of Peru (Section VII) 7-1but then bowed out via a 3-1 loss to Noah Handy of Dolgeville (Section III).

Newfane’s Jake Kubala (195) also advanced to the semifinals with a pair of wins.

First he pinned David Hayner of Mechanicsville-Stillwater (Section II) in 5:21 and then edged Kevin Morgans of Eldred-Liberty-Swest (Section IX) 3-2 in the quarterfinals.