Local mat trio set for state championships

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 24 February 2022 at 10:58 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Dominick Callara

Medina’s Gavin Ciarfella, left, Roy-Hart/Barker’s Zack Hill

A trio of local wrestlers will be competing in the Division 2 (small schools) state wrestling championships on Friday and Saturday at the Times Union Center in Albany.

The local wrestlers include Medina’s duo of junior Dominick Callara (102) and sophomore Gavin Ciarfella (126) along with Roy-Hart/Barker senior Zack Hill (189).

Callara, who is seeded fifth, brings a 25-3 season record into the competition. He draws a bye in the first round and will face the winner of the William Grass (Clarke – Section 8) vs. Quada Mather (Bayport-Blue Point – Section 11) in the pre-quarterfinals. The victor of that match will likely face fourth seeded Christopher Noto (Honeoye Falls-Lima – Section V) who is 31-1.

Ciarfella, who is 30-2 is seeded eighth. He will face Dylan Devine (Schalmont – Section 2) in the pre-quarterfinals. The victor will likely face top seeded Max Gallagher (Bayport-Blue Point) who is 30-0 in the quarterfinals.

Hill, who is 31-9, will face Brad Bockhann (Southhampton – Section 11) in his first match. The winner will face fifth seeded Jared Bilinski (Dodgeville-Oppenheim-Ephrata – Section III).

Niagara-Orleans League champion Newfane will be represented by a quartet of wrestlers including Aiden Gillings (132) who is 32-1, Adam Huntington (145) 31-6, No. 2 seed Simon Lingle (189) 35-1 and Charles Larose (285) 31-5.