Lyndonville duo seeks state titles

Photo by Mike Wertman – Jeff Gress Jr., left, and Tony Recco will represent Lyndonville at the state wrestling championships this weekend at Albany.

Orleans County will be represented by the Lyndonville High duo of senior Tony Recco (120) and sophomore Jeff Gress Jr. (106) at the state Division 2 (small schools) wrestling championships this Friday and Saturday at Albany.

The appearance at the states all be the third for Recco, who is a former state champion, and the first for Gress.

Recco, who compiled a 45-2 record this season, advanced to the states by capturing his third Section V title. He captured a state title his freshman year, missed the tourney due to an injury his sophomore season and placed third last year as a junior.

Recco’s opening round match will be against Ryan Hetrick of Maple Grove (Section 6).

Gress, who is 46-4 on the season, placed second at the Section V championships and earned a berth in the state tourney as a wildcard entrant.

Gress’ first match will be against Jacob Nolan of Saranac (Section 7).

“The big thing for them is to keep doing everything they’ve been doing,” said Lyndonville Coach Jeff Gress. “They’ve been working very hard and everything they’ve done up to this point has prepared them for this. They are ready for it.”

And with his son competing Gress will be kept busy at mat side in the dual role of coach and dad. “It’s awesome,” he said of getting to see his son compete at the states. “It’s so humbling. It makes you so proud.”

The competition begins Friday with the pre quarter and quarterfinal matches. The semifinals and finals are slated for Saturday.