Lyndonville matmen claim Class B title

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 7 February 2015 at 12:00 am

Contributed Photos – Lyndonville wrestlers and coaches proudly display their trophy and patches after capturing the Section V Class B championship this evening in competition at Keshequa.

Led by a quintet of individual weight class champions, Lyndonville captured the Section V Class B title this evening in competition held at Keshequa.

Lyndonville took top team honors with Keshequa finishing second and Alfred-Almond third.

The Tigers were led by individual weight class champions Jeff Gress Jr.(106), Tony Recco (120), Chris McDonald (138), Tom Follman (152) and Devin Joy (160). Recco and Joy are both repeat champions.

“I’m just so proud of these guys,” exclaimed Lyndonville Coach Jeff Gress. “They all wrestled with so much heart and poise. They are all peaking at the right time.”

Gress scored pins in both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches and then decisioned Matt Brothers (Geneseo) 6-0 in the title bout.

Recco registered a fall in the semis over Sheldon Gardner (Bolivar-Richburg) and then pinned Evan Wood (Alfred-Almond) in the finals in 1:32.

McDonald bested Austin Galton (Keshequa) in the semis an then decisioned Chuck Bolon (Bolivar-Richburg) 6-3 in his title match.

Follman pinned Brennan Krall (Dundee) in the semis and then edged Connor McEvoy (Keshequa) 6-5 in the finals.

Joy decisioned Josh O’Neil (Jasper-Troupsburg) in the semifinals and then won his title bout over Austin Price (Keshequa) by injury default. Joy was leading 6-3 at the time.

Lyndonville’s five champions meet here with their coaches. From left are Assistant Coach Eric Heveron, Chris McDonald, Tom Follman, Devon Joy, Tony Recco, Jeff Gress Jr. and Coach Jeff Gress.

In all the Tigers had a total of a dozen grapplers earn top four finishes including Garren Bayen (113) and Dustin Joy (145) who placed second; Reese Ledford (99), Cullen Heveron (113) and Dustin Hinkley (132) third and Dawson Joy (182) and Frankie Carrasquillo (285) fourth.

All 12 Tiger matmen advance to next weekend’s Section V state qualifier.

Class BB

Holley had two wrestlers, Martin Beadle (145) and Lucas Silvis (220) place second in the Class BB Tournament held at Warsaw. Beadle also earned the tourney’s Outstanding Character Award.

The Hawks also had Nick Shenck (132) and Austen Vroman (285) place fourth, Brandon Morrell (113) and Zach Day (170) fifth and Ross Pinson (195) sixth.

All seven Hawk grapplers advance to the Section V state qualfier.