N-O wrestlers set for state championships

Nine Niagara-Orleans League wrestlers will begin competition in the Division 2 state championships tomorrow at the MVP Arena in Albany.

At 108 lbs., Albion eighth grader Stryker Sanders, who has compiled a 32-4 record this season, will face Joel Diaz a freshman from Seaford (Section VIII) who has a 24-5 record in his opening round match.

At 116 lbs., Medina senior Reece Senske, who is seeded fifth with s 29-4 season record, will be making his second appearance at the state championships. The eighth place finisher a year ago, he has drawn a bye in the opening round. In his first match he will face the winner of the Jake Burton (33-13, sophomore, Marcellus – Section III) vs. Ethan York (31-12, senior, Warrensburg/Lake George – Section II) match.

At 190 lbs., Medina senior Brody Fry, who is seeded seventh with s 35-6 record, will face Jack Brown, a senior from Beekmantown (Section VII) with a 39-4 record, in his first match.

At 170 lbs., Roy-Hart senior Ronan Klug, who has a 28-5 record, will open against senior Yusuf Addali from RFK (NY City).

At 145 lbs., the Newfane senior duo of Ayden Buttery (32-3) and Aidan Gillings (38-4) are seeded third and fourth respectively and both have first round byes.

At 160 lbs., Wilson senior Jacob Stephenson is seeded No. 1 with a 38-3 record and has a first round bye.

Also at 160, Newfane’s Jake Morello, a sophomore with a 23-7 record, will open against Joshua Uben, a junior with a 33-7 record from Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (NY City).

At 285 lbs., Wilson senior Hamza Merrick, who has a 36-8 record, is seeded third and has a first round bye.

The first two rounds and the quarterfinals will be held tomorrow. The consolation rounds, semifinals and championship matches will be held on Saturday.