Purple Eagles are prepping for the return of a normal N-O League wrestling season

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Andrew Uderitz, left, and Dayne Aina are among Albion’s veterans who will lead the Purple Eagles into the up coming Niagara-Orleans League wrestling season.

For Albion and their Niagara-Orleans League counterparts the 2020-21 wrestling season was a most unusual one to be sure as due to Covid-19 restrictions wrestling in Section VI became a spring sport.

And since Erie County teams (including Akron) were still unable to participate due to tighter restrictions in that county, the May-June season saw the remaining Niagara-Orleans League and Niagara Frontier League teams along with Starpoint combine for an informal league so teams could get in some 10 matches.

Now, providing no further Covid-19 problems arise, the N-O is preparing to begin a full regular season in mid December.

Albion will begin tuning up for the league campaign by hosting Alexander at 6 p.m. December 1. The Purple Eagles will also host Byron-Bergen on Dec. 8 and compete in the Byron-Bergen Tournament on Dec. 4 and the Lyndonville Tournament on Dec. 11 before beginning N-O competition at rival Medina on Dec. 15.

The Purple Eagles return a large contingent of veterans including seniors Dayne Aina, Angel Cruz, Robert Dysard, Alex Hafner, Ellwood Hafner, Jr. Morales, Cade Wolcott, Bryce Froman and Blake Stornelli along with juniors Andrew Uderitz and Bryden McMurray.

“We’ve got a good group of kids back,” said Coach Pat Uveino. “We have high hopes. We’ve got good experience as a lot of these guys have been with us a long time. The boys are excited so we’re looking to hit the ground running.”

Albion’s N-O home opener will be on Dec. 22 against Newfane. The remainder of the N-O schedule will have the Purple Eagles hosting Roy-Hart/Barker on January 5, visiing Akron on Jan. 12, hosting Wilson on Jan. 19 and then hosting the N-O All-League Tournament on Jan. 22.