Due to its accumulated record and enhanced reputation, the Canastota wrestling team was one of 16 squads invited to the 19th annual Section III Dual Meet, staged last Saturday at Rome Free Academy.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, the at-large draw did not produce much luck — for it had to meet no. 2 seed Phoenix in the opening round.
Sure enough, the Firebirds, ranked no. 1 among small-school programs in the state, beat the Raiders 54-10, with the Raiders only prevailing twice, one of them a forfeit to Sean Wilkinson at 140 pounds.
John Carver, competing at 171 pounds, easily handled Jeff Hendrickson in a 16-4 decision. Elsewhere, Tyler Sirota (119 pounds) fought hard in a 6-2 loss to Talon Sotherden, while Brandon Durfee (103 pounds) fell to Nick Tighe 9-3.
Eventually, Phoenix made it all the way to the finals, where it dethroned nine-time defending champion Fulton. They tied in points 24-24, but Phoenix won based on criteria, earning seven of the 13 matches.
Meanwhile, the Raiders had a consolation match, where it would bounce back and beat Baldwinsville 31-25.
It helped that Jake LaBarre got to start, at 160 pounds, where he held off Andrew Giormini 4-3. Carver then beat Corey Buyck in an injury default before James Coonrod, at 189 pounds, edged past Vince Todzia 10-7.
B’ville took four of the next matches, and even Durfee stood up in his 6-3 defeat to the Bees’ top wrestler, Anthony Finocchiaro. Sirota, now at 112 pounds, followed by pinning Tim Hamm in 1:51.
Nate Hopkins, at 135 pounds, earned a tough 3-0 decision over Joe Senf after Zach Zupan (130 pounds) dazzled with a 36-second pin of Pete Cole.
Still, it came down to the 152-pound finale between Wilkinson and Sean Hennigan. It never proved to be close, as Wilkinson blanked Hennigan 13-0 and the Raiders had the victory.
Prior to the Dual Meet, Canastota pulled off a rare shutout last Tuesday night, accumulating every point possible in a 77-0 win over Mount Markham.
Beginning at 103 pounds, the Raiders reeled off eight consecutive pins as Durfee began the fun, earning his fall over Austin Weeks in 35 seconds.
Sirota needed 1:07 to finish off Lance Angle, while Jake Popple (119 pounds) worked into the second period before pinning Colton Tyler. Raymond Walker, at 125 pounds, got his pin over Cody Dye in 59 seconds.
Moving to 130 pounds, Schuyler Jayson pinned Andy Varin in 1:41, after which Fred Sherman (135 pounds) gained a fall over Sean Noble 33 seconds into the third period.
Hopkins rolled at 140 pounds with a pin over Brian Ramsdale in 1:31, and Brian Brodfuehrer (145 pounds) pinned T.J. Brown midway through the second period.
Elsewhere, Sam Stagnitti (215 pounds), Jeremy Brodfuehrer (152 pounds) and LaBarre (171 pounds) all claimed forfeits, while Wilkinson, at 160 pounds, beat Kyle Crawford in a technical fall and Ben Rinauto (189 pounds) closed out the sweep when Ethan Ostrander had to stop due to injury.
Canastota competes three times this week, all at home, following up meets against Ilion and Cato-Meridian with a Saturday meet against Adirondack, who got to the Dual Meet semifinals before falling to Phoenix.
