ALBANY – Just one wrestler in the history of the Chittenango program had ever climbed all the way to a state championship – at least until last weekend.
Now Andrew Bailey joins Connor Fredericks in the highest of honor rolls in Bears wrestling lore, having claimed the 189-pound title during this weekend’s’ New York State Public High School Athletic Association meet at Albany’s MVP Arena.
“It feels amazing,,” said Bailey right after winning the title in an overtime battle with Wellsville’s Shane Davidson. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but once I celebrate with my family and friends it probably will (a bit) more.”
In order to equal what Fredericks accomplished in 2018 at 182 pounds, Bailey, in the 189-pound division, had to survive three elimination matches that were decided by a single point or in overtime.
“It was just about digging deep and fighting hard for every point.” said Bailey.
This was Bailey’s second state tournament appearance, having not placed in 2022, but he entered it sporting a perfect 34-0 record that included the Section III Division II title earned two weeks earlier.
In the opening round last Friday afternoon, Bailey did not wait too long, pinning John Glenn’s Carmine Gerbino in just 30 seconds, but from there everything was close.
Facing Oneonta’s Mateo Goodhue in the quarterfinals, Bailey managed only a single escape, but that point was enough to pull out a 1-0 decision and advance.
The semifinal match on Saturday afternoon pitted Bailey against Granville/Fort Ann’s Brent Perry. This, too, involved a pitched battle for every single points, but again Bailey got the upper hand and held on by a 2-1 margin.
So it was on to the championship round and Shane Davidson, who had risen from a no. 5 seed and had pinned top seed Troy Austin (Whitehall) in the semifinals.
The final reflected the previous two rounds, Bailey able to get some points but Davidson matching him through the six minutes of regulation, which ended 3-3.
Later, Bailey said that his biggest strength was, in his words, “having the best gas tank in the state” and wear out an opponent.
Plenty was left for the OT period, where Bailey spun around Davidson’s grasp, performed the takedown and nearly pinned Davidson, though the takedown was all he needed for the 7-3 victory and the state crown.
Bailey joined three other Section III wrestlers as tate champions, all in Division II. Homer’s Sam Sorenson repeated at 215 pounds, Central Valley Academy’s Sixx Cook won at 152 pounds and Copenhagen’s Chase Nevills prevailed at 118 pounds.
