Now the Cicero-North Syracuse wrestling team can add to its ledger the title of CNY Counties League National division regular-season champions.
From a slow start last December, the Northstars have grown into a mature and confident unit, and it locked up the league crown last Wednesday night when it hosted Auburn and beat the Maroons 48-19, making Senior Night an even more enjoyable affair.
Despite an overall record of 11-12, the Northstars were 7-1 against CNYCL opponents, a vivid display of the progress it made — something it showed against Auburn.
Starting at 135 pounds, CNS claimed the first four matches of the meet. Senior Jamie French set the tone, pinning Neil Halpin in 1:14, while Todd Hagger (140 pounds) worked even faster to pin Jack Weinerth in 44 seconds.
Another one of the Northstar seniors, Anthony Dolson, won at 145 pounds by pinning Mike Henn in 46 seconds, and Jacob Pfeiffer (152 pounds) completed the senior sweep, earning his pin over Justin Gilmore at the 2:26 mark of their match.
After a pair of Auburn titles, Jack Hotaling got CNS going again, at 189 pounds, beating Ian Merritt 8-5, before Jamie Sacco (215 pounds) got a pin over Patrick Day in 1:32.
Daniel Cicciarelli (103 pounds) claimed a forfeit, but Robert Brandt did wrestle at 119 pounds, pinning James Murtari in 3:44 before Patrick Dyer (125 pounds) earned the last CNS points of the night in a 7-2 decision over P.J. Giacona. Alex Barry, at 130 pounds, took a narrow 9-8 defeat to Alex Barry.
CNS meets Fowler on Thursday and will be in the Section III Class AA championship meet at Central Square next Saturday before it plays host to the overall sectional championships on Feb. 23 and 24.
