Taking the short trip up Route 5, the Chittenango wrestling team went to Canastota last Tuesday night and would dominate this Madison County showdown, beating the Raiders by a score of 40-15.
Even though Canastota got an invitation to Saturday’s Section III Dual Meet, the Bears proved too much for them, starting and finishing strong.
Wes Blanding (130 pounds) claimed a forfeit in the opening match. After a Canastota pin tied it 6-6, Anthony Galli showed up at 140 pounds and pinned Sam Farfaglia just seconds before the match ended. Karl Chappell (145 pounds) got his pin over Jamie Meade in 4:37.
Canastota won three of the next four matches to close the gap, but even those contests proved to be exciting.
Jacob Jayson had a wild battle at 160 pounds, but managed to edge past Fred Sherman 14-13. Both Ryan Schiedo (171 pounds) and Kyle Schiedo (189 pounds) dropped close matches — Ryan to Zach Zupan 4-2 in overtime, Kyle to John Carver 6-2.
But the Bears would not lose again. Josh Wright began that final push at 215 pounds in yet another nail-biter, getting past Sam Stagnitti 6-5, but Gunnar Brooks (112 pounds) proved more decisive, routing Joe Tiller 13-1 before Cole Farsaci (119 pounds) pinned Brandon Durfee 14 seconds into the second period. John Regan (125 pounds) claimed a forfeit.
With no practice in between (thanks to Wednesday’s snowstorm), the Bears move on to back-to-back meets against Whitesboro and East Syracuse-Minoa on Thursday and Friday.