For the second time in three years, the Cazenovia wrestling team can call itself OHSL Liberty division regular-season champions.
Though the Lakers seized first place right away this winter, it did not clinch the outright title until last Tuesday night, when it went to Jordan-Elbridge and beat the Eagles 48-27 to complete a perfect 6-0 run through the rest of the league.
No doubt, it helped that J-E’s thin roster in the upper weight classes allowed Dan Cossitt (145 pounds), Phil Kugler (160 pounds), Joe Szlamczynski (171 pounds), Cody Foster (189 pounds) and Jake Ayer (215 pounds) to claim forfeits, resulting in 30 points.
Still, the Lakers earned the rest on the mat, including a 125-pound match where Alex Petroff pinned Joe Mills in 1:49. Dylan Perry (140 pounds) finished off Jesse Dexter in 3:18. Brad Nardella wrestled at 103 pounds and beat Colin Ennulat 8-4.
Other close matches saw Szlamczynski take a 14-11 defeat to Abe Patrick and Teddy Kugler (119 pounds) fall to Preston Bishop 10-8. Jose Wells (112 pounds) had an 8-4 loss to Mike Nguyen. Ryan Cook, in a 96-pound exhibition, beat Mitch Alpha 13-9.
This leads the Lakers to the combined OHSL Liberty/Patriot Tournament, held Saturday at Solvay High School.
