At the conclusion of a strong winter of work, Cicero-North Syracuse wrestlers Todd Hagger and Patrick Dyer both gained a lot of experience against the best in New York during last weekend’s state Division I (large school) championship meet at Albany’s Times Union Center.
Hagger, the Section III champion at 140 pounds, went through an exciting opening-round match on Friday afternoon against Joey Hauser, from Lakeland-Panas. Both wrestlers made lots of great move, but when six minutes were done, Hagger had taken an 11-9 defeat.
Over in the consolation bracket, Hagger lasted two rounds, beating Devendra Hardeo (Long Island) City in a 9-0 shutout, but falling to Giuseppi Lanzi (Amsterdam) in an 11-6 decision. Lanzi eventually finished third at 140 pounds, with Andy Rodriguez (Central Islip) taking the title.
Meanwhile, Dyer got to work at 125 pounds and ran right into Scotia-Glenville’s Dan Riggi, never getting a point in a 15-0 technical fall. Later, in the consolation bracket, Dyer had a thriller with Shenendehowa’s Seth Hazelton, going to overtime before taking an 11-9 defeat. Nick Arujau (Syosset) emerged with the state title.
Of the 42 wrestlers that went to Albany, only one, Morrisville-Eaton’s Ryan LeBlanc, came home with a state title, the senior earning his second consecutive crown at 160 pounds on the Division II (small school) side.
