Cazenovia’s wrestling team would work hard during the holiday break, spending Tuesday and Wednesday at Central Square facing eight different opponents during the Brett Dixon Memorial Duals.
Overall, the Lakers would gain a 4-4 split. The tournament began with Cazenovia edging Port Byron 40-36, earning all of its points in the first 12 matches to clinch early. Carter Biviano (113 pounds), Mike Nourse (145 pounds), Jake Wilson (170 pounds) and Dan Phillips (182 pounds) earned crucial pins.
A 57-24 loss to Vestal followed, and after a rest in the third round, the Lakers fell again, 38-31, to West Genesee, dropping eight of the first 12 matches before Biviano, Nick Petroff (120 pounds) and Awng Hung (126 pounds) earned late wins.
Against host Central Square, Cazenovia lost again, 43-32, with Wilson getting the lone pin for his side as Petroff and Dan Cossitt (160 pounds) gained technical falls.
Now at 1-3, Cazenovia began to rebound by toppling Fayetteville-Manlius 52-24 as Cossitt, Phillips, Biviano, Petroff and Teddy Kugler (138 pounds) picked up pins. A 70-12 rout of Jordan-Elbridge followed, John Nannery offering a highlight at 220 pounds when he pinned Andy Chambers in just 58 seconds.
The Lakers made it three in a row by beating Lyons, 53-30, mostly through forfeits, though Cossitt, Wilson, Phillips and Hayden Polhamus (195 pounds) picked up pins, Polhamus finishing off Noah Dobbins in 45 seconds.
It ended with Cazenovia losing to Holland Patent 55-21, the Golden Knights winning team honors with a perfect 8-0 mark by claiming the first eight matches against the Lakers. Biviano, Petroff and Cossitt still had pins as Nourse beat Ed Knamm 8-7 and snared Most Outstanding Wrestler honors for the Lakers.
Cazenovia returns to league action next Thursday night, meeting Homer at Buckley Gym, before the Port Byron Invitational on Jan. 7.
