Though the Cicero-North Syracuse wrestling team faced high-level competition at this week’s Teike-Bernabi Tournament at Spencerport, it wasn’t completely overwhelmed.
For one, Tony Battista handled all challengers and claimed the 120-pound championship. Battista pinned Jacob Weigand (Cheektowaga) in 1:15 in the quarterfinals and earned a semifinal fall over Kirk Feeney (Lockport) in 1:58.
The title match against Shenendehowa’s Zach Joseph was close, but Battista beat Joseph 6-4, accounting for a large chunk of the 54 points CNS would earn here. The Northstars were 11th in a 16-team event where Shenendehowa, with 265 points, claimed the team championship.
Matt Mastro worked his way to third place at 220 pounds. Beaten 4-2 by Shen’s Zak Kusaywa in the semifinals, Mastro rebounded by topping Scott Dunham (Waterloo) 5-1 and beat Tyler DelCorvo (Gates-Chili) 6-2 in the consolation bracket final.
Drew Dyer won twice at 99 pounds, reaching the semifinals before Spencerport’s Jon Haas pinned him in 45 seconds. Jacob Murdock (132 pounds) went 1-2 in his weight class.
Now CNS rested and got ready for a Jan. 11 showdown with Baldwinsville that is likely to ecide the CNY Counties League National division regular-season title.