Now the Baldwinsville wrestling team has climbed past all the major hurdles on its way to claiming the CNY Counties League National division regular-season title.
The Bees squared off with Cicero-North Syracuse Wednesday night at the Baker High School gym, overcoming struggles in the lighter weight classes to record a 35-28 victory over the Northstars.
Of the five matches between 99 and 126 pounds, B’ville only won once, when Tim Sposato, at 113, rolled to a 15-4 decision over Connor Osborne.
Still, Kevin Paul (106), Jabr Bengabr (120) and Chad McArdell (126) hung in there and avoided pins, denying CNS full point value. McArdell dropped a 7-6 decision to Tony Battista and Paul hung close with Drew Dyer in a 5-2 defeat.
When the Bees claimed every match from 152 to 195 pounds, it did so in varying manners. Anthony Rafkis (160) earned a second-period pin over Sam Ruiz, while Pat Nasoni (195) took just 1:50 to pin Noah Whritenour and Joe Nasoni, at 182, finished off David Griglock 28 seconds into the third period.
On the other hand, James Eustice (152) and Ryan McArdell (170) earned valuable points in close decisions. Eustice held off Kiel Dyer 4-3, while McArdell got an 8-7 win over Andrew Osborne.
Connor Ross dominated at 132 pounds, shutting out Jacob Murdock 8-0, while Jake Norton won at 138 pounds over Matt Dunham in an 11-6 decision. Not once did CNS get a pin, though the Bees did forfeit a pair of matches and Steve Petrelli (145 pounds) fell to Tom Peterson 6-3.
B’ville went from here to Saturday’s Cazenovia Invitational. In a field of 16 teams, the Bees rose to second place, with 148.5 points, bettered only by Vestal, who won with 198 points.
Pat Nasoni earned the title at 195, pinning Port Byron’s Nick Griffin in 1:50 to claim the title match. Sposato did the same at 113, making it to the finals and taking just 67 seconds to pin Fabius-Pompey’s Billy Heseldan in the championship match.
Rafkis also made the finals at 160, only to fall to Sandy Creek’s Jared Soule in a second-period pin. Paul pinned Austin Parker (Port Byron) in 1:25 for third place, with Chad McArdell shutting out Dylan Evans (Cazenovia) to finish third at 126.
Jake Florack handled Homer’s Dave Kiernan 8-1 in the third-place at 285 pounds. Ross gained fifth place at 132, while Joe Nasoni earned fifth at 182.
After meeting West Genesee on Wednesday, B’ville gets to travel to CNS as, once again, it will participate in the Section III Dual Meet against the top programs in the area.
