Though 16 wrestling teams vied for top honors in the Section III Dual Meet at Cicero-North Syracuse on Saturday, Skaneateles was not one of them.
Instead, the Lakers were busy hosting its own dual meet that same day, welcoming Auburn, Cato-Meridian, East Syracuse Minoa and Oneida for four rounds of competition – and it would win each of them to claim the title at the Laker Duals and finish a superb 19-3 regular season.
Only one of the matches proved close, Skaneateles holding off Cato-Meridian 45-38. Otherwise, the Lakers rolled past Auburn 57-12, routed Oneida 61-21 and handled ESM 67-18.
Mike Goetzmann, wrestling at 145 pounds, went 4-0 for the Lakers and, with Brodie Van Dyke (Oneida), Sam LeGro (ESM), Julian Bernard (Auburn)and Dylan Bortle (Cato), was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Eight different Skaneateles wrestlers won all four of their bouts. Besides Mike Goetzmann, J.W. Simmons (99 pounds), Christian Daley (106 pounds), Max Collier (113 pounds), Josh Brillo (132 pounds), Matt Goetzmann (138 pounds), Andrew Newton (152 pounds) and T.J. Greenfield (215 pounds) went unbeaten on the day.
Just prior to this, Skaneateles took on a revived Jordan-Elbridge program last Wednesday night, and had little trouble defeating the Eagles 79-6.
J-E still is looking for a full roster, and only contested seven of the 15 bouts, winning one. In the others, Mike Goetzmann, moving up to 152, pinned George Richardson late in the second period, with Newton (160) pinning Gunnar Ferris in 1:53 and Francis Lombardi (170 pounds) needing 2:47 to pin Cordell Sherwood.
Later in the meet, Jon Rickfels, at 220 pounds, had to go all six minutes to beat Meghan Mott 10-2, with T.J. Greenfield (285) fighting past Lester Bozeat 6-2 and Daley, at 106, pinning Jessi Tripp in 4:45.
Forfeits went to eight other Lakers as Matt Goetzmann (132 pounds), Josh Brillo (138 pounds), Pat Greenfield (182 pounds), Joey McIntyre (195 pounds), J.W. Simmons (99 pounds), Max Collier (113 pounds), Nevan Rourke (120 pounds) and Joey Brillo (126 pounds) accepted them.
With that win, Josh Brillo got to 106 for his career, tying his uncle, Joe Brillo (who serves as an assistant coach for the Lakers), for most wins in school history. Fittingly, he would pass the mark in a dual meet in front of the home crowd.
Now it’s time for the post-season cycle for the Lakers, who will stay at home Saturday to participate in the Onondaga High School League Liberty/Patriot division meet, where 12 teams will vie for top honors.
