While it’s a new year, the same pleasant reality exists for the West Genesee wrestling team as it tears toward a Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division regular-season championship.
Hosting Liverpool last Wednesday night, the Wildcats, who had yet to wrestle in 2018, ended an 11-day break with a complete effort that resulted in a 56-21 conquest of the Warriors.
Though it lost the opener, WG got going at 99 pounds when Jackson Taetsch pinned Hayley Delia in 87 seconds. Two more wins followed as Nate Wade (106 pounds) handled Corey Okun 11-1 and Gavin O’Neill (113 pounds) topped Jeremy Ianno 8-4.
Though Vincent Calabria, at 120 pounds, lost, 4-0, to Jacob Ianno, the Wildcats won three of the next four bouts, starting with Ejarian Burgin (126 poudns) pulling away from Charlie Tran in a 15-5 romp.
Brady Ryan (138 pounds) and Devin Earl (145 pounds) got back-to-back pins as Ryan finished off Kenny Haugabook in 3:23 and Ryan got his fall over John Bill in 1:46.
Still, Liverpool only trailed 29-21 before WG swept the final five bouts, starting with Victor Elias (160 pounds) pinning Josh Hemingway near the end of the second period.
At 170 pounds, Griffin Sasso took 1:54 to pin Ben Michalowski, with Cole Wade (182 pounds) pinning Ron Cyr in 3:25. Chandler McAvan (195 pounds) had a second-period pin over Carmen Sheldon as Randell Ouimet (220 pounds) got a 7-1 decision over John Sturtz.
Jordan-Elbridge did not wrestle in 2018 until its Jan. 7 appearance in the Port Byron Mid-Winter Tournament, which was pushed back a day by the winter storms.
In a 13-team field, the Eagles finished ninth, with 84 points. Jared Alpha, at 120 pounds, finished third when he beat Auburn’s James Grimes 8-3 in the consolation bracket. Derek Quigley topped Jacob Stockton (Moravia) 8-4 for fifth place in that same weight class.
Meanwhile, at 138 pounds, Marion Quigley lost his semifinal 10-5 to Auburn’s Liam McLoughlin, yet went to the consolation bracket and won it, topping Mynderse Academy’s Max McDermott 8-4 for third place.
Jessi Tripp was fourth at 106 pounds, losing a tough 5-1 semifinal to Cazenovia’s Shaun Zampetti, while Joey Wells (99 pounds), Landry LaFleur (160 pounds), Jacen Killian (170 pounds) and Kyle Gersbacher (285 pounds) each had sixth-place efforts.
As a follow-up, J-E faced Cato-Meridian last Wednesday night, and forfeit helped the Eagles battle past the Blue Devils 36-31.
Jessi Tripp (106), Steve Tripp (145), Tyler Fietta (170), Jared Mills (182) and Derek Quigley (126) didn’t have to wrestle, but Marion Quigley pinned Tyler Beaudion in 49 seconds, the only mat victory J-E needed.
Marcellus returned to action on Wednesday night, facing Chittenango, and while plenty of forfeits, the Mustangs did enough on the mats, too, during a 54-25 victory over the Bears.
Wilvon McKee, wrestling at 285 pounds, pinned Ethan Ferguson late in the second period. Two bouts later, Carl Santiarello (106) earned a 104-second fall over Mark Young.
Two bouts proved closer in the latter stages. At 152 pounds, Trevor Widrick held off Devin Myers 8-6, with Robbie Seeley (160) doing the same to get past James Moore 3-1 as Tom Kinsella (170) lost, 6-4, to Robert Shepard.
Then Marcellus went to Saturday’s Dan Wickham Classic at Unatego and finished third in the six-team field with 122 points behind Longwood (207 points) and Clarke (133 points).
Santariello won the title at 99, edging Unatego’s Josh Meade 5-3 in overtime, while Seeley and Widrick faced each other in the finals at 152 and Seeley prevailing 11-3. Ryan Moses was third at 106, with Riley LaFrance fourth at 145 and Matt Norris fifth at 132.
