Another high school wrestling season is underway, and there’s plenty of work ahead for Cazenovia and Chittenango following their respective opening-night defeats.
The Lakers visited Mount Markham last Thursday night and led early, but could not hold on to it, the Mustangs rallying in the middle and late stages to prevail 48-34.
They opened at 126 pounds, where Cazenovia’s Michael Angus routed Konrad ough 10-1, followed by a 132-pound bout where Matt Knutsen pinned Cael Wellenstein midway through the second period.
Mount Markham won the next three bouts, including Lucas Ferreira (138 pounds) falling 8-5 to Anthony Bailey, before the Lakers won twice more.
When Alex Rodriguez (160 pounds) pinned Vinny Bailey in 3:21 and Kevin Valentine (170 pounds) finished off James Payne in 3:01, Cazenovia held a 21-15 lead.
Mount Markham then won the next five bouts to go ahead for good, including a 220-pound classic where the Lakers’ John Frega lost, 2-1, to Mackenzie Case. Late in the meet, Shaun Zampetti (106 pounds) claimed a forfeit and Luke Rodriguez, at 113 pounds, pinned Dalton Barrett in 91 seconds.
As for Chittenango, the Bears took on an East Syracuse Minoa side already 2-0 on the season, and proceeded to take a 60-12 loss to the Spartans.
John Spencer got Chittenango’s lone pin, at 285 pounds, finishing off Conor Todd in just 73 seconds. At 145 pounds, Andrew Bailey outpointed Michael O’Brien 14-8 as Joe Mariani (152 pounds) held off Nick Modlewski 4-1.
Cazenovia competed Saturday in the Andersen Tournament at Cicero-North Syracuse, earning 29 points as Peru, with 162 points, claimed the top spot.
The Lakers had Wednesday’s meet with APW/Pulaski at Buckley Gym moved to Jan. 6, and will go to Central Square’s Brett Dixon Memorial Duals on Saturday, where Chittenango competes, too, after traveling to Jordan-Elbridge earlier in the week.
