CENTRAL NEW YORK – To open its 2022-23 season, the Cazenovia wrestling team welcomed to Buckley Gym an opponent with a rich mat history – though it mattered little in this case.
The Lakers won six times on the mat against Canastota including every bout from 152 to 189 pounds, on the way to defeating the Raiders 37-20.
In the closest of those four bouts, at 172 pounds, Cazenovia’s John Fowler did just enough to earn a 7-6 decision over Jake Backus.
More lopsided was the bout at 152 where Broden Enders only allowed a single escape while beating Logan Mead 10-1 as Gabriel Sanchez opened at 160 with a third-period pin over Seth Roundy.
Jake Winchell needed just 73 seconds to pin 189-pound opponent Riley Fowler as Ben Decker claimed a forfeit at 285 pounds.
Two quick pins late in the match sealed the Lakers’ victory. It only took 39 seconds for Jacob Genther to pin 126-pound opponent Evan Bixby as, immediately after, Finnegan Smith, at 132 pounds, pinned Landen Lawrence in 57 seconds.
Chittenango began its season with an appearance last Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Andersen Tournament before it hosts Marcellus on Thursday, two days after the Lakers meet Homer.
And the Bears’ Andrew Bailey emerged victorious at 189 pounds, reaching the championship round with an 81-seconds semifinal pin against Canastota’s Keeran Timerman and then, against Syracuse City’s Trey Darmody-Latham, pinning him early in the third period.
Overall, Chittenango finished 13th out of 22 teams, with Edward Geer earning third place at 145 pounds when C-NS’s Jonah Geller forfeited
