WNY Wrestling Roundup: Week Four

Dual meet and tournament results and notes for the week of Monday, Dec. 18th – Friday, Dec. 22nd, 2023.

Cover photo courtesy of Rick Penny

Monday, Dec. 18th

Alden 30 – Akron 24

In their first home dual as an independent team since the 2018-2019 season the Alden Bulldogs get a home victory. The Bulldogs were briefly combined with Depew for the 2019-2020 season, but the program fell by the wayside in the last three years since the pandemic. This season, the district, with the support of a number of alumni, helped to bring the team back under the leadership of first year head coach and 2019 alumnus Danielle Stanley.  

Photo courtesy of Rick Penny

Tuesday, Dec. 19th

Orchard Park 39 – Springville 33

Route 219 rivals met in Orchard Park on Tuesday for an ECIC interdivision showdown. Springville conceded forfeits at three weights but won six of ten head to head matches, five by pin, to give the Quakers a scare even after accepting eighteen free team points. Orchard Park got four head to head wins, three by pin, to win their sixth dual of the season. After falling behind 27-6 to start the dual, Springville went on a furious run winning five straight matches to take a 33-27 lead. With two weights left – a bout at 285 and a forfeit upcoming at 101 – Max Landwehr got the crucial pin for Orchard Park at heavyweight to tie the team score 33-33. The teams also combined for eleven exhibition bouts.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Pataky

Photo courtesy of Jeff Pataky

Photo courtesy of Jeff Pataky

Lockport 39 – St. Mary’s 18

The Lions and Lancers continued their non league rivalry on Tuesday in Lockport with the hosts getting their first dual win of the season. The teams combined for three double forfeits so St. Mary’s accepted the night’s only real forfeit at 101. Lockport won seven of the nine contested bouts, six by pin, including a stretch of four straight wins from 160-215.

#10 Medina 53 – Holley/Kendall (V) 18

Wednesday, Dec. 20th

#8 Grand Island 34 – #6 North Tonawanda 33

The Vikings avenged a 39-28 loss to the Lumberjacks from week one of the season to get a huge team win at home for their Niagara Frontier League standings and sectional dual tournament resume. Grand Island jumped ahead 28-12 after eight weights including a stretch run of five straight wins from 101-131 to include two pins, two decisions, and a crucial major from Cole Randle at 101. Both teams secured four pins each in the dual. After handing over the night’s only forfeit, the Vikings took six points back with a pin from Zachary Bridenbaker at 145 to go up 32-18 with only three weights left. Sometimes in wrestling, even when one loses, the team wins. Such was the case at 152-pounds where Grand Island’s Sam Castner held NT’s Aaron Batch to a 7-0 decision in a loss, but saved that extra team point in conceding only a seven point deficit instead of eight, effectively locking up the win for Grand Island with two weights to go. Pins in the last two bouts by the Lumberjacks wasn’t quite enough as Grand Island held on to win 34-33 to improve to 2-1 in the NFL and 7-4 overall at the break. As if their victory wasn’t already impressive, consider that Grand Island did it without section place winners Dylan Castiglia and Eli Linenfelser in their lineup. North Tonawanda is also 2-1 in the league but sits at 8-3 overall on the season.

#8 Portville 39 – #2 Southwestern 28

If you look at Portville’s schedule you might notice that Coach Theirman has already wrestled three CCAA I teams including #1 Chautauqua Lake and #3 Falconer as in duals. In a late preseason change Portville moved up to CCAA I given their team is merged with Cuba-Rushford (V) this season while Salamanca moved into CCAA II. Wednesday’s home, senior night dual against the #2 Trojans was of course their fourth CCAA I dual of the season and against another top ranked WNY small school team; all three of the top Section VI Div. II teams represent the CCAA I league. Southwestern appears to have been down a number of regular starters out of the lineup as they conceded five unusual forfeits (including a double forfeit at 101) to Portville. Southwestern won five of the seven contested matches, two by pin, but Portville stole away the Trojans’ opportunity to win the match with an enormous pin by Jake Zeiger at 170-pounds. The loss was the first of the season for the 10-1 Trojans who go into the break with the section’s best dual record. Portville improved to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the league.

Lancaster 42 – #10 Frontier 22

The Legends are at .500 with a 6-6 overall record and tied atop the ECIC I standings with #2 Williamsville North/East and #7 Jamestown at 2-0 in the league. If there is one thing that coaches Schaefer, Becker, and staff do well it is get up for league duals which they did yet again on Wednesday in Blasdell. The teams combined for eleven contested matches with a double forfeit at 101 and Lancaster receiving the only forfeit of the night at 160. The Legends won seven of those eleven bouts, five by pin, compared to three pins for the Falcons. Senior heavyweight Mike Welsh returned to the lineup for Frontier as well. Also, the teams combined for eight exhibitions after the dual. After Christmas week, Lancaster hits the road for two straight league matches: Jan. 3rd at Orchard Park and then a big Jan. 10th showdown at Jamestown.

#4 Newfane 47 – #9 Wilson 30

The nine time defending Niagara-Orleans champion Panthers are firmly in the driver seat at 2-0 in the league and 9-4 overall at the break; the five other N-O teams all have at least one league loss thus far. Hamza Merrick started things off for Wilson with a pin at 285, but no available wrestlers from 101-116 and a pin at 124 put them in a 24-6 hole early. Pins at 131 and 138 for Wilson brought the score to a six point deficit, 24-18, however a forfeit for Aidan Gillings and pins by Ayden Buttery and Cam Perry sealed the Newfane win with three weights to go. The Panthers visit Albion and Akron for N-O duals in early January while Wilson hosts #10 Medina and then Albion in the same first two weeks.

#2 Williamsville North/East 53 – Orchard Park 14

North/East improves to 2-0 in ECIC I and 4-0 overall with a solid win over a well coached Orchard Park team at home going into the break. The night’s only forfeit to Williamsville at 285 kept this one from being a ‘NO FORFEIT!’™ special, but the teams did combine for twelve contested bouts and a number of exhibitions. N/E won nine of those contested matches, six by pin, including six straight wins from 138-190-pounds to really run away from the Quakers. Williamsville’s middle weight/lower heavyweight crew right around Cam at 152/160 is turning into a solid unit as the season moves on, anchored by a pair of good heavyweights and a few young stars down low. North hosts Frontier after the new year on Jan. 4th in their last test before the Section VI Duals.

#6 Iroquois 45 – Eden 26

The Chiefs improved to 3-0 in ECIC III with a league win over the Raiders at home. Iroquois collected three forfeits in the match as a wrestler went out at all but one weight (101). Iroquois won five of the nine contested bouts, four by pin, but the scrappy Eden squad won four of their own as Coach Page’s teams always put up a fight. The dual featured a few high quality head to head bouts as well to take note of for later on this season. Eden’s Bryce DellaPenta was a 15-8 winner over Iroquois’s Sam Donovan at 145-pounds while the Raiders’ Trevor DellaPenta was impressive in a tech fall over Trey Pfeiffer at 124. Likewise, the Chiefs’ Josh Pfeiffer earned a valuable win over Mason DellaPenta at 108 with a 6-4 decision.

Hamburg 48 – Williamsville South 28

The Jordan Kayes era is off to a strong start as the Bulldogs are 3-0 in ECIC II and 9-6 overall at the break; not bad for a squad that lost three state placers and four qualifiers from last season. Hamburg received three forfeits but gave one back in this dual. In the nine contested bout, the Bulldogs won five of them, all pin. Give credit to Coach Scamurra and the Billies for continuing to hang in there in what has become one of the best league divisions in WNY.

Dunkirk 37 – Fredonia 36

The Marauders get in the CCAA I win column with a home victory win against neighboring rival Fredonia on Wednesday. Dunkirk handed over five forfeits to the Hillbillies and received one, however the Marauders recovered those points winning six of the seven contested bouts, four by pin, one by decision, and a crucial major decision courtesy of Christian Hernandez at 190-pounds to just barely squeeze by Fredonia after conceding 30 points(!). The teams also combined for a solid handful of exhibitions.

#1 Niagara Wheatfield 63 – Kenmore 12

The top ranked WNY large school improved to 3-0 in the NFL and is 7-1 overall at the break. NW won ten of twelve contested bouts – a whopping nine by pin – and received the night’s only forfeit. At 145-pounds, Wheatfield’s Chase Richards was a winner by pin over Kenmore’s Sawyer Dickinson in a rematch of last season’s ‘true second’ match at the Section VI Div. I championships where Richards was a narrow 4-3 winner. Kenmore heavyweight Hezekiah Mercado has quietly been putting together a really nice season. The senior has some very nice wins on his record so far with a few statement losses and got another pin on Wednesday night.

#7 Jamestown 51 – West Seneca/Depew 24

Don’t look now but the Red Raiders are tied atop the ECIC I standings at 2-0 with Lancaster and Williamsville North/East at the break. The teams combined for ten contested bouts on Wednesday at West Seneca West HS where Raiders were victorious in seven of them. Once again, Jamestown flexed their muscle in the middle to lower upper weights with all seven wins coming from 131 to 190-pounds, six of which were pins. After Christmas week, the Raiders will pay a visit to Frontier on Jan. 3rd and then host metropolitan non league rival Southwestern on the 4th but will forgo the sectional dual tournament. These teams also collaborated for a bunch of exhibition matches, which is great to see considering both were struggling with participation in recent years.

#8 Randolph 46 – Gowanda 28

The Cardinals and Panthers combined for eleven contested bouts in Wednesday’s CCAA II dual in Randolph. Gowanda received the night's only forfeit at 170 as four Panthers won head to head matches but Randolph captured eight wins with seven pins. Juniors Domanik Clark and Caden Inkley each earned quality wins in the dual as Randolph improved to 2-0 in the league at the break. Shoutout to Coach Logan and staff at Gowanda for improved participation this season; the Panthers have either fielded a full lineup or forfeited one weight in every dual since week one of the season.

Lewiston-Porter 39 – CSAT 30

After a winless 2022-2023 campaign, the Lancers are back in victory column with a road NFL win against the Eagles on Wednesday. The Lancers handed over five forfeits but got one back, and won all six head to head matches – five by pin – to overcome the forfeits to take this one. L-P pays a visit to Lockport on Jan. 10th seeking to win at least two league duals for the first time since the spring 2021 ‘super league.’

Alexander (V) 36 – Clarence 30

The Trojans avenged a 36-27 loss to the Red Devils from two weeks ago at Clarence with a win in home territory on Wednesday for an intersectional showdown. Each squad received one true forfeit from one other resulting in ten contested bouts. Alexander got four straight wins from 116 to 138-pounds, but Clarence won four of six from 145 to 215. The teams tied in the pin battle with four for both squads. Clarence is 9-7 at the break and hosts West Seneca and then Williamsville North/East for back to back home ECIC I duals in January.

Alexander 36 – Clarence 33 (girls)

Clarence’s first ever girls only dual went in slight favor of the Trojans, a team that was one of the first amongst WNY public schools to really take off three years ago. Nonetheless, the dual featured a true lineup of NFHS girls’ weight classes and saw a handful of contested head to head matches with legitimate team score and dual meet procedure. While there was a number of forfeits, the teams combined for four contested matches. Junior Ella Vertino Flynn was a 7-4 decision winner for Clarence at 107-pounds while Julia Lorenz, Heather Blatto, and Cael Vesper all saw action but fell in head to head bouts for the Red Devils.

Frewsburg 34 – Franklinville 24

The Bears open up the 2023-2024 CCAA II league schedule with a home win over the Panthers. The teams combined for eight contested matches with each team splitting at four wins apiece. Frewsburg did win the pin battle though, three to two. The Bears host Maple Grove for a big league test on Jan. 3rd.

East Aurora/Holland 42 – Maryvale 21

The Blue Devils get their first win of the new season at home to move into the ECIC III win column. East Aurora was victorious in five of nine head to head matches with all five results being pins. EA travels to Tonawanda on Jan. 3rd for an interesting ECIC III dual which could be a good measuring stick to see where each of these teams are truly at.

#1 Chautauqua Lake 50 – Olean/Allegany-Limestone 10

The Eagles are 3-0 and alone atop the CCAA I standings at the break.

#5 Amherst 60 – Sweet Home 10

Amherst cruised to the team’s ninth win of the season and are a perfect 3-0 in ECIC II tied with Pioneer and Hamburg going into the break. The Tigers visit the Bulldogs for a massive league showdown on Jan. 3rd.

#5 Pioneer 72 – Lake Shore 6

#9 Niagara Falls 63 – Lockport 12

The Wolverines are tied with Wheatfield at 3-0 atop the Niagara Frontier standings at the break, and 9-2 overall on the season.

#10 Medina 39 – Akron 28

Barker/Royalton-Hartland 52 – Albion 12

Thursday, Dec. 21st

Fredonia 39 – #8 Randolph 29

After taking a tough loss to Dunkirk this week, Coach Santilli’s squad rebounded with a road win over a quality Cardinals team for a CCAA crossover dual. After the first three weights starting at 190, Randolph held a 10-6 lead. Rocco Muscarella put the Hillbillies on top with a pin at 101. Fredonia won four of the seven bouts from 101-145, where at 145 Domanik Clark brought the Cardinals to within four points of Fredonia, now a 27-23 ‘Billies lead with three weights remaining and a guaranteed forfeit for Fredonia coming up. At 152, senior Dalton Wolcott went out and earned a first period pin for Fredonia to take a 33-23 lead with two weights left to put the match out of reach given they would receive a forfeit at 170 to end the dual. With a 7-10 overall record Fredonia has wrestled the most dual meets in WNY up to this point in the season.

#5 Pioneer 59 – Sweet Home 12

At 3-0 in ECIC II the Panthers are rolling with three huge wins over league opponents so far. After the new year Pioneer’s league slate with toughen up with a home dual against fellow defending ECIC divisional champion Starpoint, an intersectional road test at a very tough Attica/Batavia (V) team, and then a road test at Hamburg on Jan. 10th before hosting #5 Amherst on the 17th, both of which will be crucial matches in the ECIC II race. At Sweet Home on Thursday, Pioneer Panthers won five of only seven contested bouts, but the home team Panthers picked up two pins, one of which came from Jon Lopez over two time sectional place winner Wyatt Opferbeck at 145-pounds.

#9 Wilson 36 – Lyndonville (V) 33

It has certainly been a wild dual season for Wilson so far with plenty of close duals, lead changes, and big swings. After another close one at Newfane on Wednesday, the Lakemen turned around to host Section V’s Lyndonville the next night. Each team received two forfeits while 101 was uncontested for both teams. The squads split the eight contested matches at four wins each, but pins matter in high school wrestling, as Wilson secured the win earning four pins to only three for the Tigers. Two of the Lakemens’ pins came in the final two bouts of the match. Trailing 33-24, Tyler Goff-Brown pulled Wilson to within three points of Lyndonville with a pin at 131 before returning NYS tournament qualifier Victor Cusatis got the match sealing pin at 138.

Brockport (V) 53 – #4 St. Joe’s 15

NO FORFEITS! The only dual this entire week amongst the 56 boys’ varsity wrestling teams in Section VI/Msgr. Martin. The Blue Devils have been very strong to start this season winning everything they have competed in. The Monroe County league is unbelievably deep, and Brockport will be one of the favorites for both dual meet league and Section V dual meet championship honors. Nonetheless, Coach Kennedy and the Marauders are no strangers to traveling out of the area for good competition, as they hit the road Thursday for the first leg of a home/away series with Brockport to cover this season and next. In this dual, the Blue Devils won ten of thirteen bouts with three different stretches of three wins in a row. Austin Zimmerman, Sean Gordon, and Aidan Schenk were all winners for St. Joe’s who are an even 7-7 at the break after wrestling tough teams in Pennsylvania on Dec. 16th before Thursday’s road dual at one of New York State’s top ranked teams. The highlight match of the night came at 131-pounds where defending NYS 8th place winner Richard Woods was a 4-2 decision winner with a late takedown over returning 5th place winner Nik Massaro from 'Joe's. Perhaps this pair could meet again later this season should both wrestlers make it back to Albany. Brockport and ‘Joe’s also combined for a nine bout junior varsity dual where Jacob Moser (190) and Michael Barnum (215) won head to head matches for the Marauders.

Byron-Bergen (V) 56 – Albion 15

Williamsville South @ Canisius

Friday, Dec. 22nd

#6 North Tonawanda 52 – Tonawanda 16

NT made it four straight T-NT rivalry wins in a row over their counterpart on the southern side of Tonawanda Creek to end the last week of weeknight duals in 2023. Once again this season, Coach Balling and the Warriors fielded a nearly full lineup as they conceded the night’s only forfeit at 108-pounds taken by NT’s Brenna McCarley. Lumberjacks won nine of the twelve contested bouts, six by way of pin. North Tonawanda went on stretch runs to start and end the match. Bilal Mukhtasimov got the night started with a pin at 215 for NT who would jump out to a 30-0 lead after five weights. After Tonawanda took the next three out of four weights, Aaron Batch earned a pin at 152 as the ‘Jacks would win the last four bouts to finish out the match. As part of the T-NT tradition, the host school honored alumni of both Tonawanda and North Tonawanda before the dual started. The Lumberjacks improved to 9-3 overall going into the break with the non league win.

West Seneca/Depew 51 – Lafayette/Buffalo Public Schools 9

West Seneca gets the big home win on senior night to bring a close to the last week of regular duals in 2023 across WNY. The teams combined for eight head to head matches, of which WS won seven of, six by pin. After the break, Lafayette will host Canisius and then met up with St. Joe’s and Kenmore on the road. West Seneca/Depew hosts Clarence in the first week of January.