BINGHAMTON – Danny Gormley of B-G/Afton and Tyler Peet of Unadilla Valley are two shining examples of persevering against opponents that seemed to have their respective numbers.
Each grappler avenged early-season losses in the Section IV Wrestling championships to earn titles Saturday night. Gormley was subsequently named the Division II Most Outstanding Wrestler after a second straight sectional title win.
“This is a huge win for us,” said B-G/Afton coach Brandon MacNaught after his freshman grappler nudged past Unatego’s Cody Dill with a pin in overtime in the 112-pound, Division II finals.
Dill, a senior and defending sectional champion, had just two total losses over the past two seasons finishing third in the state last year, while suffering his lone defeat this season to UV’s Peet in December. “Dill is a senior and a classy kid,” MacNaught said. “The first time we wrestled (Dill) at the MAC finals, we didn’t take advantage of some scoring combinations. This time we were fortunate enough to do it.”
Gormley had the upper hand in the first period taking a 5-0 lead after a nearfall late in the period. Dill stormed back with his own back points, and led 10-9 late until a Gormley escape forced overtime. Gormley scored the unlikely pin 31 seconds into the extra period, the first of three championships for the Bears.
Peet, meanwhile, was coming off a 4-3 decision loss to Chenango Forks’ Casey Lanave at the Windsor Christmas Tournament. He also had two losses to Greene’s three-time sectional champion Nick Wilcox, and defeat to a Section III wrestler who is a previous sectional finalist, so Peet’s few defeats came to top-notch grapplers.
Lanave, in his third straight section finals – including a sectional title two years ago – led 2-1 after Peet put his first points on the board in the third. Peet came through with the clutch takedown at the 30-second mark, and held on. “This is a big win for us,” said UV coach Jim DuVall. “People have talked a lot about Tyler, so this is a nice step to get a quality win. This helps us take the next step forward.”
B-GA’s Wayne Cirigliano (103) won his first sectional title, and he really came on strong the second half of the year after not breaking into the lineup full-time until late-December. Cirigliano rolled past Corey Spires of Candor, 9-3. Kris Stafford (160), who had surprisingly dropped seven matches during the course of the regular season, was able to repeat as a sectional champion dominating Paul Stauder of Newark Valley, 8-0. “Wayne wasn’t a regular in the lineup until the end of December, and he made some early mistakes,” MacNaught. “He came on strong and is a real goer.
“Stafford was a little inconsistent at times this year, but we hope this is a good sign. His finals win was probably the best match he has wrestled all season. Usually a returning champion doesn’t get tagged with seven losses, but maybe that was a blessing in disguise.”
Greene had two grapplers defend their sectional titles to move on in the Division II tourney. Nick Wilcox (119) won his third straight championship flooring B-GA’s Chris Burnett in 1:48. Tyler Beckwith (171), who captured a title a year ago as a freshman, edged Walton’s Cody Reed, 2-0.
Peet is the lone area Division I champion, and he joins the three B-GA, and two Greene wrestlers at the state tournament March 8-9 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
For a pictorial roundup of the Section IV tourney including photos of all area teams and wrestlers, head to the website, www.brianthephotoguy.com.
Division I Finals
96: Sean McCormick (JC) pinned Josh Garrehy (M-E), 0:59.
103: Kevin Pembridge (U-E) pinned Brant Page (HH), 3:45.
112: Erik Rueckle (U-E) dec. Kenny Manuel (Tio), 4-0.
119: Tyler Peet (UV) dec. Casey LaNave (CF), 3-2.
125: Derak Heyman (Tio) dec. Devon Brown (Mar), 3-1.
130: Brian Guilfoyle (Cor) dec. Mike Sherwood (Ves), 9-3.
135: Zach McCormick (JC) dec. Josh Manuel (Tio), 8-0.
140: Rickey Bronson (CF) dec. Chris Robertson (Tio), 9-2.
145: Donnie Vinson (WP) won by tech fall over Darin Wignall (D-H), 16-1, 3:16.
