Wrestling
Midstate Athletic Conference Championships
AFTON – Greene snatched back the Midstate Athletic Conference team title from defending champion B-G/Afton winning six individual titles Saturday afternoon at Afton High School.
The Trojans, a runner-up in the Section IV Dual Meet Tournament last weekend, outpaced the Bears by 38.5 points. The margin would have likely been even larger, said longtime Greene mentor, Tim Jenks, if not for the absence of key wrestlers.
“It’s a little discouraging, because we could have been even better,” Jenks said. “It was discouraging because of the injuries, but the kids we have are getting better.”
Two youngsters in the lower weights paved the way for the more experienced Greene grapplers. Brandon Wheeler (106) easily claimed a 9-1 decision over Harpursville’s Jake Andrews. Castle overcame a near pinfall loss in the first period to Deposit’s Stephen McKee when he cradled up McKee for the second-period pin at 2:52.
“The younger kids have been at Eastern States, the Windsor Tournament, and Clyde Cole,” Jenks said. “They have struggled to win some matches in some of those tournaments, but wrestling that type of competition is paying off for them now. They’re starting to get it.”
Top seeds Dan Dickman (152), Joel Roselle (170), Keegan Cerwinski (182), and Kyle Stanton (220) also won titles. Stanton wasted little time claiming his championship win with a 13-second pin of Deposit’s Dan Babcock. Cerwinski, too, was impressive routing Walton’s Mike Beers by technical fall, 15-0 in 4:24.
In placing second in the team standings, B-G/Afton captured three individual crowns. Justin Cirigliano (132) blanked UV’s Dustin Badger, 5-0; Mark Viviano (195) stuck Delhi’s Bryan Ingram in 1:33, and Billy Holden (285) closed the evening’s activities with a fall over Sidney’s Austin Dean in 1:35.
Oxford sophomore Joe Nelson (99) won his second straight MAC final over Walton’s Dylan Wood. Last year’s result was a more contentious 4-0 win. This time, Nelson mauled Wood with a 12-1 major decision. Nelson pulled away in the final period with an escape, a takedown, and three nearfall points.
Midstate Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships
(At Afton High School)
Team scores: Greene, 176.5; B-G/Afton, 138; Unatego, 118; Walton, 98; Deposit, 94.5; Sidney, 83; Delhi, 63.5; Oxford, 59; Harpursville, 50; Unadilla Valley, 32.
Finals
99: Joe Nelson (O) dec. Dylan Wood (W), 12-1. 106: Brandon Wheeler (G) dec. Jake Andrews (H), 9-1. 113: Ryan Castle (G) pinned Stephen McKee (Dep.), 2:52. 120: Scott Stafford (S) dec. Austin Ryan (U), 9-0. 126: Michael Robinson (H) dec. Tyler Dickman (G), 12-8. 132: Justin Cirigliano (BGA) dec. Dustin Badger (UV), 5-1. 138: Kevin Thayer (U) dec. Jesse Griswold (BGA), 6-2. 145: Codie Nichols (U) dec. Corey Burnett, 5-3. 152: Dan Dickman (G) dec. Leland Slawson (U), 5-0. 160: Nicholas Jump (S) dec. Brett Ramsey (G), 7-1. 170: Joel Roselle (G) dec. Joe Jackson (O), 5-0. 182: Keegan Cerwinski (G) tech. fall over Mike Beers (W), 15-0, 4:24. 195: Mark Viviano (BGA) pinned Bryan Ingram (Del), 1:33. 220: Kyle Stanton (G) pinned Dan Babcock (Dep.), :13. 285: Billy Holden (BGA) pinned Austin Dean (S), 1:35.
Consolation Finals
