WINDSOR – Dubbed year after year the pre-state tournament, the prestigious Windsor Christmas Tournament will be getting underway on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
With wrestling starting at 12 p.m. on Dec. 28, it will continue on until the later parts of Dec. 29, where 15 champions will be crowned in each weight class – placing rounds on Thursday are set to begin at 4 p.m.
Of the 31 teams scheduled to attend the tournament, it was Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton-Harpursville out of Section IV and Chenango County who pulled out a miraculous team tournament win in 2015, and will be looking for similar results when they bring back a county high 13 wrestlers in 2016.
Of these 13 wrestlers for BGAH– Teague Rezucha 99, Brody Oleksak 106, Haiden Burns 113, Damian Knapp 126, Cody Ferrara 132, Ben Bivar 138, Shane Hoover 145, Hayden Lewis 152, Madison Hoover 160, Austin Carr 170, Bradley Wilson 182, Mitchell Weist 195, and Nick Decker 285 – seven have been seeded in the top eight of their weight classes.
• Brody Oleksak, an eighth grader, at 99 pounds has been seeded first at the weight and currently holds a season record of 9-1 overall. Oleksak's lone loss came in the finals of the Clyde Cole Tournament when he lost to Norwich's Mikey Squires by 4-2 decision.
• Cody Ferrara, a junior, at 132 pounds has been seeded seventh at the weight. Ferrara's 2016-2017 season record is unavailable but the prior year Ferrera reportedly held an 18-9 record overall.
• Ben Bivar, a junior at 138 pounds has a been seeded second behind Vestal's Dereck Osman. Bivar currently holds an overall season record of 10-2.
• Shane Hoover, a sophomore, at 145 pounds has been seeded third at the weight class. Hoover currently holds a 11-1 record at the weight for the 2016-2017 season.
• Madison Hoover, a senior, at 160 pounds has been seeded second at the weight behind Noah Curreri of Eldred-Liberty-Sullivan West who took fifth in the state last year. Hoover currently holds an overall season record of 11-0.
• Austin Carr, a senior, at 170 pounds has been seeded third at the weight. Carr currently holds an overall record of 10-0.
• Mitchell Weist, a senior, at 220 pounds has been seeded fifth at the weight for the Bears. Weist currently holds an undefeated 11-0 record on the season.
Following the impressive showing last year, and hopeful Bears team in 2016, it will be fellow Chenango County powerhouse Norwich who will look to rival many at the Christmas Tournament this season.
Norwich will be bringing 11 wrestlers to the tournament – Dante Geislinger 99, Mikey Squires 106, Eli Rodriguez 113, Nick Glanville 120, Christobal Caballero 126, Ty Rifanburg 145, Cole Rifanburg 152, Kegan Wright 160, Jake Franklin 170, Brennan Slater 182, Tyler Rice 220 – seven have been seeded in the top eight.
• Mikey Squires, a freshman, at 106 pounds has been seeded third at the tournament. Squires currently holds an overall season record of 11-0.
