THE FINAL WORD: TIOGA WRESTLING LOCOMOTIVE KEEPS ROLLING ... AND MUCH MORE (2022-02-07)
The Tioga wrestling locomotive kept rocketing forward Saturday, advancing all 14 of its wrestlers to Saturday’s Section IV, Division 2 Championships.
The Tigers crowned seven champs, including the usual suspects — sophomores Gianni Silvestri, Caden Bellis, Ousmane Duncanson, and junior Donovan Smith.
Eighth-grader Jayden Duncanson, in perhaps the most-anticipated match of the day, handed Unatego-Unadilla Valley’s Caleb Cole his first loss of the season with an 8-4 in the 110-pound finales. The younger Duncanson continues to establish himself as one of the best 110-pounders in the state.
Sophomore Tyler Roe won the 126-pound title via medical forfeit from his teammate senior Mason Welch, who was the top seed.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for the Tigers was sophomore Drew Macumber’s win over state-ranked Nate Merwin of Walton-Delhi in the 138-pound finale.
Merwin, a senior, entered the bout at 21-4 record, with 16 pins, and a career mark of 74-15, while Macumber, although the second seed, had just 21 varsity matches to his credit and a 15-6 career record.
More impressive is the fact Macumber trailed 8-2 early in the second period, but rallied for a 9-8 win. He scored a takedown early in the third period, and was able to ride Merwin for the final 1:55 to preserve the win.
It was an impressive performance. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the two tangle again Saturday for Section IV gold.
Another surprise was BGAH’s Brady Buttice picking up an 8-5 win over Emmett Wood, who was the top seed at 160 pounds.
Buttice was pinned earlier this season by Ousmane Duncanson, and by Wood in the semifinals of the Section IV, Division 2 championships two years ago.
It’s a good win for Buttice, who is ranked third in the state at 160 pounds. I expect to see a focused Wood looking for redemption Saturday.
Eighth-grader Logan Bellis dropped an 11-0 decision to BGAH’s Darren Florance in the 102-pound title match. Florance is ranked No. 1 in the state, and is a slick worker.
Logan Bellis was the first wrestler to go six minutes with Florance since the finals of the Windsor Christmas Tournament.
Sophomore Trent Browne dropped a 3-1 decision to top-seed Hunter Page of Oxford-Greene in the 172-pound finals. Earlier this season, Page pinned Browne in the second period.
Of the 11 Tioga wrestlers to make the Qualifier A finals, I think its a safe bet to say eight — Silvestri, Caden Bellis, Smith, Ousmane Duncanson, Wood, Welch, Roe, and Jayden Duncanson — get through to States. (Remember, the top three at Saturday’s Division 2 Championships advance.)
Given his performance Saturday, Macumber is a good bet as well.
Logan Bellis is in a tough 102-pound weight class. He’s going to have to beat at least one, probably two wrestlers seeded ahead of him to get to Albany.
Browne is in the same boat in the 172-pound weight class. He’s been wrestling very well of late, but the weight class is solid with Windsor’s Dom Weaver, Waverly’s Gage Tedesco, Sidney’s Trevor Harrington, and Page likely to be seeded ahead of him.
One thing is a really safe bet, the Tigers are an overwhelming favorite to win their fifth consecutive Division 2 title Saturday.
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Waverly will advance seven to the Division 2 Championships, providing junior Ty Beeman receives a medical waiver at 215 pounds.
How many of those seven Wolverines can get to States? That’s a good question.
Juniors Connor Stotler, at 132 pounds, and Gage Tedesco, at 172, appear to be the safe bets.
Beeman is in a loaded 215-pound bracket, with four more highly-ranked state-ranked wrestlers in the bracket with him. Beeman will need to be on his game to punch his ticket to Albany, but he is definitely capable.
Freshman heavyweight Kam Hills has been impressive this season. He dropped a 6-1 decision to Marathon’s Logan Jamison in the Qualifier B finals, after pinning Jamison at the Him McCloe Duals in January.
Heavyweight matches are often slow-moving hand battles, but Hills uses a power game, coupled with deceptive athleticism to overwhelm his opponents, especially once he gets them to the mat. I like his chances to get to Albany.
Senior Andrew Kimble and junior Braeden Hills have had good seasons for the Wolverines, but will be hard-pressed to reach the top three in solid weight classes. Ditto for freshman Jake Besecker, but for Hills and Besecker, this will be invaluable experience heading into next season.
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To recap, I am going to be a busy man in Albany this year. I have a feeling I’ll have at least nine, possibly 10, Tioga wrestlers, and at least four Waverly grapplers in action at the state meet.
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This is a big week of basketball with the regular seasons on both sides of the border coming to a close.
It beings tonight with the Waverly boys on the road at Watkins Glen in a battle for the division title. The Senecas won by 20 at Waverly earlier this season, and playing in the Watkins Glen Fieldhouse is not easy.
The Wolverines will need to shoot the ball well, and keep the Senecas off the boards to pull out the win.
The Athens girls begin a tough week tonight at Wellsboro. The Lady Wildcats are out of the Large School title chase, but are still alive for a spot in the NTL Showdown. They also face Wyalusing and Troy this week, and need to win out to get to the Showdown.
The Wildcat boys have a brutal stretch coming up, with three games in four days as they chase the Large School title. They open with home games against NP-Mansfield and Wellsboro Wednesday and Friday, then hit the road to Troy Saturday night.
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The Final Word returns Tuesday. Get out and support your favorite team!
