NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING: DUNCANSON PULLS OUT WIN IN 152-POUND FINALS; BECOMES SEVENTH TIOGA GRAPPLER TO WIN STATE TITLE (17 PHOTOS) (2022-02-26)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ALBANY — Sophomore Ousmane Duncanson pulled out a 2-1 decision over Alexander’s Mitch Gaiser in the 152-pound finale at the New York State Division 2 Wrestling Championships here Saturday night to become the seventh Tioga grappler to earn a state title.

“It feels great. It’s better than I ever imagined,” said Duncanson.

“All the hard work paid off. All those matches in the offseason paid off. And going into the weight room at 6 o’clock in the morning paid off.

“Everything paid off,” added Duncanson. “It’s awesome.”

After a scoreless first period, Gaiser chose top, but Duncanson scored a reversal to take a 2-0 lead. Gaiser escaped with 1:08 remaining, and the two remained on their feet the remainder of the period.

Prior to the match, Tioga coach Kris Harrington said Gaiser’s strength was his ability to ride and to score while on top, which he said made Duncanson’s win all the more impressive.

“(Gaiser) is so good on top,” he said. “The fact he took top, and Ousmane was able to get into a scramble position — and thank God we train in so many scramble positions — and win that position is impressive. He got the reversal and that was the match.”

The duo also spent the entire third period on their feet as well, although the Alexander coach asked for a video review with 5 seconds remaining looking for a “fleeing the mat” call against Duncanson.

“They were looking for ‘fleeing the mat.’ I think it was a good challenge, but I didn’t think he would win it,” Harrington said.

The match was a little too close for Harrington’s comfort.

“I think their strategy was to keep it close. If you can’t score on top, mitigate damage .. get to the edge and wrestle there,” he said. “I think that was a good strategy. I know they don’t think they can wrestle athletically in space with Ousmane.

“I’d love to see (Ousmane) open up, and leg attack a little more … another score and we don’t have to worry about all the rest of it.

“Hopefully, we can diversify his offense, and he’ll be a little more on the attack end,” Harrington added.

Harrington believes the only knock against Duncanson is that he lacks confidence in himself at times. He’s hoping this win puts that to rest for good.

“I gotta think this win gets his confidence to where it should be,” he said. “I mean, he’s a New York State champion.”

Duncanson, who finishes the season at 44-2, joins two-time state champions Derak Heyman and Gianni Silvestri, as well as John and Brady Worthing, Brent Rider, and Dave Fredenburg in Tioga’s exclusive fraternity of state champions.

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IN PHOTOS: Tioga’s Ousmane Duncanson. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.