IAC WRESTLING: WAVERLY LOOKING TO TAKE NEXT STEP IN 2022-23 (2022-12-02)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — With good numbers and a full line-up, which includes several veterans and a pair of state qualifiers, Waverly coach Devan Witman is ready for the Wolverines to take the next step in 2022-23.

Witman’s efforts to rebuild the Waverly program has not gone unnoticed as the Wolverines are ranked 22nd in New York Wrestling News’ preseason Division 2 rankings.

“To hit that list is pretty special, but (No. 22) is definitely not where we want to be,” said Witman.

“We look at this team and what we’re capable of, and 22 is not going to cut it by the end of the year,” he added. “We’re looking to crack the top 15 or top 10 by the end of the year.”

The Wolverines qualified for the Section IV, Division 2 Duals for the first time in several years last season, and beat Windsor in the quarterfinals before bowing out in the semifinals against Walton-Delhi.

This year, Witman has his sights set on the finals, and a possible trip to the New York State Duals.

“Our goal by the end of the year is to make the State Duals — either to go through Tioga, or to get a wild card,” he said.

“I don’t know that we’ve closed the gap enough to beat Tioga, but we’re definitely looking to get into the finals so we have a chance to get the wild card into the state championship,” Witman added.

The Wolverines return a pair of state qualifiers in senior Ty Beeman and sophomore Kam Hills, and a pair of seniors in Gage Tedesco and Connor Stotler, who narrowly missed a trip to Albany. The top three in each weight class in Section IV advance to States — Tedesco finished fourth, and Stotler was fifth.

“Our goal is to get as many kids to States as we can. I think we have six or seven kids capable of getting there,” said Witman.

“It was definitely a heartbreaker last year with Gage (Tedesco) and Connor (Stotler) missing out on States. We know what they’re capable of, and it just wasn’t their day,” he noted. “And, I know they’re hungry this year.

“To get the two (Kam Hills and Ty Beeman) back to States this year is important, but to get Gage and Connor there is, too.

“We have other wrestlers, too,” added Witman. “Drayton (DeKay), Braeden (Hills), and Josh (Courtney) are all right there and capable.”

Eighth-grader Rhylee Stotler and 7th-grader Drayton DeKay, a transfer from Sayre, will battle it out for the starting spot at 102 pounds, with the other filling the 110-pound spot.

Junior Josh Courtney is likely to be at 118 pounds, but 8th-grader Caden Bradley is also in the mix.

Senior Landon McCarty and sophomore Jake Besecker are vying for the 126-pound spot, while sophomore Seth Noto and senior Mason Ham are in the mix at 132, and junior Braeden Nichols and Ham are vying for time at 138 pounds.

Connor Stotler will start the season at 145 pounds, but will likely move down to 138.

Freshman Kevin Hollenbeck and 8th-grader Parker Larson are vying for time at 152 pounds, and senior Braeden Hills will get the nod at 160 pounds.

Once healthy, senior Gage Tedesco will man the 172-pound weight class, with Ty Beeman at 189, freshman Troy Beeman at 215 pounds, and Kam Hills at 285.

To start the season, however, freshman Matthias Welles, a transfer from Athens, will start at 189, with Ty Beeman at 215, and Troy Beeman at 285 until Hills works off the football weight.

“Our top four is one of the toughest in the Section if we can get Gage (Tedesco) to 172, Ty (Beeman) at 189, Troy (Beeman) at 215, and Kam (Hills) at 285; that’s the ideal line-up,” said Witman.

“Whether they get there, or whether that’s best for them both mentally and physically, I’m not sure, but on paper that’s probably the strongest top four in the Section,” he added

Witman says a number of younger wrestlers — sophomores Carter George, and Nate Peters, and freshmen Skyler Perry, Tim George, and Hudson Sink — could work their way into the line-up.

Witman said he has a few wrestlers that could surprise people this year.

“I think Braeden Nichols is going to turn some heads this season. He’s put in a lot of work this offseason.

Same with Mason Ham,” said Witman. “He’s a strong 132- / 138-pounder, and he’s capable of pulling out some matches he’s not expected to win.

“Matthias Welles is a big strong kid coming in (from Athens),” added Witman. “New York is not going to know who he is, but being close to the border we know who he is, and what he’s capable of.

Waverly opens the 2022-23 season tonight at the Mark Stephens Classic, where it will wrestle seven duals in two days.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly’s Kam Hills (left) and Ty Beeman.