NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING: TIOGA'S McKEE ADVANCES TO 101-POUND FINALS AT DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS (14 PHOTOS) (2025-03-01)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportALBANY — Sophomore Declan McKee turned an arm bar into a trip to the 101-pound finals here Saturday at the New York State Division 2 Wrestling Championships at the MVP Arena.
"I thought Declan had a much better mindset today," said Tioga coach Kris Harrington.
After a scoreless first period against fourth-seeded Mason Dellapenta of Eden, McKee, the top seed, ran an arm bar to a fall at 3:40 to punch his ticket into the finals.
"He came to wrestle," noted Harrington. "He was all over the kid's legs in the first period, just didn't get a finish.
"The second period was a great top ride, then he got the bar and that was it," added Harrington. "He wrestled a pretty good match."
Harrington said McKee was "a little off" on Friday.
"I think the night's sleep helped, said Harrington. "I think it was a big deal, he was just a little off yesterday.
"Today, he looked better," added Harrington. "We'll just keep building on this."
McKee (37-2) will face third-seeded Aiden Torres (41-5) of Southwestern in the finals.
Torres topped McKee, 3-2, in overtime in the finals of Linda Knuutila Memorial Tournament in mid-December.
"I'm excited for the finals," said Harrington. "We didn't like the last time they wrestled.
"Declan wanted the match-up, and he got it," he added. "We'll see what happens tonight."
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IN PHOTOS: Tioga's Declan McKee. ... PHOTOS BY. TIM BIRNEY.
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