NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING: WAVERLY'S ROBINSON, STOTLER PLACE FIFTH, BOWMAN EIGHTH AT DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS (24 PHOTOS) (2025-03-01)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ALBANY — Waverly coach Devan Witman's goal was for all five of his wrestlers to place at this weekend's New York State Division II Championships, and with fifth-place finishes from junior Cooper Robinson and sophomore Rhylee Stotler, and an eight-place finish from 8th-grader Avery Bowman, to go along with a pair of finalists, the Wolverines accomplished that goal.

As an added bonus, Witman's charges are poised to win the coveted team title, breaking Tioga's five-year stranglehold. Waverly holds a 25-point lead on second-place John Glenn heading into Saturday night's finals.

It's been a pretty good weekend, but there is still work to be done," said Witman in reference to freshman Drayton DeKay and junior Troy Beeman wrestling in the finals tonight.

Stotler opened the day with a fall of Little Falls' Colin Logalbo in 3:33 in the "blood round."

In the consolation quarterfinals, Stotler trailed Beaver River's Derek Walseman 9-0 after the first period, but hit a seven-point move to start the second period.

Walseman countered with a reversal and two near-fall points to take a 13-7 lead, but Stotler knotted the bout up at 13-13 with a reversal, then finished off the bout with a fall at 3:43.

"That was a wild match," said Witman. "I think there were 26 points scored in the first three minutes heading into the third period, but those are the types of we've become accustom to with Rhylee.

"He's going to put some points on the board, but in doing so he gives up points because he's looking for the big one.

"Yeah, he got down early, but we weren't panicking," added Witman. "We know he's dangerous from all positions and he proved it there."

In the consolation semifinals, Stotler was forced to injury default in the second period against second-seeded Jaron Barrientos of Lewiston-Porter, who lost via fall to Waverly's Drayton DeKay in the semifinals.

Stotler trailed 6-2 at the time of the injury, but had just scored on a reversal.

"He got into a weird scramble where he held on to the leg a little bit too long, and his shoulder just got torqued oddly.

"He tried to continue in that match but couldn't, it was hurting him," said Witman. "The event doctor examined him and left it up to him to continue.

"He was able wrestle in the fifth-place match and got the job done for us, including bonus points for the team," added Witman.

In the fifth-place match, Stotler took an early 7-0 lead on Medina's Reece Senske, but had to fight off his back twice in the second period and the match went to the third period at 9-9.

Stotler scored a reversal midway through the third period, and put Senske to his back for a fall at 4:17.

"I'm super-proud of him for his first trip here," said Witman.

"Rhylee came in with the mission of placing in the top three," added Witman. "He was just one win away."

Robinson opened his fay with a 10-2 major decision over Alexander's Brody Hickman, and a 12-8 win over Southern Hills' Logan Sheriff to advance to the consolation semifinals, where he dropped a 9-3 decision to Randolph's Caden Inkley.

In the fifth-place match, Robinson scored a wild 24-12 major decision over Croton-Harmon's Henry Martin.

Robinson led 3-0 after the first period, then scored two more takedowns in the second period, and led 11-6 headed into the final two minutes.

Robinson tacked on four more takedowns in the third period.

"We knew what we had in Cooper," said Witman of his first-year transfer from Athens. "We knew what he was capable of, and we knew what his goals were.

"Coming off football season, he wasn't in the best of shape, but he continued to work and push forward," noted Witman. "He had a tremendous season.

"His first time here didn't go the way he hoped," continued Witman. "I know he really thought he could make the finals this tournament.

He ran into a bull in the quarterfinals, but he kept his head about him and made his way back through the tournament to take fifth as a junior.

"He has nothing to be ashamed of, I'm proud of him," added Witman.

Bowman, who was 3-1 on Friday, opened his day with an 8-0 major decision over Salem-Cambridge's Jonah Stevens, but lost via fall in the consolation quarterfinals, and dropped a 6-0 decision to Ichabod Crane's Peter Filli in the seventh-place match.

"Avery should be incredibly proud of the tournament he had," said Witman.

"I think everyone outside of Waverly counted him out after taking third at Sectionals, but he placed higher here than the top two from Section IV.

"He caught a great draw back through, and kept his head about him," noted Witman. "He was down in a lot of his matches ... the display of heart he's shown when he's down is just tremendous.

I'm supper-proud of him, an 8th-grader placing at States," he added. "I think he's only going to get better from here."

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Rhylee Stotler. IN TOP PHOTO: Waverly's Cooper Robinson. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY and DWAYNE LOBDELL.

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