NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING: WAVERLY BRINGS HOME FIRST STATE TEAM TITLE SINCE 2009 (2025-03-02)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportALBANY — Waverly took five wrestlers to the New York State Wrestling Championships, brought home five medals, and a Division 2 team title — the program's first since 2009.
Junior Troy Beeman and freshman Drayton DeKay were runners-up, while junior Cooper Robinson and sophomore Rhylee Stotler both placed fifth, and 8th-grader Avery Bowman added an eight-place finish.
"The first round (Saturday) went exactly the way we wanted it to go," said Waverly coach Devan Witman. "The last round did not, but a nice consolation prize is the state championship.
"The bonus points we collected along the way was really the difference," added Witman. "We were a bonus-points machine this weekend."
Stotler registered four falls for the Wolverines, while
Bowman had three falls, and a major decision, DeKay had two falls, Robinson added three major decisions, and Beeman had one pin.
Waverly amassed 92 points, well ahead of runner-up Plainedge, which had 73.5 points, and third-place John Glenn, which had 71. Honoeye Falls-Lima was fourth with 68.5 points, with Wilson fifth with 55 points, and Maine-Endwell sixth with 51.
Witman is hoping this is the start of something special.
"We're returning everyone we brought to States this year, plus we're looking to bring more, including Matthias (Welles), who was here last year.
"We're going to continue to grow," he said.
"From Avery (Bowman) all the way up to Troy (Beeman)m they did a great job, there's nothing to be ashamed of.
"We're coming back to Waverly with a state title," said Witman. "It's been a long time since we've done that. I'm super-proud of the guys.
"And keeping the state title in Section IV is huge," he added.
Waverly's state title breaks a five-year stranglehold on the top spot by Tioga.
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IN PHOTO: From left: Waverly's Avery Bradley, Drayton DeKay, Cooper Robinson, Rhylee Stotler, and Troy Beeman. ... PHOTO PROVIDED.
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