FIVE TIGERS REACH PODIUM IN FIFTH-PLACE FINISH
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WINDSOR — In a rematch of last year's state title match, Tioga junior Declan McKee claimed his second Windsor Christmas Tournament title here Tuesday afternoon.
McKee was joined on the podium by four of his teammates — senior Jayden Duncanson placed fourth, senior Kadin Cole finished fifth, and sophomore Drayke Ulrich and senior Logan Bellis each placed sixth.
"Eight practices, that's all we've had," said Tioga coach Kris Harrington, referring to the majority of his wrestlers playing on the state championship football team, which won its title on Dec. 5.
"The outcome wasn't what we wanted for a lot of the guys, but effort was good," noted Harrington. "I mean, no excuses, this is not new for us.
"It's tough when you're losing matches, you think that they think that they can win, but I thought our effort was good," added Harrington. "I feel good about where we're at."
Harrington also said he saw some "bright spots" at the two-day event.
"Caden Bradley didn't wrestle (Tuesday), but he's really showing some growth, and Drayke (Ulrich) is turning the corner — he's going to be a factor for us.
"Our big guys looked good," noted Harrington. "Mark (McCane) was right there last year, but had a mental error.
"And, Jimmy (Howey) is turning a corner," added Harington. "We just need to get both those guys repetition and drill."
Tioga placed fifth in the 38-team field with 113.5 points, well off the pace of team champ Minisink Valley, which amassed 191 points. Poquoson (Virginia) finished second with 167 points, while Manhasset was third with 137, St. Francis was fourth with 119.5 points, and Waverly was sixth with 111 points.
After pins in 61 and 66 seconds on Day 1, McKee scored a 16-3 major decision win over Brendan Stoutenburg in the semifinals.
In the finals, McKeen faced Southwestern's Adrian Torres.
Last year, Torres beat McKee, 2-1, and Knuutila Memorial Tournament, but McKee exacted revenge with a 5-1 win in the 101-pound state final.
After a scoreless, McKee tilted Torres in the second period to take a 2-0 lead, but Torres escaped to close the gap to 2-1 heading into the final two minutes.
McKee escaped, and scored takedown in the third period for a 6-1.
"I thought his hand fighting was outstanding tonight," said Harrington. "He controlled all six minutes of that match.
"As long as he's moving forward and wrestling like that, he's going to be a tough out for anybody," added Harrington.
Duncanson was 1-1 on Day 2 before issuing a forfeit in the third-place match in the 138-pound bracket.
Duncanson dropped a 3-1 decision to Fairport's Trey LaChase in the semifinals, but bounced back with an 8-2 win over Waverly's Daltton Davis in the consolation semifinals to advance to the third-place match.
"Jayden tweaked something in the quarterfinals (Monday)," said Harrington. "It was a little swollen after his match today ... it's only December, there's no reason to take any risks."
Cole was 1-2 on Day 2 to finish fifth in the 126-poud bracket.
Cole dropped a 9-7 decision to eventual champ Anthony Valls of Chenango Valley in the semifinals, then lost a 9-5 decision to Waverly's Rhylee Stotler in the consolation semifinals.
In the fifth-place match, Cole topped Walton-Delhi's Kohl Muller, 7-5.
Ulrich, who was 3-1 Monday, was 1-2 on Day 2 to finish sixth in the 103-pound weight class.
Ulrich scored a takedown in the closing seconds of his "blood round" match with Gouverneur's Connor Sleeman for a 10-9 win, but lost his next two bouts.
Bellis, who was battling illness and lingering injuries, scratched from the tournament Tuesday morning and finished sixth in the 118-pound bracket.
Junior James Howey and sophomore Mark McCane both finished seventh in the respective weight classes.
Howey dropped a 17-3 major decision to Honeoye Falls-Lima's Bennett Feinberg in the blood round.
Howey bounced back to beat Poquoson's Nathaniel Quiroz, 9-5, in overtime to finish seventh in the 190-pound bracket.
McCane also lost his blood round match, but bounced back to pin Oxford-Greene's Uriah Dibble in 16 seconds.
Tioga returns to action Sunday at the Armbar at the Armory in Halfmoon, N.Y.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Kadin Cole. IN TOP PHOTO: Tioga's Declan McKee. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY and NIKKI BIRNEY.
