Area Wrestlers Head to Eastern States Classic
The 17th Annual Eastern States Classic gets underway at Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, NY on Friday, January 11th and concludes on Saturday, January 12th. The tournament is hosted by Section IX (Sullivan/Rockland/Orange counties).
The tournament has become one of the eastern United States’ toughest high school wrestling events in recent years attracting dozens of returning state champions, state place winners, and countless more sectional place winners from across New York and other states. This year’s event will feature wrestlers from New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Alabama, and Maryland representing 174 teams. Most of New York’s top small and large school teams will send athletes to Loch Sheldrake this weekend. Out of the 30 total 2018 NYS champions (Divisions 1 and 2 combined) 25 competed at Eastern States.
The additional weight allowance for this weekend is +4 pounds onto every weight class (ex. 106 pound class is technically 110-pounds this weekend).
A handful of WNY region wrestlers will take part in the tournament too. A host of western New York wrestlers have earned seeds in brackets that include as many as 62 entries.
WNY Eastern States seeded wrestlers:
99-pounds: Myles Gronowski, Lancaster – season record 22-6 – 27th seed
Top seed: Marc-Anthony McGowan (Citrus Park Christian, Florida)
106: no WNY seeded wrestlers.
113: Section VI champion Collin Coughenour, Niagara Wheatfield – record 18-5 – 16th seed
Top seed: Greg Diakomihalis, Hilton (V) 3x NYS Div. I champion. 2-seed Anthony Noto (Honeoye Falls-Lima, Sec V) is a 2x NYS Div. II champion. 5-seed Terry Adams (Msgr. Farrell, CHSAA) is also a NYS Div. I champion
120: no WNY seeded wrestlers.
126: no WNY seeded wrestlers.
132: 2x NYS finalist, 3x Section VI champ Justin McDougald, Niagara Wheatfield – record 27-0 – 2nd seed
NYS tournament wildcard Jake Vergien, Iroquois – record 29-1 – 8th seed
Top seed: Kyle Fields (Danbury, CT)
138: NYS champ, 3x Section VI champ Willie McDougald, Niagara Falls – record 28-0 – 2nd seed
CHSAA 3rd place finisher Ben Parish, St. Joe’s – record 15-5 – 25th seed
Top seed: Adam Busiello, Eastport-South Manor (XI) 4x NYS Div. I champion
145: 2x NYS placer, 3x Section VI champ Warren McDougald, Niagara Wheatfield – record 22-0 – 2nd seed
Section VI champion Johnny Putney, East Aurora – record 32-1 – 9th seed
Top seed: Hunter Shaut, Central Valley Academy (III) NYS Div. II champion
152: 2x Section VI champ Ryan Stencel, Lancaster – record 27-3 – 3rd seed
Top seed: Zack Lawrence, Duanesburg (II) 3rd place NYS Div. II
160: State place winner, Section VI champion Cory Day, Iroquois – record 27-1 – 3rd seed
Top seed: Kyle Mosher, South East Cyclones (VIII) 5th place NYS Div. I
170: Section VI champion Josh Thibeault, Niagara Wheatfield – record 26-2 – 9th seed
CHSAA 3rd place Sullivan Walsh, St. Joe’s – record 13-8 – 22nd seed
Top seed: Paul Calo (Southington, CT)
182: no WNY seeded wrestlers.
195: MMHSAA league champion Matt Werts, St. Joe’s – record 24-3 – 22nd seed
Section VI place winner Codie Scotland, Lancaster – record 21-10 – 26th seed
Top seed: Sammy DePrez, Hilton (V) 3rd place NYS Div. I
220: Section VI place winner Kevin Halford, Niagara Wheatfield – record 22-7 – 12th seed
Top seed: Luke Cirka (Ponaganset, RI)
285: no WNY seeded wrestlers.