Cover photo courtesy of Jeff Pataky
With a pin in the 152-pound final of the 2024 Section VI Division I Championships on Saturday, Williamsville North senior Cam Catrabone cemented his name in the record books as the first wrestler to win six individual Section VI titles in the 74-year history of the tournament and within the twenty-years of the split division large and small school format that was introduced in 2003-2004.
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“I think it’s cool that I’ve been able to make my own mark just by doing what I do every day,” said Catrabone after his historic milestone. “Over the years it’s just been a matter of showing up, staying healthy, and doing my thing. I’ve never walked out onto the mat thinking this is life or death, I’ve never really been nervous. It’s just fun and exciting to me."
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In earning his sixth Section VI individual title, Cam surpassed five time Section VI champions Rob Waddington (Falconer, 1986), Kenny Betts (Fredonia, 2009), Kellen Devlin (Amherst, 2016), Justin McDougald (Niagara Wheatfield, 2020), and Willie McDougald (Niagara Falls, 2020).
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“He has the right to say he’s the best athlete to ever come out of Williamsville North High School,” said Williamsville North/East head coach Joe Muscarella. “This kid has done everything. Cam has set the world on fire. In the history of Section VI, I would put Cam in the top-5 of all-time wrestlers. And, he is like another coach on our staff. He’s the engine that makes it work here...he builds everybody up. I have never seen anybody like this kid…it’s amazing how his mind thinks.”
Williamsville North/East head coach Joe Muscarella (l) // Pataky
Catrabone is currently the 9th ranked wrestler nationally at 157-pounds (via Flowrestling). Going into the NYSPHSAA federation tournament, Feb. 23-24, Cam carries a 40-1 season record with his lone loss coming to the #1 ranked wrestler in the country at the weight, a 2-1 decision in the Eastern States 160-pound title match.
Cam won his first Section VI title in the 2018-2019 season as a 7th grader in the 99-pound large school bracket. As the top seed, he pinned both of his first two opponents and cruised to the title with a convincing 14-4 major decision in the final, setting the tone for his high school wrestling career from the earliest possible age.
As an 8th grader in the 2020 sectional championships, Catrabone dominated the field again pinning his way to his second Section VI title and trip to the NYSPHSAA federation championships, where he placed 6th in the 120-pound Division I bracket.
The delayed 2020-2021 high school wrestling season was pushed to a shortened spring 2021 format where Catrabone and all other wrestlers whose schools are located in Erie County wrestled a limited schedule. Cam posted a 12-0 record in only two weeks of wrestling that spring season, starting on June 5th, and captured the 132-pound Section VI Division I title to end the short season on June 19th.
In the 2022 and 2023 sectional championships, Cam won the 145-pound Division I title, placing 6th in NYS in 2022 but cruising to the NYS Division I title last February 2023 at MVP Arena in Albany becoming the first Spartan to win a NYS wrestling title, and the third in the history of the Williamsville school district to achieve a state wrestling title (Bill Schoenle, Williamsville South, 1986; Colin Crickard, Williamsville East, 1994).
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“In 7th grade, he was the kid who wore the round glasses,” said Muscarella on Catrabone.“And now, he’s the class act. Cam is solid in all positions on the mat, and he wants to learn. He never shies away from anybody. He’s never, ever run from anybody…he’s wrestled the best. Anytime we’ve needed him, he’s ready to move up a weight class. Cam is the nicest kid…he loves his family and doesn’t say a bad word about anybody.”
STWOA president and referee Tyler Taylor and Cam // Pataky
With a 219-16 career record going into the state federation championships, Catrabone is currently tied for 24th all-time in career wins in western New York with Iroqouis’s Class of 2016 graduate Tristan Almeter.
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In November, Cam signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his wrestling career at the University of Michigan after high school under Wolverines head coach Sean Bormet. Cam's father, Jeff, was a three time NCAA Division I All-American at Michigan in 1996 (7th), 1997 (3rd), and 1998 (3rd).
“I’m excited for the atmosphere,” said Cam looking ahead to Ann Arbor. “It’s big time. It’s crazy to think about, going from wrestling high school this year, and next year I’ll be wrestling Iowa in Iowa. The history behind college wrestling is rich and being able to compete in the Big 10 day after day is going to be like something I’ve always envisioned for myself.”
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Reflecting on his high school wrestling career, Cam added “I’d especially like to thank Mickey Moran, Coach Muscarella, Coach Tom Shifflet, my old practice partner Mike Catanzaro, and my dad for helping me get to where I am.”
Coaches Catrabone (l) and Shifflet (r) // Pataky
Cam Catrabone – career milestones and accomplishments (2018-2024)
(before the 2024 NYSPHSAA federation championships)
2018-2019 – 7th grade
Section VI Division I champion, 99-pounds
Section VI Class AA champion
Season record: 35-3
Photo courtesy of Bob Koshinski / AllSportsWNY
2019-2020 – 8th grade
NYS 6th place Division I, 120-pounds
Section VI Division I champion
Section VI Class AA champion
Season record: 39-6
Team: Section VI Division I Dual Meet Championships qualifier
Koshinski / AllSportsWNY
2021 – freshman
Section VI Division I champion, 132-pounds
Season record: 12-0
Team: ECIC I league co-champion
2021-2022 – sophomore
NYS 6th place Division I, 145-pounds
Section VI Division I champion
Section VI Class AA champion
Powerade Invitational, 3rd place
Season record: 44-4
Team: Section VI Division I Dual Meet Championships qualifier
Koshinski / AllSportsWNY
2022-2023 – junior
NYS Division I champion, 145-pounds
Section VI Division I champion
Section VI Class AA champion
Eastern States champion
Powerade Invitational, 2nd place
Beast of the East, 3rd place
Season record: 47-2
Team: Section VI Division I Dual Meet Championships qualifier
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2023-2024 – senior
Section VI Division I champion, 152-pounds
Section VI Class AA champion
Eastern States runner-up
Season record: 40-1*
Team: Section VI Division I Dual Meet Championships runner-up
Team: ECIC I league champion
*NYS federation championships are Feb. 23-24
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