For the first time since the 2018-2019 season the St. Francis Red Raiders locked up the Msgr. Martin High School Athletic Association dual meet title on Tuesday with a 60-9 win at home against Gow School. The Raiders finish the 2021-2022 season a perfect 4-0 in league matches for the team’s first outright title in the last three years.
With a late start to the league competition schedule, the Raiders wrestled all four of their league matches in the span of thirteen calendar days. St. Francis took down an improved St. Mary’s team first, 60-18, before gutting out a 39-35 home victory over the then 2-0 Canisius Crusaders, needing three pins to end the dual to win by a close four point margin. The Raiders earned a decisive 51-23 home win over St. Joe’s to pull ahead six wins to four in the last ten meetings between the Msgr. Martin rivals. Finally, Tuesday’s 60-9 win brought the league dual schedule to a close for the 2021-2022 season.
Also on Tuesday, the Red Raiders honored seniors Liam Edwards, Tyler Wilkinson, and Joe Black for their four year commitments to the wrestling program prior to the match.
St. Francis, St. Joe’s, Canisius, and St. Mary’s will all travel to Iona Prep High School in New Rochelle to compete in the annual CHSAA Dual Meet Championships on Saturday and Sunday. St. Francis will host the 56th Annual Msgr. Martin All-Catholic Wrestling Championships on Sunday, February 6th before St. Mary’s hosts the CHSAA Wrestling Championships on February 12th and 13th.