WNY Athletics Wrestler Of the Week: Josh Thibeault

Niagara Wheatfield senior Josh Thibeault has been selected as the WNY Athletics Wrestler Of the Week for Week 1 (11/26-12/1) of the 2018-2019 season.

If you know Josh, you know that he is a quiet but dedicated wrestler and leader for the Falcons. He exemplifies the characteristics that wrestling coaches value most.

Rare to miss an offseason practice or tournament, Josh has become one of head coach Rick Sweney’s key pieces in the lineup over the past few years. In the 2016-2017 sectional final Josh fell by pin to Iroquois’s Connor Day in the second period. Last season, Josh won the Section VI Div. 1 160-pound title with an ultimate tie breaker win over Grand Island’s Jason Breeden to punch a ticket to Albany. He entered the tournament unseeded and was only one win away from guaranteed placement.

This past weekend at the Matthew Marino Tournament at Webster Schroeder, Josh defeated the defending NYS Div. 2 152-pound champion Dempsey Carroll from Section III’s Copenhagen in overtime, 2-1, to have a shot at two-time NYS finalist and defending NYS Div. 2 170-pound champion Ross McFarland (Phoenix – III). McFarland was a decision winner over defending Section V champion Sam Wolf from Warsaw to make the final.

In the final, it was McFarland who was a winner by major decision, 9-0. For context, McFarland won the state title a season ago by way of major decision and pinned the three opponents he faced in the bracket before that in getting back to the finale. Now a senior, McFarland is one of New York State’s top high school wrestlers.

Even though the match may not have gone the way Josh would’ve hoped, an opening week record of 6-1 which includes a win in an NFL dual against North Tonawanda, four pins at the Marino Tournament, a win over a defending state champion and a major decision loss to another is a solid opening week performance worthy of recognition.