WNY Invitees Announced for 2nd NYSPHSAA Girls Wrestling Invitational

Cover photo courtesy of Bob Blair

Thirty one Section VI wrestlers have received invitations to compete in the 2nd NYSPHSAA Invitational on Friday, Jan., 26th at SRC Arena in Syracuse. Eleven more area athletes are tagged as alternate entries to their respective weights.

Unfortunately, the ‘ranking’ tournament scheduled for Friday, Jan. 12th was supposed to help determine the top area wrestlers to be considered for the state invitational was cancelled due to weather. With little time remaining before the Jan. 15th ‘Allocation Distribution Date’ for this year’s field of athletes, local coaches and Alex Conti, the Section VI representative to the New York State Girls Wrestling Committee (NYSGWC), organized the top wrestlers at each weight to be considered for an invitation to the Invitational by the NYSGWC.

Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 1pm on Friday, Jan. 26th in Syracuse. Each bracket will have sixteen wrestlers and place 1st – 6th places on the podium.

High school wrestlers from across the eleven NYSPHSAA section-regions are eligible to compete in the event.

Among the thirty one entries representing Section VI, seven are returning place winners led by 2023 Invitational champion Gabriella Barone from Niagara Wheatfield.

2nd Annual NYSPHSAA Girls Wrestling Invitational – Section VI invitees

(Note: * = returning Invitational participant)

94-pounds: Meyah Aponte – senior – Fredonia*

94: Sheila Vega – sophomore – Dunkirk

100: Gabriella Barone – 8th grade – Niagara Wheatfield

*Defending Invitational champion

100: Lily Pieczonka – freshman – Niagara Wheatfield*

107: Brenna McCarley – senior – North Tonawanda*

107: Leah Waite – sophomore – Fredonia*

114: Hannah McCarley – senior – North Tonawanda

*Returning Invitational 4th place winner

114: Emma Greene – junior – Niagara Wheatfield

120: McKella Hodkin – 7th grade – Fredonia

120: Georgia Zorich – sophomore – Sweet Home

126: Noli Paddock – 8th grade – Chautauqua Lake

126: Marissa Tara – junior – Orchard Park

132: Nevaeh Senik – freshman – Niagara Wheatfield*

132: Alexa Doxey – 8th grade – Newfane

*Returning Invitational runner-up

132: Alexiya Thuman – junior – Lake Shore

132: Mia Smith – junior – Chautauqua Lake*

138: Gabriella Testa – junior – Chautauqua Lake*

138: Avery White – junior – Frontier*

145: Sophia Gervasio – senior – Chautauqua Lake*

145: Evelyn Cuthbert – senior – Fredonia

145: Christina Evans – senior – West Seneca West

*Returning Invitational runner-up

152: Bella Andes – sophomore – Lockport*

152: Kiernan Quinn – freshman – Gowanda

165: Ryann Berner – freshman – Clarence

165: Ava Bragg – sophomore – Lockport

*Returning Invitational 3rd place winner

165: Michaela Thomas – sophomore – Iroquois

*Returning Invitational 3rd place winner

185: Kristina Dickey – junior – Chautauqua Lake

185: Khamya’J Maxwell – sophomore – Lockport

*Returning Invitational 5th place winner

185: Yaletsy Tamayo – senior – Sweet Home

235: Jyla Johnson – junior – Lockport

235: Aislyn O’Malley – sophomore – Kenmore

Section VI alternate entries:

94: Sumaya Syed – 7th grade – Niagara Wheatfield

100: Damarielys Cruz – sophomore – Dunkirk

120: Mackenzie Sweeney – sophomore – Niagara Wheatfield

126: Sofia Guadagna – sophomore – Sweet Home

132: Sophia Saffrin – junior – Orchard Park

138: Eva Colon-DeJesus – sophomore – Dunkirk

138: Emma Beckles – junior – Niagara Wheatfield

145: Jianna Cave – freshman – Dunkirk

165: Lauren Winfield – sophomore – Springville

185: McKenzie Vetter-Higgins – 8th grade – Kenmore

235: Meghan Pauley – sophomore – Chautauqua Lake