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