**Tuesday, 12/6**
The Spartans paid a visit to the home of the defending Section V Div. I dual champion Raiders on Tuesday night for a showdown of two NYS top five big schools and returning state duals participants. Fairport rode high on early momentum with back to back pins at 189 and 215 pounds, however Matt Caldwell (285), Kole Haseley (102), and Jaron Barrientos (110) slowed the Raiders with two decisions and a major, respectively, to close the deficit to 12-10. In the next five bouts, senior JR Leuer earned a critical decision at 118 followed by Caden Barrientos and Griffin LaPlante pins at 132 and 145 pounds for a 25-24 Spartans lead with three bouts remaining. A CJ Uptegrove pin at 152 followed by a third period fall by Zach Caldwell at 160 iced the dual for Starpoint with one bout remaining. The marquee match of the night saw two retuning NYS place winners in Fairport’s Brady Unger and the Spartans’ Gage LaPlante facing off. LaPlante weighed in for 160-pounds but met the UB-bound Raider at 172-pounds where Unger was a 4-0 winner by decision. However, the dual belonged to Starpoint with a final score of 37-27. This result may be critical for NYS dual meet tournament considerations later in January 2023.
**#6 Amherst 33 – HM St. Joe’s 31**
Wrestling was the showcase of the night at St. Joe’s with a full slate of junior varsity and varsity bouts going on side by side in the school’s main gym. The Tigers’ first action of the season resulted in a narrow victory over the host Marauders where four pins and a forfeit made all the difference as St. Joe’s won seven of 12 contested bouts. Amherst collected 30 points in five weights with one decision while holding ‘Joe’s’ Austin Zimmerman and Luke Ventresca to only seven total team points.
**#3 Southwestern 69 – Fredonia 6**
The Trojans move to 2-0 in CCAA I with a big win against the Hillbillies. SW earned bonus team points in all nine head to head wins.
**Canisius 50 – St. Mary’s 24**
The Crusaders entered a wrestler at all but one weight and won seven of ten contested matches to notch an opening night win in the Msgr. Martin HS Athletic Association.
**Gowanda 60 – Salamanca 12**
The Panthers hosted the Warriors for a CCAA crossover dual only four days after meeting at the Southtowns Duals that ended in a 54-12 Gowanda victory.
**Williamsville South 42 – Medina 35**
A full lineup for the Billies made all the difference in getting an opening night win over the Mustangs for a non-league dual. Medina claimed six wins in nine contested bouts earning bonus points in each one. However, South claimed four forfeits to get the TJ Scamurra era started with a win.
**HM St. Joe’s 72 – Gow School 0**
**Williamsville South 60 – Cheektowaga 17**
**Medina 48 – Cheektowaga 22**
**Wednesday, 12/7**
**#8 Clarence 40 – HM Jamestown 36**
The Devils and Raiders kicked off the ECIC I schedule with a ranked matchup in Clarence. The Red Devils earned seven wins to the Raiders’ six, but the teams tied with five head to head wins each; two forfeits in favor of Clarence were the difference maker in this one where all contested bouts resulted in bonus points. Up next for Clarence is a crucial home dual with Williamsville North/East while Jamestown hosts Frontier. After one week things are already getting interesting in ECIC I.
**#9 Williamsville North/East 33 – HM Orchard Park 27**
** NO FORFEITS.** ECIC I’s second ranked dual on opening night had the Spartans escaping Orchard Park with a narrow win for two teams that have each been on the rise over the last few seasons. The result of this dual could be important for sectional dual meet tournament considerations in January…again. Williamsville collected seven wins to OP’s six while earning four pins to the Quakers’ three. Each team also earned three decisions, all of which were six to one point differentials. OP’s upper weight crew of Brody Stevens (189), Jack MacDonald (215), and Alex Ciesielski (285) could round into being one of the better heavy units in WNY this season. Also, the next Catrabone made his varsity debut with a pin in this dual…
**#10 North Tonawanda 44 – Grand Island 21**
Only five days after meeting at the dual tournament at Sweet Home (39-27 NT win) the ‘Jacks and Vikings met for their ‘actual’ NFL dual in North Tonawanda to kick off the league slate. Coach Fire’s full lineup collected a trio of forfeits and won six of ten head to head matches. NT’s Dylan Gagnon is a perfect 8-0 to start the season.
**#5 Hamburg/Eden 66 – #7 Iroquois 12**
The ‘BullRaiders’ continued their impressive start to the season with an ECIC II home win against a young Chiefs squad. After being unable to finish the 2021-2022 season, Trevor DellaPenta at 102-pounds is weapon for Hamburg/Eden this year.
**#3 Niagara Wheatfield 67 – Kenmore 6**
In the first five days of action the Falcons cruised to the Matthew Marino Memorial team title at Webster Schroeder and then take down the DevilDogs in explosive fashion for each team’s NFL opener. Seasoned veteran Collin Coughenour appeared at 132 in this dual anchoring a solid group of middle weights. There are a few other teams in Niagara County with similar middle weight crews, can you guess which ones? Don’t look now but the Falcons may be coming for us all – talons first. Kenmore gets #2 Niagara Falls at home next Weds. 12/14 (catch it live on the WNYAthletics network) but then gets Lockport, Grand Island, and North Tonawanda in a row between the end of the year and early January. Keep tabs on these duals, for all teams involved.
**#7 Frontier 54 – West Seneca/Depew 21**
A full lineup favored the Falcons in this one as each team won four of eight contested bouts. Three of W. Seneca’s wins resulted in pins while Frontier secured four falls. Forfeits were the difference maker as WS conceded 110 through 138-pounds.
**Akron 54 – Canisius 24**
The Tigers get a win at home in their first action of the season. Check out Akron with a wrestler at every weight but one. Nice job Tigers.
**Cheektowaga 42 – Maryvale 15**
A night after dropping two duals at Williamsville South the Warriors pick up an ECIC III win against the in town Union Road rival. Cheektowaga earned five pins in eight head to head matches while the Flyers nabbed three individual wins.
**#1 Chautauqua Lake 62 – Salamanca 6**
**#2 Niagara Falls 58 – Lockport 18**
**#2 Falconer 72 – Olean 6**
**#6 Amherst 60 – East Aurora 9**
**#6 Pioneer 60 – Lackawanna 12**
**HM Lake Shore 54 – Tonawanda 18**
**CSAT 72 – Lewiston-Porter 6**
**Dunkirk 54 – Erie HS (PA) 5**
**Thursday, 12/8**
**#10 Springville 48 – Franklinville 12**
SGI gets a non-league victory at home in their first action of the season. The Griffins’ Griffin McKinsey, Preston Bond, and Russell Maul all get pins for Springville.
**Akron 48 – Lackawanna 30**
The Tigers and Steelers combined for ten contested bouts in Thursday’s non-league dual in Akron. Both teams earned five pins in all five over their head to head wins but Akron claimed all three of the night’s forfeits. The Tigers are off to a 2-0 start this week.
**Gowanda 54 – Dunkirk 24**
The Panthers get a CCAA crossover win on the road with nine individual victories and eight pins. Gowanda’s Michael Horth is off to a 10-0 start this season.
**#1 Starpoint 69 – Williamsville South 3**