Prep Talk

Some additional notes collected while researching our wrestling story in today's Scholastic Spotlight.

Be sure to check out our highlights of the 2010 schedule as well as the season's first wrestling rankings.

* * *

Four-time defending large school poll champion Niagara-Wheatfield is not surprisingly at the top of the first large school poll.

Rick Sweney's team has won five straight Niagara Frontier League championships. Sweney has been at the helm for three years following five years as an assistant; he was at Niagara Falls for 20 years prior to that.

The Falcons' top wrestlers are two-time sectional champ and junior Joey Malvestuto (125) and his brother, 189-pound senior Angelo Malvestuto, a three-time sectional champ who has signed with Virginia Tech. Angelo, a three-time high school All-American, placed fourth in the state twice at 160 and 171 pounds and last year was third at 171.

That's not all: Senior Jim Donner placed fifth in the state at 285 last year. Freshman Marcus Popp, who is now 15-2 and just took fourth at the Jamestown Tournament. Senior Antonio Ventry (152) has over a 125 career wins. Sophomore Jake Kelly (171) is one to look out for.

* * *

Williamsville North is off to a nice 4-0 start in ECIC I with matches looming against the big three: Lancaster, Clarence and Jamestown.

Continue reading "More wrestling notes and quotes" »

Some 2010 dates to remember for wrestling fans, a combination of the Wrestling Review of Western New York's tournament schedule (thanks, Linda Knuutila) and a scan of league and individual schedules, notably of the ranked schools.

It is going to be quite the January ...

Jan. 5: ECIC I Jamestown at Williamsville North; STier I Gowanda at Falconer; NL St. Joe's at V-Holley
Jan. 6: ECIC III Eden at Depew; Alden at East Aurora; NL Ripley at St. Francis, Roy-Hart at Canisius
Jan. 8: ECIC III Depew at Lackawanna
Jan. 8-9: 29th Niagara Frontier Wrestling Officials Association tournament at NCCC.
Jan. 9: Ripley Tournament
Jan. 12: ECIC III Pioneer at Depew
Jan. 13: ECIC I Williamsville North at Lancaster, Clarence at Jamestown; ECIC III Lackawanna at East Aurora, Pioneer at Eden; NFL Kenmore East at Kenmore West; STier I Falconer at Fredonia
Jan. 15: ECIC II Cheektowaga at Williamsville East; ECIC III Depew at East Aurora; Eden at Alden; ECIC I West Seneca East at West Seneca West, Frontier at Hamburg
Jan. 15-16: 16th Lockport Boosters/Sunrise Optimists Tournament; 10th Patrick Morales Invitational at Falconer
Jan. 16: Williamsville Invitational at Williamsville North; 40th Franklinville Tournament; Catholic state dual meet championship at St. Anthony's (L.I.)
Jan. 20: ECIC I Clarence at Williamsville North (senior night), Lancaster at Jamestown; ECIC II Cheektowaga at Iroquois; ECIC III Lackawanna at Eden, Pioneer at East Aurora; NFL Niagara-Wheatfield at Niagara Falls; Kenmore West at Lockport; STier I Fredonia at Gowanda
Jan. 22: NL St. Joe's at Lockport
Jan. 22-23: ECIC Championships at Clarence.
Jan. 23: Cattaraugus-Little Valley Round Robin Tournament
Jan. 25: Monsignor Martin duals at Gow
Jan. 26: MMA Canisius at St. Joe's
Jan. 27: ECIC III Lackawanna at Pioneer; NFL Niagara-Wheatfield at Lockport; Kenmore West at Niagara Falls
Jan. 28: NL Gowanda at St. Joe's
Jan. 29: ECIC III East Aurora at Eden, Alden at Depew; STier III Portville at Ripley
Jan. 29-30: Lew-Port Lancers Pete Rao Memorial Invitational; Salamanca Invitational
Jan. 30: Iroquois Dual Meet Tournament; Ken-Ton Tournament at Kenmore West; Depew Wildcat Tournament
Feb. 3: ECIC I Clarence at Lancaster (Border Brawl); MMA St. Joe's at St. Francis
Feb. 5-6: Section VI Class Tournaments: AAAA at Kenmore West, AAA at Starpoint, AA at East Aurora, A at Frewsburg
Feb. 7: All-Catholic Championships at St. Francis
Feb. 12: Section VI Division I (large school) championships at NCCC
Feb. 13: Section VI Division II (small school) championships at NCCC
Feb. 14-15: Catholic state championships at St. Anthony's (L.I.)
Feb. 26-27: State championships at Times Union Center, Albany

If we left anything out, please feel free to shout it out.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/highschool     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Some extra notes and quotes from Saturday's state wrestling championships:

* * *

Fredonia coach Alex Conti was emotional when discussing 96-pounder Carlene Sluberski, the first female to place in a state championship -- much less a second place after reaching the final.

"Carlene is a gracious winner and a gracious loser," said Conti as tears welled up in his eyes. "She epitomizes what this sport is all about.

"I will miss her and the wrestlers on my team will miss her."

* * *

Fredonia's Kenny Betts on his championship win:

"I had to wrestle a lot smarter than just go out there and brawl," he said of facing the long and lean Craig Scott of Lyons. "I didn't want to go underneath him because I didn't want to get into bad position."

* * *

East Aurora 119-pounder Matt Peters, who had beaten his final bout opponent, Quinton Murphy of Holley, earlier this season, recalled the first match when he ran the same cross-wrist tilt he used in the final.

"I was on top for 10 seconds in the first match and I scored two points with it," Peters said.

Peters received numerous congratulations from his coaches and fellow wrestlers.

"It feels breathtaking," Peters said. "This was my last high school match so I wanted to leave it all on the mat."

* * *

Pioneer's Kyle Colling led 8-0 through two periods of his 215-pound final and was never in danger. "This feels awesome," he said.

* * *

The smile on the face of Tonawanda 112-pounder Kyle McGregor's face explained how he felt.

"I don't know how to describe it," said McGregor of his first state title.

"Once I got legs in I was trying to run the power half and get some back points," McGregor said. "I could feel him on bottom getting tired so that made me work harder to keep him there."

The wildcard entries for the state wrestling tournament have been announced, and there are 12 from Section VI, three in Division I (large schools) and nine in Division II (small schools).

Division I

103 (pounds) Collin Dresher (Clarence-11), 140 Irvin Buck (Niagara Falls-10), 152 Mike Kiripolsky (Cheektowaga-12).

Division II

96 Carlene Sluberski (Fredonia-12), 125 Ben Haas (Salamanca-9), 125 Kevin Kott (East Aurora-12), 140 Thom Betts (Westfield-12), 145 Eddie Sarcione (Eden-12), 152 Jon Strong (Frewsburg-12), 171 Dave Richer (Gowanda-12), 215 Justin Taylor (Portville-11), 285 Pat Langworthy (Southwestern-10).

---Keith McShea

It was a busy weekend for sports (and this blog), so here's what you need to know as you try to stiff-arm the Monday blahs:

* * *

With the Manhattan Cup playoffs and sectional basketball tournaments starting the next three days, we've got a post for every hoop fan.

Each post includes a schedule and a poll -- so if your team is playing basketball this week, you can vote for them.

Scroll down to check them out or take the shortcuts here:

For boys: Manhattan Cup, AA, A1, A2, B1, B2, C and D.  

For girls: AA, A1, A2, B1, B2, C and D.  

* * *

Our All-WNY 50th anniversary boys basketball series continued with our All-1970s team, which is being discussed on our usual follow-up "How'd we do?" blog.  

News Sports Reporter Mark Gaughan liked the depth of the 1970s team so much, he did some trash-talking by saying the third team from the 1970s could beat the first teams from the 1990s or 2000s.  

* * *

Most wrestling representatives for the state championships Friday and Saturday were determined at the Section VI meets this past weekend, but there are more to come in the next few days.

* * *

Prep Talk Nation has been officially recognized -- it's a Facebook group.

---Keith McShea

The 30 Section VI wrestling champions were crowned this past weekend at Niagara County Community College (here are the stories for Division I and Division II).

They'll be headed to the state tournament this weekend at the Times Union Center in Albany.

Jim Widger, a 119-pounder from St. Francis, will be the Monsignor Martin Association's only representative at states after he won the Catholic state championship last weekend.

There may be additional locals on their way down the Thruway. Four at-large bids will be handed out across the state in each weight class. The bids, expected to be announced Tuesday, are based on a point system which incorporates previous performance at sectional and state meets.

Fredonia senior Carlene Sluberski could be on the list as she was a sectional champion last year, although she was unable to attend states because she already committed to participate in a world-class event for female wrestlers.

Who do you think should get a wild card?

What about state champions? Who has the best shot from Section VI?

Here's a recap of the weekend's Section VI championship bouts -- what was your favorite bout?

Division I (large school)

96: Steve Michel (Lancaster) d. Eric Lewandowski (Lan), 2-1;
103: Tim Schaefer (Lan) d. Ivan Cruz (Lockport), 4-2;
112: Lee Schuster (Grand Island) d. Daiquann Burney (Sweet Home), 8-2;
119: Matt Waldmiller (Lan) d. Ryan Drass (North Tonawanda), 6-4;
125: Joe Kalinka (Iroquois) d. Matt Callari (Williamsville East), 3-1;
130: Jared Messina (Cheektowaga) d. Jacob Beicher (Williamsville East), 6-3;
135: Jimmy Kloc (Iro) d. Zack Fumerelle (Sweet Home), 3-2;
140: Nathan Skiba (Kenmore West) p. Irvin Buck (Niagara Falls), 3:51;
145: Clint Schaefer (Lan) d. Tommy Kellner (Williamsville North), 11-6;
152: Bob Malvestuto (N-W) d. Mike Kirpolsky (Cheektowaga), 2-1;
160: Clayton Reeb (Cheek) d. Bob Limina (N-W), 13-9;
171: Angelo Malvestuto (N-W) d. Zach Ward (Clarence), 9-3;
189: Ken Hamilton (Niagara Falls) p. Mike Blank (Albion), 1:57;
215: Matt Johnson (NF) p. Zack Tobias (Hamburg), 2:39;
285: James Donner (N-W) d. Mike Fraterrigo (Kenmore East), 9-3.

Division II (small schools)

96: Tom Page (Eden) d. Carlene Sluberski (Fred), 7-2;
103: Kevin Strong (Frews) d. Abdulqawi Mohamed (Lack), 8-1;
112: Kyle McGregor (Ton) tech fall Tom Conti (Fred), 18-0;
119: Matt Peters (EA) d. Emory Rowe (Rip), 13-0;
125: Dalton Scalf (Frew) d. Ben Haas (Sal), 8-5;
130: Devin Kramer (Depew) d. Justin Wagner (Ald), 6-2;
135: Phil Czapia (EA) d. Ameen Harara (Lack), 8-2;
140: Dominic Montesanti (Med) d. Thom Betts (West), 1-0;
145: Josh Micek (MG) d. Eddie Sarcione (Eden), 7-2;
152: Kenny Betts (Fred) d. Jon Strong (Frew), 7-0;
160: Josh Becker (Sala) d. Eric Mazgaj (S'west), 6-1;
171: Kyle Roosa (A-L) d. Dave Richter (Gow), 3-2;
189: Corey King (Fred) d. Drew Marchant (S'west), 1-0;
215: Kyle Colling (Pio) d. Justin Taylor (Port), 3-1 (OT);
285: Aaron Kroll (Gowanda) d. at Langworthy (S'west), 8-1.

---Keith McShea

Below are this week's individual rankings from the Wrestling Review of Western New York. In today's paper we broke the weight classes down by classification.

So who will prevail this weekend to earn berths in the Section VI championships?

Tell us who in the comments section below.

WNY INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Note: Top three listed in order, honorable mentions (HM) listed in alphabetical order.

96: Carlene Sluberski (Fredonia-12); Tom Page (Eden-9); Steven Michel (Lancaster-7). HM: Logan Miller (Ripley-8); Brandon Muntz (Falconer-8); Nick Roberts (Iroquois-9).

103: Tim Schaefer (Lancaster-8); Justin Ranallo (Canisius-12); Kevin Strong (Frewsburg-9). HM: Collin Drescher (Clarence-11); Jordan McGregor (Tonawanda-10); Abdulgawi Mohamed (Lackawanna-10).

112: Kyle McGregor (Tonawanda-11); Lee Schuster (Grand Island-12); Daiquann Burney (Sweet Home-11). HM: Dave Ciaramella (Newfane-10); Tom Conti (Fredonia-12); Matt McCauley (Roy-Hart-9).

119: Matt Peters (East Aurora-12); Matt Waldmiller (Lancaster-12); Joey Malvestuto (Niagara-Wheatfield-10). HM: Ben Mikac (Williamsville East-11); Kyle Reynolds (Pine Valley-11); Emory Rowe (Ripley-9).

125: Jared Messina (Cheektowaga-12); Kevin Kot (East Aurora-12); Matt Callari (Williamsville East-12). HM: Joe Kalinka (Iroquois-11); Jerrold Roosa (Randolph-10); Dalton Scalf (Frewsburg-12).

130: Jake Beichner (Williamsville East-11); Justin Wagner (Alden-11); Nick Mitchell (Frewsburg-8). HM: Tristan Hamner (Medina-9); Wally Maziarz (North Tonawanda-11); Pat Mix (Lake Shore-10).

135: Jim Kloc (Iroquois-9); Alex Lacen (Fredonia-12); Zack Fumerelle (Sweet Home-11). HM: Phil Czapla (East Aurora-10); Derek Geiger (Medina-12); Zach Nelson (Southwestern-12).

140: Irvin Buck (Niagara Falls-10); Dominic Montesanti (Medina-11); Nate Skiba (Kenmore West-12). HM: Thom Betts (Westfield-12); Mark Manganaro (Iroquois-12); Carmen Papa (Salamanca-11).

145: Josh Micek (Maple Grove-12); Clint Schaefer (Lancaster-12); Eddie Sarcione (Eden-12). HM: Dylan Duncanson (Medina-10); Tommy Kellner (Williamsville North-12); Scott Patryzk (Cheektowaga-11).

152: Kenny Betts (Fredonia-12); Mike Kiripolsky (Cheektowaga-12); Bobby Malvestuto (Niagara-Wheatfield-12). HM: John Mistretta (Southwestern-10); Zach Penhollow (Falconer-11); Jon Strong (Frewsburg-11).

160: Clay Reeb (Cheektowaga-12); Eric Mazgaj (Southwestern-12); Josh Becker (Salamanca-12). HM: Sajen Hunt (Ripley-12); Bob Limina (Niagara-Wheatfield-12); Jake Winnie (Clarence-11).

171: Angelo Malvestuto (Niagara-Wheatfield-11); Dave Richter (Gowanda-12); Kyle Roosa (Allegany-Limestone-12). HM: Tyler Brent (Roy-Hart-12); Greg Burroughs (Fredonia-12); Zach Ward (Clarence-11).

189: Mike Blank (Albion-12); Dana Kapuscinski (Jamestown-12); Ken Hamilton (Niagara Falls-12). HM: Corey King (Fredonia-12); Eric Seeley (Allegany-Limestone-11); Keith Stoerr (Lancaster-12).

215: Kyle Colling (Pioneer-11); Matt Johnson (Niagara Falls-12); Justin Taylor (Portville-11). HM: Dan Kubiak (Lancaster-11); Pat Langworthy (Southwestern-10); James Skura (Clarence-12).

285: James Donner (Niagara-Wheatfield-11); Andrew Pingatore (Cassadaga Valley-11); Blair Bell (CHeektowaga-12). HM: Dom Fraterrigo (Kenmore East-12); Jon Jones (Portville-12); Aaron Kroll (Gowanda-11).

---Keith McShea

It was an eventful past couple of days in high school sports. In case you missed it:

Canisius beat St. Joe's in basketball on Sunday afternoon. Check out a post previewing the game (including a poll in which 56.3 percent of 160 voters correctly backed Canisius), review my live blog from courtside and check out some perspectives on what is the final basketball season for Canisius' auditorium.

* * *

Not a bad week for Canisius -- All-WNY football first-teamer John Urschel committed to Penn State, where Nittany Lions watchers are already talking about him.

* * *

Lancaster wrestling had a busy week, which it capped off with the ECIC championship. Lockport posted a nice comeback win over St. Joe's.

A busy Friday night had plenty of boys hoops and girls hoops covered in the paper while there was plenty more on the blog. Check out posts about big wins for Olean and Maryvale as well as plenty of other boys and girls hoops action.

* * *

Riverside beat North Tonawanda in a nice nonleague boys hoops game Saturday. 

* * *    

In Tuesday's paper, the Scholastic Spotlight focuses on indoor track.

---Keith McShea

Lockport wrestling coach Joe Scapelliti knew his team would need two wins and a pin in its last two matches to beat St. Joe's.

And that's just what Sal Pagan and C.J. Ralyea did.

Pagan won with a pin with 40 seconds left in his 152-pounds bout and Ralyea, a junior, won a 5-2 decision at 160 to lift the Lions to a 28-27 victory over the Marauders.

"We were down eight in the last two weight classes, and they came through huge for us," said Scapelliti. "I thought we could do it … the big thing was the fall. That was the question mark … could we get the pin when we needed it. Sal was on his back, fought his way off of his back and finish off his opponent in the third period."

The Lions (5-2) got a boost from senior Ryan Tinkham's win at 140. "He got hurt during his match and was down 4-2. He rolled an ankle and he just battled through the whole way and pulled out a 9-6 decision. The momentum swung our way, our kids seized it and did a great job."

---Keith McShea