Local wrestlers vie for state titles

By Patrick Newell

Sun Sports Editor

Thanks to the wild-card system and the emergence of Sherburne-Earlville’s wrestling program, a Chenango County-record 11 grapplers lace up their wrestling shoes for the New York State Division I and Division II championships Saturday morning at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.

Preliminary action begins at 10:30 a.m. and semifinals are Sunday morning at 10 a.m. Finals are slated for 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

“It’s great to have three guys going to the tournament,” said S-E assistant coach Brian Hicks. The Marauders did not have a state qualifier for several years until Chris Pike earned a Section III title last year. “Our first goal is to get through Saturday and have guys wrestling on Sunday morning.”

B-G/Afton sports a four-person contingent led by returning sectional titlists Danny Gormley (112) and Kris Stafford (160). Gormley lost an early-round match to eventual state title winner Kyle Crisafulli of Section III before placing fifth. Gormley’s teammate, Wayne Cirigliano – a first-time state tourney representative – could match up with Crisafulli if he wins his opening match.

“Crisafulli is the returning state champion, but he wasn’t his section winner,” said B-G/A coach Brandon MacNaught. “We were fortunate to have seen Crisafulli last year, and he did what he had to do to win, but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that (Cirigliano) is headed to wrestlebacks. I always wonder how kids will respond in these types of tournaments. Wayne seemed to be okay at the Arena (site of the sectional championships), and not only was he not overwhelmed, it was by far the best tournament he wrestled this year.”