SANBORN — Months had passed since Niagara Wheatfield was last together on the wrestling mat. But how last season ended was fresh in the Falcons’ memory.
Niagara Wheatfield won its third Section VI dual title in seven years and earned the top seed in the Division I state tournament. But for a second straight year, the Falcons’ tournament ended in pool play.
The loss motivated the Falcons, as a couple weeks later, they won their fourth sectional Class A championship in five years and later sent six wrestlers to states, the most among all teams in the greater Niagara region. With many of its top wrestlers back on the mat for another year, Niagara Wheatfield is once again setting its sights on another strong year, which begins at Grand Island Dec. 4.
“We’re focused,” Niagara Wheatfield head coach Rick Sweney said. “And guys got goals again. They want to get back in the state tournament. They want to do better. So they got their personal goals, also individual. … We’re hoping to add on, take as many as we did last year, at least six. And then anybody else wants to toughen up and get on board, we’re glad to have them.”
Going into the season, Niagara Wheatfield returns three state qualifiers in seniors Eian Peterson and Garrett Chase and junior Chase Richards. Chase finished with a team-high 42 wins, Richards recorded his 100th career win and Peterson now looks to reach states for the fourth time in his career after previously doing so twice with Niagara Falls.
Senior Muntathar Abbas and junior John Fike also come off seasons with winning weight classes in Class A and third-place finishes at the state qualifier, where the Falcons sent 11. And the accolades for Niagara Wheatfield featured defending the Niagara Frontier League title and the Niagara Cup against rival Niagara Falls.
The Falcons didn’t change much with their offseason routine, with once again traveling to different locations to compete, including tournaments in Fulton and the Thousand Islands. And members competed at the Nickel City Duals for Team Niagara, the summer high school team Sweney operates under the Power Cats Wrestling Club umbrella.
The start of the season also poses a change in strategy that will impact not only the Falcons trying to build off last season but other teams across the state. New rules from NFHS posted on Nov. 7 will increase a takedown from two points to three points, point adjustments for near falls or back points, ranging from two to five points based on time and making the 10-foot circle in the center of the wrestling arena optional.
The Falcons saw the takedown point change in effect during offseason tournaments. But once the season begins, Niagara Wheatfield wants to rely on its basics in earning points.
“You can’t give those takedowns,” Sweney said. “You got to get them and stay off your back and work your penny combinations and get them on their back and stuff. Just a little bit different in the mindset, though. You could fall back or get ahead real quick. So we want to really focus on not giving up takedowns a little bit more, and then just keep pounding at it.”
As the top seed at duals last year, Niagara Wheatfield had the confidence to go win and face teams from across the state. But looking at each other on the sidelines and in warmups, the Falcons were fatigued and didn’t perform to their full potential.
After seeing what it was capable of by finishing near the top of the section in duals, the Niagara Wheatfield wrestlers spent the offseason practicing scenarios, as if their opponents were in neutral and working on counterattacks. And, with an increase in conditioning, the Falcons aim to be in better health as the season progresses.
“There’s a lot of energy going into it,” Chase said. “I know a lot of the returning guys are super excited. … We really want a good season and that’s all we could really hope for, is a really good season for a lot of the seniors. And I’m hoping to build something great for the juniors to build off next year and continue it going with the team throughout the years.”