CLARENCE — Niagara Wheatfield is still flying high.
For the fourth time since 2019, the Falcons won the Section VI Class A championship with a total of 236 ½ points, edging Amherst by 5 ½ points. Host Clarence placed third with 172 points.
Along with winning the crown, the Falcons sent 11 wrestlers to the Division I state qualifier, one shy of last year’s mark and only trailing Amherst (12). Of those advancing, Niagara Wheatfield had four champions in Eian Peterson, Muntathar Abbas, Te’Shaun Mathews and John Fike.
At 116 pounds, Peterson pinned North Tonawanda’s Hannah McCarley while Abbas, as the No. 3 seed, upset top-seeded Sam Berti, of Hamburg, with a first-period pin at 124. Mathews defeated teammate Chase Richards with a pin at 145 while Fike pinned Starpoint’s Lucas Clark in just 59 seconds.
Other advancing for the Falcons include Gabriella Barone (101), Jacob Sweeney (108), Garrett Chase (138), Ethan Azbell (152), Joe Cicco (160) and Iain O’Donnell (190).
Grand Island was next from the greater Niagara region with seven qualifiers. Freshman Deni Daghestani defeated Clarence’s Zach Didas with a 7-6 decision at 101 while teammate Cole Randle placed fourth in the same event. Others qualifying for the Vikings included Zak Massaro (108), Dylan Castiglia (124), Eli Linenfelser (138), Tim Bentley (170) and Anthony Vaccaro (285).
Starpoint had three qualifiers, including Sean McDonald, who won at 108 over Massaro with a 10-4 decision. Lucas Clark (215) and Spencer Argentieri (285) both placed runner-up in the finals of their events.
North Tonawanda also had three qualifiers, with senior Dylan Gagnon defeating Niagara Wheatfield’s Cicco with an 8-7 decision at 160. Hannah McCarley (116) and Ilimdar Khasanov (160) also advanced for the Lumberjacks.
Wolverines send quintet in Class AA
After finishing as the runner-up to Williamsville North/East last year, Niagara Falls finished fifth in the team standings with 139 points at Jamestown High School. The Spartans defended the title with 233 points while Lancaster (168.5) and Orchard Park (151.5) rounded out the top three. Lockport placed ninth with 70 points.
Niagara Falls sent five to the state qualifier, including Reginald McCreary, who won over Williamsville North/East’s Asil Rasool with a 10-4 decision at 138. Cameron Crumpler (101), Kayden Feagin (131), Vincenzo Falsetti (152) and Demarius Gregory (190) also advanced.
Lockport sent two to the qualifier. Liam Whalen won at 190 in a 3-1 sudden victory over Williamsville North’s Amari Libertone-Robinson. Teammate Tyler Watkins placed third in the same event.
The Division I state qualifier will be held Feb. 10 at Williamsville North High School.
Panthers on prowl again in C/D
After sending four to the state qualifier, Newfane led the greater Niagara region teams with six selections, including veterans Jakob Lucinski and Aidan Gillings.
Lucinski won at 101 in a 7-5 sudden victory over Southwestern’s Adrian Torres while Gillings pinned Portville’s Maxximus DeYoe at 138. Rian Czaja (108), Ayden Buttery (145), Colin Doxey (170) and Khalal Golden (215) also advanced.
Newfane also finished third overall in the C/D standings with 142.5 points, trailing only the champion and host Southwestern (187.5) and Falconer (170.5).
Medina sent five to the state qualifier. Reece Senske (108), Luke Duffina (124) and Conor Crandall (190) all finished as the runner-up in their respective weight classes. Brody Fry (190) and Sawyer Kingsbury (215) also advanced.
Barker-Roy/Hart had four advance, including Ronan Klug, who finished as the runner-up to Wilson’s lone winner, Jacob Stephenson, at 160. Lucas Kimber (116), Joey Jopp (124) and Luke Fay (131) also advanced.
After sending five last year, Wilson had three of its wrestlers advance. Along with Stephenson’s win at 160, William Wortkoetter defeated Hamza Merrick at 285 in a 5-0 decision, with both advancing to the state qualifier.
Lewiston-Porter sent four to the state qualifier after competing in the Class B championships held at Williamsville South High School.
The Barrientos brothers, Jaron and Caden, won their respective weight classes at 108 and 124. Jaron defeated Chautauqua Lake’s Gavin Burchanowski in a 10-2 major decision while Caden pinned Fredonia’s Issiah Ruiz.
Teammate Israel Walker won at 131 over Lackawanna’s Adam Algawani in a 14-5 major decision while Dominic Srouji (116) also advanced.
The Division II state qualifier will be held Feb. 10 at Lake Shore High School.