Wrestler Stella advances to first state meet
Sweet Home junior wins 135-pound division at Section VI qualifier
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Ever since losing, 5-2, to Lucas Mariacher last year in the 135-pound finals of the Section VI New York State qualifier, Nic Stella has been waiting for another chance to advance to the state meet for the first time. On Saturday, Stella got his opportunity, defeating Cheektowaga's Clay Reeb, 5-3, in the 140-pound finals of the state qualifying tournament held at Fredonia State College.

It was the third time Stella had beaten Reeb this season. He won 12-1 in the semifinals of the ECIC Tournament and 3-1 in the finals of the Joe Shifflet Sweet Home Invitational Tournament.

Leading 3-2 in the third period, Stella took down Reeb and gave up a meaningless point with a couple seconds remaining in the match.

Stella said he was a little nervous at the beginning of the match but once he started wrestling, he felt confident in his abilities.

"It means a lot (to advance to states)," said Stella. "I would like to place but my ultimate goal is to win it."

The New York State Championships are March 2-3 at the Times Union Center in Albany.

Stella beat Maryvale's Jim Litz, 10-2, and Lake Shore's Sean Will, 11-5, in earlier state qualifying matches.

"I was pleased," said Sweet Home coach Chris Nadeau. "When you're the top dog, guys are out to get you. Nic never was in trouble. He was in a zone."

Stella is a student of the game. Nic said he reviewed all of his opponents the night before the tournament began with his older brother, Andrew, Sweet Home's all-time career wins leader and a redshirt freshman at the University at Buffalo.

"Everything my brother told me worked perfectly," said Nic Stella.

Heading into states, Nic Stella is 39-0 and has 102 takedowns, 14 technical falls, and 11 pins. He will face a yet to be determined Section X wrestler and if he wins, faces Section II's Austin Meys, the defending state champion, in the quarterfinals.

"He is four more matches to go," said Nadeau. "That's what it amounts to."

Nic Stella scored all 19 of Sweet Home's points at the state qualifier to finish the team in 16th place.

Freshman Gage Bateman lost 6-0 to West Seneca East's Nick Vitale and 2-1 to Jamestown's Max Murray. Bateman finished 22-11.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com