East wrestlers never quit at state qualifier
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East did not send any wrestlers to the New York State Championships but it's not for a lack of effort.

Two of East's four wrestlers placed and another two wrestled well at the Section VI New York State Qualifier held on Saturday at Fredonia State College.

Junior co-captain Max Cohen lost 17-3 against Lancaster's Mark Lewandowski in the 125-pound finals. Freshman Ben Mikac took fourth at 96. Matt Calleri went 1-2 at 130. Jacob Beichner lost both of his matches at 119.

"On the whole the guys really battled," said East coach Henry Fumerelle. "It looked like some kids (from other schools) were just happy to me there. I got our group together, took one knee and told them 'I'm real proud that you're one of the best eight in your weight class, but let's not be happy to be here. Let's battle every moment of every match and battle each opponent' and they did that for me."

Cohen, the Class AAA and Lew-Port tournament champion, beat Hamburg's Doug Happ, 3-2 and Kenmore West's Rob Williams, 11-3, before losing to Lewandowski. Cohen finished 27-6.

"To be in the section finals as a junior is just terrific," said Fumerelle. "I think the adversity he faced in the North tournament (lost in the finals) really inspired him to work harder. He won the Lew-Port Tournament. In that tournament, he beat (Derrek Drass), who placed third on Saturday."

After losing 4-2 to Joey Malvestuto in the first round, Mikac beat Lockport's Ivan Cruz, 4-1, and Cheektowaga's Mike Tomczak, 7-2, but fell 1-0 to class champion Joe Kalinka of Iroquois in wrestlebacks. Tomczak beat Mikac in the class tournament semifinals.

"It just shows what kind of wrestler he is," said Fumerelle. "We preach a lot of mental toughness and to come back a week after losing to that kid just shows his improvement."

Mikac finished the year 21-9. "I think the sky's the limit for him," said Fumerelle. "I think he could do some special things here in the future. He gets better every day and has the right attitude."

Calleri did not place at 130 but wrestled tough. He almost pinned Kenmore West's Nathan Skiba in the first round but Skiba flipped Calleri over and pinned him. In wrestlebacks, Calleri beat Kyle Weaver, 8-2, and lost 14-4 to Jamestown's John Bernard. Bernard went to states two years ago.

Beichner lost to Niagara Falls' Irvine Buck and in wrestlebacks, lost 1-0 to Starpoint's Darren Whittall. A win would have placed Beichner. Beichner finished with 21 wins and joined Cohen and Mikac in the school's 20-win club. Each will receive a trophy.

Overall, Fumerelle was proud of his team.

"We were so close to being seven kids, which would have been a school record," said Fumerelle. "I was thrilled with how the season went and the development and work ethic of our guys. It was exiting to see them develop and the future looks so bright."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com