North caps off season with impressive sectional showing
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North didn't send any wrestlers to the New York State Championships but coach Brian Swatland is proud of his team's effort at the Section VI New York State qualifier at Fredonia State College last Saturday.

"We came in thirteenth out of 27 teams," said Swatland. "It was our best showing at that tournament in a while. Every one of our kids wrestled well and was ready to go."

Senior Nate Carbrey was the closest Spartan to qualify for states, losing to Niagara-Wheatfield's Zach Lange, 12-2, by technical fall in the 135-pound finals. Carbrey lost to Lange in the Class AAAA Tournament a week prior.

Carbrey defeated Maryvale's Nick Smith, 9-2 and reversed Amherst Central's Steve Devlin in the last 30 seconds to win 4-2.

Junior P.J. Abbarno avenged a loss earlier in the season over Niagara Falls' Shane O'Harrow with a 3-0 shutout in the 160-pound wrestlebacks. Abbarno then beat ranked wrestler Shawn Reynolds of Lockport, 6-2, to finish third. Abbarno opened with a 6-2 win over West Seneca East's John Caie but fell to eventual champion Niagara-Wheatfield's Angelo Malvestuto, 5-0, in the semifinals.

"He had a great season and this tournament caps it off," said Swatland. "He lost to O'Harrow once at the beginning of they year and has beaten him the last two weeks. Reynolds was ranked all year."

Senior Jake Caprow and junior Matt Aloisio went 1-2 at 130 and 171 pounds, respectively, but wrestled tough. Caprow was pinned at 3:01 of the second period by eventual champion Matt Mariacher of Iroquois and in wrestlebacks, beat Cheektowaga's Russ Wojtusiak, 8-6, and fell 9-4 to Kenmore West's Nathan Skiba.

"It was a very tough weight class," said Swatland. "Skiba won the AAAA a week before so weren't even expecting to see him in wrestlebacks. P.J. wrestled well but didn't have enough to win the match."

Aloisio was pinned by Starpoint's C.J. Regnet in 5:20, avenged two losses over Kenmore West's Matt Agugliaro with a 8-2 win then dropped a 5-0 decision to Pioneer's Martin Giboo.

"He wrestled everyone tough," said Swatland. "He has nothing to be ashamed about."

Senior Ben DesSoye went 1-2 at 275. He lost to eventual runner-up West Seneca East's Corey Mentel, 5-2, beat Kenmore East's Dominic Fraterrigo, 3-1, and was pinned by West Seneca West's John Schweikowsky at 2:02 of the second period.

Swatland said Cabrey and Abbarno are under consideration to qualify for states in one of four wild card berths based on points scored throughout the season.

Amherst Central Senior Steve Devlin closed out his high school career with a third place at the state qualifier. Devlin qualified for last year's state qualifier but did not place.

Devlin opened with an 11-4 over Lancaster's Bill Ellis then lost to Williamsville North's Nate Carbrey, 4-2. In wrestlebacks, Devlin defeated Cheektowaga's Scott Patrzyk, 13-9, and came back to beat Maryvale's Nick Smith in the third period, 8-7. Devlin trailed Smith 5-2 in the third period but took Smith down to take a 7-5 lead. Devlin finished 27-8.

"He was disappointed he couldn't get into the finals but he did a lot of very good wrestling," said coach Dennis Bauer. "He has a lot to be proud of."

Williamsville South

Senior Logan Struebing lost both of his matches at 160 but coach Sean Leaderstorf thought he wrestled well.

Struebing was pinned in the first round by eventual champion Angelo Malvestuto of Niagara Wheatfield and lost to West Seneca East's John Caie, 13-8.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com