ESG - Wrestling
Scholastic features several new faces, open returns Mariachers
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

This year's Western scholastic wrestling team features many new up and coming athletes ready to make their mark while the open team fields a veteran pair of twin brothers looking to continue their success at the Empire State Games.

Scholastic

For Cheektowaga's Russell Wojtusiak, the ESGs is an opportunity for redemption.

The soon-to-be senior tried out for the scholastic team last year but did not make the roster. Determined to make it this year, Wojtusiak wrestled as much as he could during the offseason at Super Six Wrestling Club at the University at Buffalo and took sixth in a 135-pound Greco Roman tournament in late spring.

All of Wojtusiak's hard work paid off as he qualified for ESGs in the 64 kilogram (143 pounds) freestyle and Greco Roman divisions.

"I was real excited and happy that my hard work finally paid off," said Wojtusiak, who finished 23-15 at 130 pounds this past winter for Cheektowaga Central. "It meant a lot and gave myself more confidence."

The same goes for Clarence's Josh Feiler, who makes his ESG debut in the 59 kilogram (132 pounds) freestyle. The senior to-be at Clarence said he didn't make the team last year but was really determined to make the Western roster not only for himself but for his high school coach, Jon Vesper, who died on March 30.

"He really wanted me to go and wrestle at 132 pounds," said Feiler, who finished 30-10 and qualified for the Section VI tournament this past winter. "At ESG tryouts, I could hear him talking to me when I was wrestling. I felt like I was wrestling for him and myself."

Another reason Feiler would like to participate in the Games is to follow in the footsteps of former high school teammates, Alex Siedlecki and Dan Audy, who took silver and bronze, respectively, in the 70 kilogram (154 pounds) and 59 kilogram (132 pounds) freestyle divisions in 2005.

"It would mean a great deal for me to carry on the tradition and win a medal," said Feiler.

Other newcomers to the scholastic team are East Amherst's P.J. Abbarno (75 kilogram, 165 pounds, freestyle), East Aurora's Arthur Garvey (125 kilogram, 275 pounds, freestyle and open), Williamsville's Robert Hamilton (64 kilogram, 143 pounds, Greco Roman), Marilla's Joseph Kalinka (48 kilogram, 106 pounds, freestyle) and Tonawanda's Jeremy Ruiz (55 kilogram, 123 pounds, Greco Roman).

Abbarno, a soon-to-be senior, had a 29-8 record with nine pins at 160 pounds for Williamsville North. He also won the Williamsville North and Depew Wildcat tournaments, took third at the Class AAAA tourney and third at the Section VI New York State qualifier. In addition, Abbarno was a 160-pound ECIC Division I and All-ECIC all-star.

Garvey, a soon-to-be senior, took third in the Class AA tournament and second at the Section VI state qualifier for 275 as a member of East Aurora. He received an at-large bid for the Division II state tournament.

Hamilton, a member of St. Mary's of Lancaster's team, took fourth at 119 at the state Catholic High School Championships. Kalinka, a soon-be sophomore at Iroquois, won the Class AAA tournament at 96 and took third at the Section VI state qualifier.

Returning scholastic wrestlers include East Aurora's Nicholas Czapla (75 kilogram,

165 pounds, freestyle and Greco Roman) and Mark Manganaro (59 kilogram,

132 pounds, Greco Roman).

Czapla, the reigning Section VI champion at 152 pounds, is also a defending champion at the ESGs, taking gold last year in the 70 kilogram (154 pounds) Greco Roman division. The senior-to-be at East Aurora was also fifth at the same weight class in freestyle with a 3-2 record. Manganaro went 1-2 last year in the 55 kilogram (123 pounds). The Iroquois junior to-be finished fourth at 125 at the Class AAA tournament.

Open

The open team is highlighted by twin brothers Lucas and Reece Mariacher of Elma.

Both will compete in the 69 kilogram (152 pounds) Greco Roman open division. Lucas is also scheduled to compete in the 69-kilogram freestyle.

Their younger brother, Matt was scheduled to make his first appearance on the open team in the 63 kilogram (139 pounds) freestyle and Greco Roman divisions, but instead will be at a camp training with his college team at American University in Washington, D.C. Matt Mariacher capped off an undefeated senior season with a New York State championship at 130 pounds. John Bonaldi of Greece-Olympia is replacing him at the Games.

The Mariachers, all Iroquois grads, are no stranger to the ESGs. In 2005, Lucas defeated Reece for the scholastic 64 kilogram (143 pounds) gold medal in Greco Roman. That same year, Reece won the scholastic freestyle title, also at 64-kilogram, and Matt won the scholastic 59 kilogram (132 pounds) in Greco Roman.

Lucas and Reece finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the open 69 kilograms (152 pounds).

"I hope to do a lot better," said Lucas Mariacher, a soon-to-be sophomore at Arizona State University. "Last year, I was wrestling at 135 during the season and the weight class I wrestled at Empires was 152 so I was kind of small. This year I filled out and actually lost weight to make 152. Getting a little bigger will be an advantage for me."

Lucas Mariacher said there's a chance he could face Reece in a medal round match but would rather face another competitor.

"I've never won a gold medal besides beating my brother," said Lucas Mariacher. "It would be nice to beat a different opponent for it… If we were to meet, it would be a nice rematch. Two years ago, I ended up pinning him but it was pretty close. Maybe he wants revenge. We'll see."

"I'm not sure what would happen (if there was a rematch)," said Reece, who finished 20-8 at Brockport State College this past fall. "I've never won a gold medal in the open division."

Also competing in open is Amherst's Thomas Lester, a 2005 Amherst grad and soon-to-be sophomore at Oswego State College. Lester will wrestle in the 97 kilogram (213 pounds) freestyle division. He took fourth place in the scholastic 100 kilogram (220 pounds) in 2005.

"I've never wrestled open before so I have no idea whose going to be there which makes it more exciting because in scholastic, you know it's all going to be high school kids," said Lester, who finished with 77 career wins at Amherst. "Now I could go up against anybody."

Competition gets underway on Thursday at Mount Saint Michael Academy, 4300 Murdoch Ave., Bronx.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com