Youthful Flames return state qualifiers
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Jacob Beichner, far left, Matt Calleri, Sean Trabert, Max Cohen and Ben Mikac are five of Williamsville East's top wrestlers. Cohen and Trabert are the team captains. Cohen, Beichner, Calleri and Mikac qualified for last year's Section VI New York State qualifier. Photo by John Rusac Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

With another year under its belt, Williamsville East wrestling is ready to have a successful season on the mat.

"Last year was the youngest team I've ever had," said Flames coach Henry Fumerelle. "We're still young but have a great nucleus coming back. We're very strong in the low to middle weights. If the younger guys in the upper weight classes can take their wrestling up a notch, we can be a very good team."

Fumerelle returns four wrestlers who qualified for the Section VI New York State qualifier - senior Max Cohen, junior Matt Calleri and sophomores Ben Mikac and Jacob Beichner.

Cohen finished his junior year 26-5 at 125 where he was a sectional finalist. He won at the Lew-Port and Class AAA tournaments, took second at Williamsville North and third at the Maple Grove Kick-off Classic. In addition, he surpassed 50 career wins and was named team MVP for the second straight year. He moves up to 130.

"Max is as tough as nails," said Fumerelle. "To give an example, he started for me at middle linebacker, had 90 tackles and was defensive MVP. He never gives up. He has a great approach to everything he does."

Cohen returns as co-captain with senior Sean Trabert, who eclipsed 75 career wins last year. Trabert also won at last year's Maple Grove Kick-off Classic and took fifth at ECICs.

Calleri, who had 19 wins at 130, will try to fare well at 135. He took second at Lew-Port.

Mikac is coming off a great freshman year at 96 pounds, going 21-9 and taking second at Williamsville North, third at the Class AAAs and fourth at Maple Grove, Lew-Port and ECICs tourneys and the Section VI New York State qualifier. Mikac is penciled in at 112.

Beichner finished 21-10 at 119 pounds. He won at Maple Grove, took third at Williamsville North, fourth at the Class AAAs and Lew-Port and fifth at ECICs.

"He's done a terrific job in the offseason," said Fumerelle. "We're really excited about him this year."

Other returning wrestlers include senior Ryan Cravatta (fifth in 112 at Class AAAs), junior Brandon Munoz and senior Jayson Dieckman (third at Maple Grove) and sophomores Will Kelly, MP Joseph, Paul Morales and Ryan Tideswell.

Munoz and Dieckman will wrestle at either 145 or 152 pounds. Kelly (171) and Joseph (189), Morales (215) and Tideswell (275) are set to compete in the higher weight classes.

Fumerelle said Dieckman and MP Joseph have vastly improved their technique and strength from last year.

Dieckman, Kelly and Joseph each placed at Maple Grove last year.

Newcomers looking to crack the lineup are freshman Sam Beichner and eighth-grader Dylan Cohen at 96 pounds; Beichner, Cohen or eighth grader Andrew Dieckman at 103; or sophomore Steven Meyer at 160. Meyer was the JV team's most improved wrestler last year.

East opened its season with a first place finish at the 2007 Maple Grove Kick-off Classic (see attached story). The Flames took second as a team last year at the event. They were also sixth at Williamsville North.
East 2007 Schedule
12-5 at Royalton-Hartland 6 p.m.
12-7 at Sweet Home......... 6 p.m.
12-12 Starpoint.................. 6 p.m.
12-14 at Lake Shore ......... 6 p.m.
12-19 W.S. East ................. 5 p.m.
12-28 at Akron Holiday Tourn.
(Akron) .............................. 9 a.m.
1-3 at Canisius .................. 6 p.m.
1-9 at Iroquois................... 6 p.m.
1-11 at Holley (Section V) 6 p.m.
1-12 at Williamsville North Tourn.
(North) ............................... 9 a.m.
1-16 South.......................... 6 p.m.
1-18 at ECICs (East Aurora) 4:30

p.m.
1-19 at ECICs (East Aurora) ........... 9 a.m.
1-26 at Lew-Port Tourn. (Lewiston-Porter)
9 a.m.
1-30 at Amherst ............................... 7 p.m.
2-1 at Pioneer................................... 6 p.m.
2-6 Cheektowaga ............................. 6 p.m.
2-15atClassAAAs(Starpoint) ........ 4:30 p.m.
2-16 at Class AAAs (Starpoint) 4:30 p.m.
2-23 Section VI New York State qualifier
(Ken West)....................................... 10 a.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com