Weber wins at OP Tournament

Amherst's Matt Weber, top, won the 152-pound division at the Orchard Park Tournament last Saturday. Weber is the Tigers' top returning wrestler. Photo by John Normile Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Amherst Central senior Matt Weber won the 152-pound weight class at last Saturday's 22nd Orchard Park Invitational JV and Varsity Tournament.

Weber beat Grand Island's Nick Gugino in the finals.

Weber scored first by takedown in the first period with Gugino closing the gap to 2-1 with an escape. After a scoreless second period, Weber was able to score three points in the third to seal the victory.

In the semifinals, Weber wrestled top-seeded Dylan Geertman of Akron. Weber took Geertman to his back twice in the match, earning an impressive 12-2 victory.

In the first round, Weber beat He Zemming of Kenmore West, 3-0, scoring an escape and a takedown in the third period.

Junior Corey Damon wrestled well at 189, going 2-2.

On the JV side, sophomore Nick Pantano and freshman Tom Trabert took second and third at 112 pounds. It was Pantano's first ever competitive match.

Sophomore Sean Cunningham placed second at 135, winning his first two matches in overtime then losing in the finals in the last 30 seconds.

Sophomore 160-pounder Brian Rice pinned each of his opponents to place first. Junior 215-pounder Rafael Manzo went 3-1 to place third.

"We were very excited with the way all of our wrestlers, new and experienced, wrestled," said Amherst coach Dennis Bauer.