Stella wins Eastern States, ranked first in state at 135
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Nic Stella wanted to face the best competition New York State had to offer and the Sweet Home senior passed with flying colors.

Stella won the 135-pound weight class at the Eastern States Wrestling Classic held last Friday and Saturday at Sullivan County Community College in Lock Sheldrake, 100 miles away from New York City just past Binghamton.

Stella beat the third and second ranked wrestlers in the state at 135, Giuseppi Lanzi of Section II's Amsterdam, 5-4, and Shane Strumwasser of Section VIII's Massapequa, 5-1, in the semifinals and finals, respectively, to win his first championship at the event. Strumwasser took fourth in the state at 125 last year.

Stella put both wrestlers on their backs in the third period. Stella was ahead 5-1 over Lanzi in the third period but was called twice for stalling.

"I wanted to try to wrestle the best before the state tournament," said Stella. "Last year, I didn't wrestle anyone that was going to be at states so I didn't know what to expect."

Stella finished 2-2 at states last year. States are March 9 at Rochester's Blue Cross Arena.

"It's awesome to see a kid work as hard as he does and get rewarded," said Sweet Home coach Jeff Hess.

Stella opened the tournament on Friday with an 18-2 technical fall win in 2:38 over Darren Terpstra of Section IV's Bainbridge/Guilford Afton. His other match on Friday was a pin in 2:51 over Nick Lashway of Section II's Glens Falls. Lashway was a Section II runner-up to go to states last year.

In the quarterfinals, Stella defeated Matt Doolittle of Section IX's Middletown, 9-3. Doolittle was a Section IX runner-up for states last year.

The tournament not only improved Stella's record to 23-3 but ranked him first in the state at 135. It's the first time Stella has ever been ranked first in the state. He beat the second-ranked wrestler in the state, Lancaster's Mark Lewandowski, 4-2 in a dual earlier this season.

"I thought I wrestled extremely well at the tournament," he continued. "I thought I had a good shot at winning it because I had already beaten the No. 1 kid in the state (Lewandowski)."

The Eastern States was an invitational only meet that showcased the best wrestlers from six states and 63 schools. Stella was the only wrestler from Section VI to be invited. By himself, he placed 47th.

"He usually knows a lot of the other wrestlers at tournaments," said Hess. "This time, he didn't know anybody so there was a lot of pressure on him. He didn't have anyone to practice or drill with. It was like he was on an island all weekend."

Stella is four matches away from breaking the school record for most wins set by his older brother, Andrew. The record is 184. Stella could break it this weekend at the ECIC Tournament at East Aurora High School.

Hess said Stella will weigh in at 135 for the rest of the year but will wrestle at either 135 or 140.

Stella was also one of four Panthers who recorded wins in a 41-26 loss last Wednesday to Frontier at home.

Stella won by technical fall at 140. Sophomore Alex Dennis won by pin in 1:45 at 152. Sophomore Gage Bateman won by pin in 4:40 at 130. Senior Matt Danwin beat Frontier's Mike Toole, 7-5, at 135.

In addition to the ECIC Tournament, Sweet Home wrestles Williamsville North at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.