North's Abbarno named most outstanding
Wrestling
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

It's been a while since Williamsville North's wrestling team crowned a champion at the Class AAAA Tournament but that all changed last Saturday.

Spartan senior PJ Abbarno avenged two overtime losses earlier in the season against Clarence's Chris Budzinski with a 3-1 overtime victory in the 160-pound weight class last Saturday at Clarence High School.

According to North coach Brian Swatland, it's the first time the Spartans have crowned a champion at the tournament in at least five years. Abbarno was also named most outstanding wrestler, marking the first time in Swatland's tenure with the team that somebody from North earned the honor at the tournament.

Abbarno, seeded second, lost to Budzinski in overtime in the finals of the ECIC Tournament and in a dual meet, but Abbarno was able to earn a takedown in overtime this time to earn the victory.

Budzinski earned an escape in the second period to go ahead, 1-0, but Abbarno escaped in the third period to tie the score.

It was Abbarno's first Class Tournament championship.

Abbarno pinned Niagara Falls' Brent Feuz in 4:48 and blanked Niagara-Wheatfield's Chad Leadingfox, 5-0, in earlier matches.

Abbarno was one of five Spartans who qualified for this Saturday's Section New York State qualifier at Kenmore West. The one-day tournament begins at 10 a.m.

Matt Aloisio and Tommy Kellner advanced after placing second at 171 and 130, respectively. Steven Liebler and Matt Proven took fourth at 135 and 152, respectively.

Aloisio, seeded third, beat Kenmore West's Joe Amoia, 5-2, in the quarterfinals and avenged a loss in the NCCC Tournament to Lockport's Sean Reynolds with a 5-2 victory in the semifinals, before losing to Niagara-Wheatfield's Angelo Malvestuto, 5-0, in the finals.

Kellner, seeded third, pinned Frontier's Nick Bannister in 4:42, Lockport's Ben Quast in 4:41 and Niagara-Wheatfield's Antonio Ventry in 5:21, in the first three rounds and fell to Lancaster's Clint Schaefer, 13-1, in the finals.

The win over Ventry was Kellner's 100th career win.

"He's devotes his life to the sport," said Swatland. "He's constantly working out, running to school, running home from practice and eating right. He does all of the things you're supposed to do to be a good wrestler."

Liebler, who missed all of January and the beginning of February, lost his first match to West Seneca West's Tyler Kostrzycki, 9-0 but in wrestlebacks, pinned Orchard Park's Kevin Noworyta in 2:16 and defeated Clarence's Lucas Mckay, 4-2, and Niagara Wheatfield's Tyler Daniels, 4-2, before falling again to Kostrzycki, 6-0.

Proven beat North Tonawanda's Zach Kabalam, 9-4 and Kenmore West's Zemming He, 6-2, before losing a tough match to top-seed Bob Malvestuto of Niagara Wheatfield, 6-2.

"Matt came on top for a reversal and he had Bob on his back but just missed a throw," said Swatland. "Matt wrestled a great match."

In wrestlebacks, Proven beat Lancaster's Sean Woods, 9-5. Proven was up 4-0 at the end of the second period. Trailing 5-4 late in the third period, Proven reversed Woods to his back and scored four points.

Proven then got pinned in 4:02 by West Seneca West's Ryan Grasso.

"I think Matt had the best tournament out of anybody on our team," said Swatland. "He wrestled consistent. Every match he used good body positioning."

North finished eighth in team scoring with 90 points.

Sweet Home Mark Lewandowski of Lancaster threw his entire arsenal at Nic Stella but the Sweet Home senior was able to withstand it and win 2-1 in sudden death overtime, to win the 135-pound weight class at the Class AAAA Tournament.

It was the third time Stella has beaten Lewandowski this season.

Scoreless after the first period, Lewandowski scored an escape in the second period for a 1-lead. Stella answered with an escape in the third period.

In overtime, neither wrestler scored from the neutral position and it went to two 30-seconds sudden death periods with each wrestler deciding which position to start at. Stella chose down and escaped. He then rode out Lewandowski.

"Lewandowski threw everything at Nic so for him to be able to weather the storm shows right now that he's the better wrestler," said Sweet Home coach Jeff Hess.

Stella finished 3-0 at the tournament.

Also advancing to the state qualifier is sophomore Daiquann Burney, who took third at 103. Burney beat Ivan Cruz of Lockport by two points to take third. Cruz beat Burney, 15-0, last year. Burney finished 2-1 on the day.

Zach Fumerelle took fifth at 125, losing in the match to get into the consolation finals by one point.

Matt Danwin (140), Jamil Mustapha (285) and Gage Bateman (140) each took sixth. Bateman had to medically default because of a strained shoulder.

Sweet Home lost, 46-19, at West Seneca West last Tuesday. Stella, Bateman, Burney, Fumerelle and Danwin recorded victories.