North's Kellner sets school record for career wins
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's Tommy Kellner, back, locks on Iroquois' Jimmy Kloc during a first round 130-pound match at the Division I Section VI New York State qualifier last Saturday at Kenmore West. Kellner lost to Kloc, 12-2, but would take third in the weight class and set the school record for career wins with 103. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Tommy Kellner isn't going to the New York State Championships but he did hit a milestone.

The Williamsville North junior set the school record for career wins with 103 after beating Niagara Wheattfield's Antonio Ventry, 6-0, for third place at the Division I Section VI New York State qualifier last Saturday at Kenmore West High School.

The old record was 102 set in 2002 by Hyder Syed.

"It was really nice to do it at sectionals," said Kellner. "When I started wrestling, all I wanted to do was win some matches. It was in the past year that I've been shooting to break the record. It means a lot to me."

Kellner lost his first match, 12-2, to Iroquois' Jimmy Kloc and in wrestlebacks, beat Lewiston Porter's Ryan Schroeder by decision and Starpoint's Darren Whittall, 8-2, before facing Ventry.

"Before the (Ventry) match, my coach told me I had tied the record and I needed one win to get 103 so that got me pumped up," said Kellner.

"It's a great accomplishment," said North coach Brian Swatland. "His first match he didn't wrestle well and to his credit and character, he came back and wrestled strong in wrestlebacks."

In addition to setting the career wins record, Kellner also set the single-season school record for most wins in a season (36) and pins (46). The old records were 35 wins and 39 pins by Nate Carbrey in 2007.

Kellner has wrestled for North since seventh grade, starting on modified. His sophomore year was cut short by four weeks because of a finger injury.

Kellner trains year round for the sport. Last summer, he attended an eight-day intensive Navy Seal team wrestling camp at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. His goal next year is to advance to the state meet.

Two other Spartans placed at sectionals. Senior Matt Aloisio trailed Lockport's Shaun Reynolds, 3-2, but reversed him to win, 4-3, for third at 171. Aloisio lost to Reynolds in the first round.

Senior PJ Abbarno, the favorite at 160, lost to Cheektowaga's Mike Kiripolsky, 4-2, in the semifinals, and wound up losing to Clarence's Chris Budzinski, 3-2, to place fourth.

Down 3-0 to Budzinski, Abbarno reversed him to his back at the end of the third period to score two points.

Abbarno beat Lewiston Porter's Joe Hill in the first round and Iroquois' Matt Drosendahl in wrestlebacks. Abbarno finished the season 32-7.

Abbarno took third at the state qualifier last year.

Aloisio won all three of his wrestleback matches, pinning West Seneca East's Doug Larson and beating Cheektowaga's Adam Piscitello by 13 points before defeating Reynolds. Aloisio finished 34-8.

Freshman Stephen Liebler and junior Matt Proven each went 0-2 at 135 and 152, respectively. Liebler finished 16-8. Proven was 21-17.