Lewandowski finally beats Stella, could earn wild card for states
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home's Nic Stella holds down Williamsville North's Stephen Liebler during a first round match at the Division I Section VI New York State qualifier last Saturday at Kenmore West. Stella pinned Liebler in the second period. Stella, wrestling at 135 pounds, lost to Lancaster's Mark Lewandowski, 4-3, in the finals but could be a wild card entry for the New York State Championships March 8-9 at Rochester's Blue Cross Arena.

Sweet Home's Nic Stella had beaten Lancaster's Mark Lewandowski three times this season but that all changed last week.

Lewandowski defeated Stella, 4-3, to win the 135-pound weight class at the Division I Section VI New York State qualifier held last Saturday at Kenmore West High School.

Scoreless after the first period, Stella got an escape in the second period and Lewandowski took him down to go up, 2-1.

In the third period, Lewandowski chose down and got an escape and Stella took him down to tie the match at 3-3.

Lewandowski escaped with 30 seconds remaining and held off Stella for the remainder of the match, including a stalling call warning, to go to the New York State Championships March 8-9 at Rochester's Blue Cross Arena.

Although he lost, Stella should secure one of four wild card entries to states.

"It's disappointing but when you wrestle that many times with each other, inevitably one will not go your way," said Sweet Home coach Jeff Hess. "His ultimate goal is to win the state championship."

Stella (40-5) pinned Williamsville North's Stephen Liebler in the second period and defeated West Seneca West's Tyler Kostryzicki, 8-4, in the semifinals.

The only other Sweet Home wrestler to appear at sectionals was sophomore Daiquann Burney, who took fourth at 103.

Burney beat Lewiston-Porter's Dan Reagan, 6-3, and gave eventual champion, Joey Malvestuto of Niagara-Wheatfield, his best match of the night, losing 4-3.

In wrestlebacks, Burney beat Lockport's Ivan Cruz, 6-2, and lost to Olean's Zach Marra, 5-3.

"I had a lot of hopes for him at the beginning of the season and he came through," said Hess. "For never wrestling a lot prior to this year and to lose to the kid who is going to states by a point is amazing."