| Seven returning state champions head the field of 360 competitors at the 42nd annual New York State Intersectional Championships to be held at the UB Arena in Buffalo on February 27th & 28th. Five of the defending champions are entered in the Division I (large schools) and two champions will compete in the inaugural Division II (small schools) tournament. Section Four (Binghamton area) are the defending sectional team champion and return five state kings, including three-time champion, Troy Nickerson of Chenango Forks. Nickerson (34-0, 162-6 career) is seeking his fourth state crown this weekend in the 119-pound class.If Nickerson wins, he would tie Jesse Janzten of Shoreham-Wading River (1997-98-99-2000) for the most state wrestling titles in New York State history. Nickerson, a junior, has a chance to become New York's first ever five-time state champion. Other returning champions for the scarlet cladded contingent are Tyler Mumbolo (34-1, 125-8) of BGA, at 112, J.P. O'Connor (31-1, 139-12) of Oxford at 119, they will compete in the Division II tournament.Two-time champion Chris Hand (32-0, 202-17) of Whitney Point at 160 and Arthur Jones (24-0) of Union-Endicott at 275 pounds will defend their respective titles in the large school format along with the aforementioned Nickerson. Section Five (Rochester area) has two returning champions junior Gregor Gillespie (42-0) of Webster-Schroeder at 130 and five-time state meet qualifier Trevor Chinn (39-0, 229-22) of Canandaigua at 145 pounds. Chinn and Canandaigua assistant coach Marty King, a former two-time NYS champion, are the only wrestlers from Section V to qualify for the state meet five times. Chinn and Gillespie lead a strong sectional squad that should finish among the top teams at the state meet. State runners-up that are seeking redemption are Dan Bishop (103) of Whitehall-2, freshman Kevin Smith (44-3, 108-10) of Mexico-3 at 112, two-time finalist junior Tom Magnani (32-1, 112-5) of Islip-11 at 119, John Minckler (140) of Gouverneur-10, junior Alton Lucas (37-2, 127-11) of West Babylon-11 at 152, Elliot Smith (189) of Gouverneur-10 and Justin Tougas of Glen Falls-2 at 275 pounds. In the sectional team race, it appears that defending champion Section Four, will be the team to beat. Along with their five returning champions, they have a bevy of talented matmen and point to Craig Storch (96) of Horseheads, Dan Blaine (103) of UE, Steve Wiktorek (130) of JCity, Brandon MacWhinnie (145) of Tioga, Eric Decker (152) of BGA , Dan Fairbairn (171) of Tioga and Jon Jones of Union-Endicott at 189 points. Many wrestling experts feel they boast enough talent to capture both the Division I and II tournaments. Section Five, who finished as team runners-up at the 2003 state meet, should challenge for the sectional crown. The purple cladded contingent with their two returning champions also look to the Borschoff brothers, Kyle (103) and Jason (36-3) at 112 pounds of Pittsford. Other standouts are Pat Hagerty (119) of Attica, Kyle Ingraham (125) of Canandaigua, Nate Patterson (135) of Wayne, Donald Williams (145) of Kendall, Mark Bloom (152) of Geneva and unbeaten Alex Baxter (39-0) of state power Spencerport at 189 pounds. Section Eleven (Suffolk) has won a state leading 14 sectional titles and has an experienced laden contingent that will challenge for the top spot at the championships. The Long Island mat men are led by the aforementioned runners-up, Magnani and Lucas, along with other title threats. Freshman Corey Jantzen (24-0) at 96 of SWRiver, state placewinners, Ken Torres (32-1) at 112 of Brentwood and Shawn Riley (30-0, 110-6) of Huntington at 130 pounds. Riley dropped a 9-6 decision in the quarterfinals last year to eventual champion Gregor Gillespie and stormed back to finish in third place. Sectional coach, Huntington's Lou Giani has his own products, Shaheim Bradshaw (33-2) at 145, junior Jack Sullivan (34-1) at 189 and Pierre Delva (33-2) at 215 pounds. Other Suffolk standouts include sophomore Ryan Patrovich (32-1) of Islip at 140, OSW winners Anthony Rivera (31-0) of Brentwood and Matt Tommasino (22-4) of Bayport (Division II) both at 160 along with John Barone (25-0) at 171 of Floyd . Section Three (Syracuse area) appears to have a balanced lineup that includes the aforementioned Kevin Smith and his brother Derrick (48-0,157-23) at 135 pounds, both will be seeking state gold. The central New York squad also points to Shawn Farnham (32-1,104-17) at 103 of Baldwinsville, state medallists Taylor Malone (125) of Lowville and Chris Davis (135) of Mohawk (Division II) along with Martino Barletta (34-4,139-40) of Fowler at 140 pounds. Also to watch will be unbeaten Ryan Fleming (46-0,173-17) at 152 of Mexico, Fulton teammates Zach Bogardus (37-3, 100-4) at 160 and Mike Vant (33-4, 99-28) at 171 pounds. Section Two (Albany area) sends a sectional squad with state mat experience and will be led by the aforementioned Bishop and Tougas along with six other potential finalists.The top prospects for the maroon-uniformed group are Jeremy Cuomo (96) of Schalmon, Colonie teammates Justin Hellwig (135) and tough Mike Roberts at 140. Others are Neal Martin (145) of Cobleskill, Dave McCarty (160) of LaSalle and Matt Riddle of Saratoga Springs at 189 pounds. Section Eight (Nassau) winners of ten Intersectional titles (the last one was in 1987) hopes to improve on their fifth place team finish in 2003. The green cladded contingent returns state placewiiner Jose Rodriquez (145) of Long Beach and a trio of potential champions in the upperweights. Nassau County coaches feel that junior Matt DeLuca (34-1) at 171 of East Meadow, Ron Lanzillotta (33-2) at 189 of Massapequa and Sewankaka District's Tom Daddino (34-0) at 215 have legitimate shots at state crowns. Perennial power MacArthur has two competitors, sophomore Steve DeLorenzo (112) and former champion junior Bruce Popko (132 career wins) at 119 pounds, along with P.J Gillespie (96) of Long Beach, Andrew Cardella (130) of Baldwin and Spencer Cook (30-3) of East Meadow at 135 as possible placewinners. MAT NOTES... The last time the NYS Intersectional meet was held in the Buffalo area was in 1967 at Niagara University in Niagara Falls and Section Eight won the team title with 67 points, back then there were only eight sections in the competition. Corey Jantzen is the younger brother of the heralded Jesse Jantzen, who is currently ranked number one in the nation at 149 pounds while competing Harvard University. Huntington coach Lou Giani has a state record 22 individual state champions and has four competitors at the 2004 meet. Former NYS placewinner Charlie Clark (Canton-Potsdam-10) is now wrestling at 160 pounds for Blair Academy (NJ). They are the top prepped team in the nation. Spencerport-5 is the top mat squad in the Empire State and coach Bill Jacoutot's record now stands at 271-23-1 in 23 years. His Rangers have two state competitors this weekend, title hopeful Alex Baxter (189) and eighth-grader Bryan Bourne at 119 pounds. The top sections appear to be Section Four, Five, Eleven, Two, Three, Eight and Nine. Best of luck to all the championship competitors... |
| SEVEN CHAMPS RETURN TO STATE TOURNAMENT |