by Ryan Mosher
A week after coming in second to Granville at the WASAREN League Championships, the Hoosick Falls wrestling team stepped up in this week’s Class C Sectionals. The Panthers easily defeated Granville and finished a close second place to Champion Corinth.
The Panthers sent five wrestlers into the finals and two more into the third place matches. Luis Weierbach led the way into the finals with a tough 1-0 win over Ridge Sulkey of Cairo-Durham in the semi-finals. In the finals it was Austin Luna of Schuylerville that he faced off against. Weierbach and Luna put forth a great effort, and in the end, it was the first year varsity wrestler from Hoosick Falls that pulled off the 5-3 win. His Class C championship and 21-4 record has earned him the #2 seed in the Section II State Qualifier meet this coming Friday and Saturday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
At 103 pounds, Tom Peabody made his second straight appearance in the finals after winning the WASAREN League title last week. In the semi-finals Peabody scored a major win by decision, 10-2, over Kelsey Gray of Fonda Fultonville, to face off against Cassidy White of Corinth. What looked to be a great match ended quicker than expected as White caught Peabody in a cradle that he could not break out of. White recorded the pin just 1:40 into their match. Peabody is now 12-7 and is the #6 seed in the Section II State Qualifier.
At 119 pounds, Dan Cramer earned a spot in the State Qualifiers with his third place finish. After being shut out in his opening match against eventual champion Jake Anderson of Schuylerville, Cramer came roaring back defeating Logan Brunick of Tamarac in the consolation semi-finals and then beating Tyler Mulcahy of Corinth in the finals. He will be an unseeded wrestler this coming weekend, but anything can happen at these meets.
Another wrestler in the finals was Mike Mattat at 130 pounds. After a first period pin in his first match, and a close 3-2 victory in the semi-finals, Mattat faced off against Brendan Miller of Granville in the final. Miller, the WASAREN League champ, handed Mattat the loss by decision, 11-3. The second place finish and his 14-10 record will give him the 7th seed this weekend.
Mike McGuire also qualified with his fourth place finish in the 145 pound weight class. He will also be unseeded at the Section II Qualifiers.
Brad Burns won the 160 pound championship, his first title after being the runner up last year. He recorded a pin in his first match, followed by a 5-2 victory in his second match and a 9-4 win over Tamarac’s Joe Hulsebosch in the final. Burns will be the #1 seed this weekend. His record is now 23-2.
The final wrestler in the finals for the Panthers was David Couch. Couch got a quick pin in his first match against Mike Clark of Corinth, needing just over one minute to end the match. His second match was against Jared Vibert of Tamarac. Couch went the distance in that match, taking a 7-3 win, and propelling himself to the finals. There he met top seed Jeff Wagner and gave him all he could handle. In the end Wagner was able to win 10-7 to claim the title. Couch’s record is now 18-10, and he will be the #8 seed in Glens Falls.
