by Steve Bradley
Organizers Zach Taber and Shannon Roberson were very pleased with the success of the first Northeast Youth Duals: Riot At the Rink. The event was held at the skating rink in Hoosick Falls last weekend. Wrestlers from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York came for the three day event.
Ten teams, consisting of fourteen wrestlers, paid a $500 entry fee to compete in the event. Five mats were utilized for competitors, who ranged in age groups from kindergarten to grade 12. There were five duals on Saturday and four on Sunday. The comfortable daytime temperatures added to the enjoyment.
Taber said plans are already underway for next year’s event. The event will be moved to a date a week or two earlier so as not to compete with a national event held in North Dakota, where several local grapplers were competing.