Wallkill duo highlights locals at sectional event

Two Wallkill High wrestlers placed second, highlighting area competitors in the Section 9, Division I championships.

MONTGOMERY, N.Y. » A pair of Wallkill High wrestlers advanced to the finals, highlighting area competitors in the Section 9, Division I championships at Valley Central.

Brian Mascaro and Joseph Pushman both fell in the finals for the Panthers, who had four wrestlers place in the top-6 in the twoday event. Champions earned automatic berths in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships Feb. 23-24 at the Times Union Center in Albany.

Mascaro, the top seed at 170 pounds, was pinned in 4:16 by Minisink Valley’s Tim Ganuncio, the No. 2 seed, in the final. Ganuncio’s victory avenged a 7-6 loss to Mascaro in a dual meet during the regular season. Mascaro advanced to the final by pinning Warwick’s Will Notebloom in 4:55.

Third-seeded Pushman, meanwhile, advanced to the 152 final, losing a 4-2 decision to top seed Tyler Serafini of Newburgh Free Academy. Pushman advanced to the title match by pinning Monroe-Woodbury’s Carter Stewart in 2:41.

James Faison, the top seed at 126, placed sixth for the Panthers after having to injury default in his semifinal, consolation semifinal and third-place bouts. Teammate Matt Davis also placed sixth at 99.

Kingston, meanwhile, had six wrestlers earn top-6 finishes, with Jacob Chenier placing third at 106 to lead the Tigers. After falling in his semifinal, Chenier rebounded to win his consolation final by decision before pinning Warwick’s Drew Greco in 3:46 in the consolation final.

Noah Warneke (126) and Christian Kuster paced fourth for Kingston, with Joseph Ferro (113) placing fifth. Ryan Muller (120) and Donnie Weigel (170) each placed sixth.

Saugerties, meanwhile, had four wrestlers place in the top-6, with James Heinlein (132) and Matt Bucci (170) each taking third. Heinlein lost in the semifinals before winning his consolation semifinal and then earning a 7-4 decision over Newburgh Free Academy’s Luke Fischer in the third-place match. Bucci, after losing in overtime in his semifinal, won his consolation semifinal before pinning Newburgh’s Connor Leggett in 1:38 to secure third.

Anthony Owen, after losing a heartbreaker in an ultimate tiebreaker (fourth OT period) in his semifinal at 220, rebounded to place fourth for the Sawyers, while teammate Graeme Knisell placed sixth at 182.

Minisink captured the team title with 312.5 points, with Monroe (209.5) and Newburgh (162) rounding the top-3. Kingston (81) placed ninth among 14 teams, followed by Wallkill (10th, 72.5) and Saugerties (11th, 67) RESULTS How area competitors placed Semifinals 106: Nick Picariello (Minisink Valley) pinned Jacob Chenier (Kingston) 3:40 126: Matt Romano (Valley Central) injury def. James Faison (Wallkill) 132: Connor Greiner (Minisink Valley) tech. fall James Heinlein (Saugerties) 15-0 152: Joe Pushman (Wallkill) pinned Carter Stewart (MonroeWoodbury) 2:41 170: Brian Mascaro (Wallkill) pinned Will Noteboom (Warwick) 4:54; Tim Ganuncio (Minisink Valley) dec. Ryan Bucci (Saugerties) 5-3, OT 220: Mark Crisfield (Valley Central) dec. Anthony Owen (Saugerties) 3-2, ultimate tiebreaker —— 5th-6th place finals 99 pounds: Andrew Marchese (Washingtonville) maj. dec. Matt Davis (Wallkill) 14-2 113: Joseph Ferro (Kingston) dec. Moises Diaz (Middletown) 14-9 120: Brandon DeLaRosa (Newburgh) pinned Ryan Muller (Kingston) :39 126: Gerard Ricciuto (Valley Central) won by forfeit over Faison (Wallkill) 170: Will Noteboom (Warwick) dec. Donnel Weigel (Kingston) 9-1 182: Vincent Carney (Warwick) won by injury default over Graeme Knisell (Saugerties) —— Consolation finals 106: Chenier (Kingston) pin Drew Greco (Warwick) 3:46 126: Noah Warneke (Kingston) pinned Tom Maddox (Washingtonville) 3:45 132: Heinlein (Saugerties) dec. Luke Fischer (Newburgh) 7-4 170: Bucci (Saugerties) pinned Conner Leggett (Newburgh) 1:38 220: Adam Fenner (Minisink Valley) dec. Owen (Saugerties) 4-3 285: Caleb Williams (Newburgh) dec. Christian Kuster (Kingston) 1-0 —— Championships 152: Tyler Serafini (Newburgh) dec. Pushman (Wallkill) 4-2 170: Tim Ganuncio (Minisink Valley) pinned Mascaro (Wallkill) 4:16