Lawrence takes run at state title

Zack Lawrence is a No. 1 seed, but even the most dominant wrestlers are vulnerable with two bleeding nostrils.

“It messed me up,” the Duanesburg 152-pound senior said. “I got hit in the first match and it made both of my matches tough. I’d be doing good, then we’d have to stop. It was just giving the other guy time to breathe, and I don’t want to do that.”

Lawrence still showcased how he is Section II’S all-time winningest wrestler, running his career victory total to 275. A pair of Friday wins at Times Union Center advanced him to Saturday morning’s semifinals. But there is a next step to his career: Turning another semifinals appearance into a first run on Saturday night.

“Every year since seventh grade I’ve been able to say ‘Next year, aw, next year,’” Lawrence said. “Well, now there’s not going to be a next year. This is my last run so hopefully I’ll make it a good one.”

In 2014, his older brother Connor finished second at states. Last year, Zack Lawrence was a No. 1 seed, as well, but faced an uphill battle emotionally. His grandmother and longtime Duanesburg coach Joe Bena both passed away right around the end of the season. Lawrence fizzled in the semis.

Lawrence has a pair of topfour finishes in his career, so he’s capable. He also won the prestigious Eastern States Tournament bracket this season. Those who know him say sometimes Lawrence wants to win too badly for everyone around him — his school, his club team, his family — that it can be a burden.

“I’m just trying to be in a great mental spot and not think about extra things,” Lawrence said.

He edged Bryce Smith of Saranac (Section VII) in a rugged second-round match.

Lawrence will face the No. 4 seed, Johnny Putney of East Aurora (Section VI) in the semis that start at 10 a.m.

Svingala time

Maple Hill’s Trent Svingala is two wins away from becoming the fifth Section II wrestler to win three state championships.

Aside from Orion Anderson, who graduated after last season, the others were Jon Cardi of Burnt Hills-ballston Lake (1981-83), Frank Fronhofer of Salem (198789) and Austin Meys of Shenendehowa (2005, 2008-09).

Headed to Columbia next year, Svingala breezed through the first two rounds, needing 2 minutes, 38 seconds of clock time to score a couple of pins in the 132-pound division (Division II).

But it was an even greater day for the family because his brother, Caleb, will join him in the semis.

The 106-pound junior, who came in with a 42-1 record, has faced some tough seeding assignments the past two years. But as a No. 3 this time, he pulled off a 3-1 win, then a 7-2 decision to get a chance against No. 2 seed Joe Sparacio (Bayport, Section IX).

“It felt great because I’ve come up short the past couple years,” Caleb Svingala said. “And now that I’m in semis, I feel like all the hard work that I’ve put in is really paying off.”

Trent Svingala has not lost a

match since his freshman year, when he placed fourth at the state meet. He was also selected to read the “wrestler’s creed” to kick off the state tournament, while Vinnie Santilli of South Glens Falls sang the national anthem to get things started.

Upset alert

The state tournament can produce some arena-shaking results. One came out of Section II as Ichabod Crane’s Jair Gomez, a 99-pound freshman making his first state appearance, took down No. 4-seeded Trayton Tupper of Gouverneur (Section X), 8-3. Gomez lost his secondround match to the No. 1 seed, but he still went to the consolation bracket with a 37-4 mark after finishing fifth at sectionals in 2018.

Tough break

Warrensburg 195-pounder Nolan Mcneill, the No. 3 seed in Division II, won his first match by pin, but will miss the rest of the tournament with a separated shoulder after his second match.