Wrestling season ends at state qualifier

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, February 23, 2007

Grand Island wrestling coach Jeff Johnston knew that it would be a tall order for any of his very youthful wrestlers to make it to this year’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship.

He was thrilled that four of his wrestlers – underclassmen, all – had made it to last weekend’s state qualifier at Fredonia. But not even a season’s worth of preparation in the ultra-competitive Niagara Frontier League could help the Vikings advance to next weekend’s state meet in Albany.

“I knew it was going to be very difficult for any of them to make it to states this year,” Johnston said. “But I’m tremendously pleased with what I saw from them all season. We were more competitive than I expected – now they just need to understand how tough the NFL is and that there are no easy nights.”

The state qualifier was loaded with NFL wrestlers as three of the top 10 teams in Western New York – Lockport, Kenmore West and undefeated league champion Niagara-Wheatfield – came from that league.

Johnston says that the resulting high level of competition was a huge asset to his young team, especially as it moved on to the sectional level and beyond.

Junior Alex Webb had the strongest showing, finishing third at 171 pounds. Webb beat Mike Agugliari of Kenmore West and then lost to eventual finalist C.J. Regnet of Starpoint. Webb rebounded to beat Justin Szuromi of Lockport and Martin Gibbo of Pioneer to finish 3-1 on the day.

Webb also made it to last year’s state qualifier and again finished in third place after a 1-2 showing.

The other three Grand Island wrestlers – sophomore Adam Helman at 160 pounds, junior Joey Amsdill at 96 pounds and sophomore Lee Schuster at 112 pounds – all went two matches and out.

Johnston is still pleased that they made it that far, and knows they’ve learned from the experience.

“We were competitive in every match,” he said. “And now they understand the level they need to be at if they want to seriously contend for a state title. You have to make the most of that week of preparation and specialize on your opponents. You have to know who you can face and what their strengths and weaknesses are.”

So the Vikings now will concentrate on improving during the off-season at camps and tournaments.

Johnston will only lose one senior to graduation – Dustin Lange at 152 pounds – so he’ll have 26 wrestlers back next year with varsity experience. And he can add to that anyone ready to move up from the Grand Island modified team.

That’s the key to success, he says: getting the kids interested in a sport at an early age and then getting them some good experience.

So while he might have liked to see one of his wrestlers move on to states, he understands the big picture.

“You never want to lose,” he said. “But better now than in the next few years when we’re trying to win a league championship.”