Warthling named Class C's MOW; Ken-East, West with solid showings

Steven Warthling said the Jason Aldean song, “The Only Way I Know” is a form of motivation to keep pushing him to greater things on the wrestling mat.

“Dig a little deeper til you can’t dig no more. That’s the only way I know,” Warthling said with a grin as he quoted the song.

Warthling certainly knows how to dig deep. Now, the Tonawanda High School senior and co-captain of the Warriors wrestling team can add Class C champion to his list of accomplishments.

Warthling defeated Christian Saden of Fredonia 9-6 to claim the 220 pound title at the Section VI Class C championships that were held at Eden High School on Feb. 2.

Warthling, who was named Most Outstanding Wrestler, is now headed for the state qualifiers that will take place at UB on Feb.10 at 10 a.m. with championship rounds expected to start at 5 p.m.

Warthling, who also reached his 100th career win just a couple weeks ago, is coming off a successful football season where he earned the Warriors Clinton H. Small award for all-around play and leadership.

Tonawanda finished fifth in the 12-team tournament with 115 points. Cody McGregor, Jacob Choate and Tim Barnard will also be representing Tonawanda at UB on Sunday. Choate and Barnard also won their 100th match this season.

McGregor fell to Tyler Cassidy of Fredonia 2-0 in the 132-pound title match. Choate, meanwhile, lost to Alex Smythe of Eden by a 7-0 score in the 152-pound championship.

As of press time, Cory Adams, Tony Miosi and Josh Bukowski were alternates waiting on word of a spot at UB.

For Kenmore East, a season of growth continues as the Bulldogs boast three Class A champions and a total of six wrestlers that will be heading to UB for the state qualifiers.

The Bulldogs scored 127 team points at the Class A Championship that was held at Starpoint High School.

The Bulldogs were paced by senior Joe Dowdall, junior Preston Smith and sophomore Kurt McGowan.

Dowdall won the 126-pound title after beating Pat Welling of Iroquois. Smith remains virtually unstoppable at 160 as he defeated Dallas Taft of Grand Island 3-0 to claim the championship.

McGowan, who, on Jan.19 became the first-ever Kenmore East wrestler to reach 100 career wins, won the 5-2 majority decision over Ben Clark (Will-East).

Aaron Barraclough (285) and Austin Vendetta (152) fell shy of titles as both ended up in second place.

TJ Ackers (GI) pinned Vendetta and while Luke Catalano (Lake Shore) pinned Barraclough. Sam Koford (195) also advanced to UB. Koford and Smith were coming off of first-place finishes at Ken-Ton Invitational.

Elsewhere, Kenmore West will be sending seven wrestlers to UB for the state qualifiers.

Co-captain Shane Currey (170) and Anthony Argentieri (106) led the way for the Blue Devils in the Section VI Class AA championships held at Lockport High School.

West came in third with 143 team points. Trailing overall winners and top-ranked Large School Clarence (234) and second place and NFL champion Lockport.

Currey beat Jeff Kuciel (Lancaster) 7-4, while Argentieri, a freshman, beat Ryan Burns of Clarence 5-3.

Ken-West will also send Paul Bavisotto, Christian Bauman, Mark Stucke, Jayson Coleman and Jon Szurczynski to UB.