On Friday October 21, the Army wrestling team hosted their annual Black/Gold Match. The event serves both as a “kick-off” for another exciting season of Army wrestling, and also as a wrestle-off to help determine this year’s starting lineup. The Gold team won this year’s match by a score of 20-13. Of local interest, Saugerties graduate Derek Stanley defeated his opponent by a score of 4-3 and will begin the season as the starting 184 pound wrestler for the Army Black Knights! Congratulations and good luck to Derek and the rest of his teammates! Go Army!
Gold 20, Black 13
125: David White (G) dec. Hunter Wood, 3-2
133: Jordan Thome (G) dec. Charlie Costanzo, 1-0
141: Connor Hanafee (G) dec. John Belanger, 5-1
149: Daniel Young (B) maj. dec. Ryan Bilyeu, 14-6
157: Jimmy Rafferty (B) dec. Paul Hancock, 8-3
165: Alex Smith (B) dec. Cole Gracey, 8-3
174: Collin Wittmeyer (G) maj. dec. Ryan Tompkins, 12-3
184: Derek Stanley (G) dec. Will Brown, 4-3
197: Daniel Mills (G) maj. dec. Phil Steinberg, 13-4
285: Stephen Snyder (B) dec. Christian Botero, 4-2
***** What do Charlie Costanzo, Conner Hanafee, John Belanger, Alex Smith, Ryan Tompkins, Derek Stanley, and Daniel Mills all have in common???? While in
high school, all of these young men competed in The Eastern States Wrestling
Classic! Great job by the Friend of Section 9 Wrestling for creating and running such a high-caliber wrestling tournament right here in Section 9! *****
Former section 9 215lb Champion CJ Floor of Port Jervia has been competing for American Samoa in FILA tournaments on the international circuit. Floor earned 4 gold medals at the 2011 Oceania games becoming the first representative of American Samoa to qualify to compete in the world games in Turkey. CJ has recently wrestled in Arizona at the Sunkist Kids Tournament and will compete in NYC at the NYAC Holiday tournament. CJ is scheduled to train in London before competing in the 2012 Oceania games in Australia. In March, CJ will try to be the first American Samoan Olympian as he competes in the Olympic qualifier in Morrocco.