If You Are A Wrestling Fan….Tis The Season!!!

UE Duals This Weekend…Eastern States Classic Next Week!

If you are a wrestling fan, strap yourself in, because you are in for an exciting couple of weeks of action!  The next two weeks will provide wrestling fans from the entire state and beyond with top level competition that will have implications that will impact the remainder of the season.

Who’s The #1 Team In NYS
New York, unlike many other states, does not have a state sanctioned team tournament.  The best team in the state is instead selected by the NYS Sportswriters Association.  Each year there is one particular tournament, the UE Duals, that has a major impact on deciding who’s number one…and for good reason!  Year in and year out the UE Duals attracts many of the toughest teams from throughout the state.  These teams lay it all on the line in a tough, two-day dual meet event that never disappoints.

Last year, Monroe Woodbury won the title at UE and they continued to run the table, finish the season undefeated, and were chosen as the #1 team in NYS for large schools.  They, along with the team selected for #1 for small schools, were paraded out in front of the fans at the Times Union Center prior to the state finals.  In order to repeat, the Crusaders are going to have to overcome some very stiff competition…and one of those teams comes from right here in Section 9!      UE Duals Info

** Correction – Day 1 Schedule at UE…Rounds will be at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00**

Minisink Valley has been nothing short of spectacular this year!  They have absolutely dominated every team they have faced this year, in dual meets or individual tournaments! They are currently ranked #1 in the state by the NYSSA.  One of their closest contests came in the finals of the Section 9 Duals where they beat the aforementioned Crusaders, currently sitting at #9 in the polls, by a score of 43-21.  Actually, Minisink has already convincingly defeated 4 of the teams that are entered in the UE Duals:  MV 52 Fulton 18, MV 56 Burnt Hills 21, MV 43 MW 21, and MV 47 Massapequa 21.  The Warriors cannot rest on there laurels though!  Some teams greatly improve after wrestlers are given the 2 pound allowance.  Also, there will be a few very powerful teams from Section 11 that will be at UE.  Rocky Point (#4 D1) and John Glenn (#6 D1) are definitely two of the best teams in the state.  Perennial state power Shenendehowa (#5 D1) as well at Mattiuck (#1 D2) are some of the other teams to watch out for!

Other Tournaments Involving Section 9 Teams
The UE Duals is awesome…but it’s not the only game in town!  Below are some of the other events going on this weekend.  In some cases, this will be the first time that certain wrestlers have competed at their anticipated post season weight.

Pine Bush and Warwick @ The Shoreline Tournament
Goshen, Highland, Kingston, New Paltz, Washingtonville @ RCK Mat Wars
Middletown @ Deposit Tournament
Monticello, Eldred/Liberty/Fallsburg, TriValley at Monticello Tournament
Saugerties @ Ross Cordell Tournament @ Oneonta
Onteora, Red Hook @ Jamie Mormile Memorial Invitational at Ravena

Eastern States Classic Just Around The Corner
9 mats….150 teams including national powerhouse Wyoming Seminary….600 wrestlers with multiple nationally ranked kids at several weight classes…just a teaser for now…. weight by weight preview posted next week!