Army edged by Rider 16-15

The Army Wrestling team lost their first match of the season on Tuesday to Rider by a

Collin Wittmeyer is now 3-0 for the season at 174 including victories over two opponents ranked in the top 15 in the country.

score of 16-15 in a match held at Christl Arena.  Army, who dropped to 2-1 for the young season, received victories from Connor Hanafee(141), Daniel Young(149), Alex Smith(165), Collin Wittmeyer(174), and Will Brown(184).  Hanafee, Young, and Wittmeyer all ran their records to 3-0 for the season.  Brown is now 2-0.  Wittmeyer now has victories over two wrestlers currently ranked in the top 15 by InterMat Wrestling (Meys, Boston, #15 and Resnick, Rider, #13).  Full story and all individual results can be view by clicking on Army Wrestling – Army Results.  The Black Nights return to action on Saturday, November 12 at the Oklahoma-Gold Classic held in Rochester, NY.

Army Opens With Wins Over #24 Iowa State and Boston University

Army Head Coach Joe Heskett

Army Wrestling kicked-off their 2011-2012 season in style on Sunday by winning both of their matches at the Nor’Easter Duals in Boston, MA.  In their first dual, the Black Nights upset 24th-ranked Iowa State 23-22 behind pins from Jordan Thome at 133 and Daniel Young at 149.  Later in the evening Army pushed their record to 2-0 with a convincing 28-9 victory over host Boston University.  The Black Nights received bonus points at 184 from Will Brown (WBF 3:46) and at 141 from Connor Hanafee (WMD 10-1).  Full articles as well as all individual results are available by going to Army Wrestling – Army Results in the menu bar.  Army’s next dual meet is Tuesday November 8 at 7:00 when the Black Nights host Rider University in Christl Arena at West Point, NY.

Franco Wins Wrestle-Off, Earns Starting Role For Hofstra

2009 Monroe Woodbury graduate Jamie Franco won his wrestle-off and is the projected 133 lb. starter for D1 Hofstra University.  Franco, a redshirt sophmore, beat blue-chip true freshman Joey Kosinski (Carol Stream, IL) by a score of 4-2.  Congratulations and best of luck to Jamie!  SectionIXwrestling.com will be following you this season!!!

MV Graduate Biddle Named Team Captain of D1 Bloomsburg

2007 Minisink Valley graduate Jeremiah Biddle has been named one of the team captains for Division 1 Bloomsburg University.  Biddle was named captain along with Frank Hickman, Zac Walsh, and Mike Dessino.  Bloomsburg Head Coach John Stutzman said of his selections, “With each of these individuals I feel they will lead us in a very positive way.  They all have a great work ethic and they represent BU wrestling on and off the mat with great pride. Their attitude and work ethic are contagious and we look forward to the up coming year!” Congratulations Jeremiah! You’ve made Section 9 proud!

Section 9 Duals Schedule

2011-12 Section IX Dual Meet Championships

Day #1 @ Pine Bush HS:
Round #1:
1 – Warwick Valley (bye)
Valley Central vs Cornwall (5:00pm, Mat #1)
Newburgh Free Academy vs Washingtonville (5:00pm, Mat #2)
4 – Pine Bush (bye)

Day #1 @ Middletown HS:
Round #1:
3 – Minisink Valley (bye)
Middletown vs Port Jervis (5:00pm, Mat #1)
Saugerties vs Kingston (5:00pm, Mat #2)
2 – Monroe Woodbury (bye)

Day #1 @ Pine Bush:
Round #2:
1 – Warwick Valley vs Valley Central/Cornwall winner (6:30pm, Mat 1)
4 – Pine Bush vs Newburgh Free Academy/Washingtonville winner (6:30pm, Mat #2)

Day #1 @ Middletown:
Round #2:
3 – Minisink Valley vs Middletown/Port Jervis winner (6:30pm, Mat #1)
2 – Monroe Woodbury vs Saugerties/Kingston winner (6:30pm, Mat #2)

Army Black/Gold Match

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! *****