HILLTOWNS — The Berne-Knox-Westerlo wrestling team completed the early part of its schedule with a very busy week. The week started with the Bulldogs defeating Canajoharie-Fort Plain, 54-36, for its first Western Athletic Conference win of the year in its home debut of the season.
One day later, the Bulldogs defeated Division I Albany High School, 51-29.
The week ended with senior Joe “The Big House” Sprung winning the Cuneen Doane Memorial Tournament Championship, running his season record to 14-0.
In the win against Canajoharie-Fort Plain, Sam Gerardi started the match with a pin in 54 seconds against Josh Cechnicki of C-FP. Also winning by fall for the Bulldogs were Joe Sprung, Christian Peters, Devin McGill, Nate Johnson, and Cody Fisher.
Dominic Woodmansee and Matt Farnan also picked up six points for the Bulldogs at home. This marks the third consecutive year BKW has defeated Canajoharie-Fort Plain in a league dual meet.
The next evening, BKW traveled to Albany High School to take on the Division I Falcons. Joe Sprung started the Bulldogs off right, pinning the Falcons’ Josh Britton in 4:39
Then Christian Peters turned in his best performance of the season in a 6-3 win over Albany’s Terran Paul. Anthony Pasquini picked up a pin in a tidy 1:57 at 126 pounds for the Bulldogs.
Albany pulled ahead 29-21 before BKW finished the match with six consecutive wins to close out a 51-29 win
Gaining six points for the Bulldogs were: Cody Fisher with a pin in 2:25 over P.J. Dunia; Dom Woodwandsee with a three-minute pin over Mufieu al Khadrg; Jim McGill pinning Laith Alkhacraji in 1:30; Rob Haas with a six-pointer for the Bulldogs; Sam Gerardi pinning David Whalen in 2:20; and Collin Peragine with a pin in 2:20 over Cody Sullivan.
The week concluded with a trip to the 46th Annual Cuneen Doane Memorial Tournament. The highlight of the tournament was Joe Sprung’s 5-1 decision over previously unbeaten and highly regarded Section III opponent Garrett Duval of Sherbune-Earlville. This win gave Sprung his 93rd career win, passing Keith Domermuth for third on the all-time win list at BKW.
Two first-year varsity members turned in impressive runs at Cuneen Doane. Eighth-grader Brad Ableman overcame an upset in the quarterfinals to fight his way through the wrestlebacks for a third-place finish in his first championship-style tournament. Freshman Rob Haas also had an impressive day, finishing fourth after making it to the semifinals in his first trip to Cuneen Doane. Also placing in the top four was Matt Farnan who was fourth behind three very touted opponents from sections III and IV.
The Bulldogs next take on Duanesburg on Jan. 3, then travel to the Sammons Tournaments in Ilion on Jan. 5.