GUILDERLAND — Kyle Hussey won’t be alone at the state meet after all.

After Hussey was the only member of the Guilderland wrestling team to win his weight class at the State Qualifier at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Saturday, he appeared to be the only grappler representing the Dutchmen.

But on Wednesday morning, Guilderland Coach Regan Johnson found out that the Dutch’s other two finalists — Ian DeSol and Matt Cubillos — will also be heading to the state meet at the Times Union Center in Albany on March 2 and 3.
"Matt and Ian both wrestled tough kids," Johnson said. "They both lost to kids that placed in the state last year. Both are excited to keep on wrestling."

Cubillos and DeSol qualified for the state meet because, for the first time, all 16 slots in each weight class will be filled. There will be no more byes in the first round.

The at-large bids, for wrestlers who did not automatically qualify by winning their weight class, are based on a point system. The power-point system include points for a wrestler’s placement at sectionals. The top four point-winners at each weight go to the state tournament.
"We went from having one guy going to three guys going in a span of two days," Johnson said.

Cubillos and DeSol won Class A Section II championships and finished second at the state qualifier, losing to Class B champions in their respective 119- and 145-pound weight classes.

Hussey won the 275-pound weight class at the Class A’s and then followed that up with a win at the State Qualifier Tournament. He beat Garrett Moldoff of Columbia in both matches.
"The kid from Columbia got an at-large bid," Johnson said. "He lost just two matches and both were to Kyle. He wrestled good. He made adjustments from the week before. He really didn’t want to do too much. He waited for Kyle to make a mistake, and Kyle didn’t make a mistake.
"I’m happy for all the kids," Johnson added. "Especially for Kyle, for what he’s had to go through the last two seasons. He was injured, sick, and his father died. It makes you smile for the kid. He definitely wants to win the tournament."

The first practice for the Section II team was Wednesday at Shenendehowa High School.
"We have 50 kids representing Section II," Johnson said. "We had 20 at large bids added to go along with 30 champions."

As of Wednesday, Johnson had not looked to see where Cubillos and DeSol would be placed, as he had Hussey.
"I haven’t looked at their draws," the coach said. "I looked at Kyle’s because I knew for sure he was going to the state tourney. The other two I didn’t know.
"I called Matt this morning," Johnson added. "He knew I would be calling. He was waiting for the phone to ring this morning."

Johnson will have an even bigger role for the tournament and is happy that it is in Albany this year.
"My brother and myself are going to coach the Division I kids," Johnson said. "Usually, the coaches of the team stay at the hotel because they are in charge of the kids. But, because it’s in Albany, not too many of the kids will be staying in the hotel. That’s nice."

Johnson’s brother, Rory, is the head coach at Queensbury.

This will be the last tournament run for Johnson as a coach. He was named the new assistant director of athletics, physical education, and health for the Guilderland School District and will take over that role full time after the state meet.

Johnson has never coached three Guilderland wrestlers in the tournament, and is proud that he is. Two years ago, two Dutchmen went — Joey Wyld and Roger Sawyer.
"I just looked at the roster," he said on Wednesday. "Shen’s got four kids and we got three. We’re right behind them. The most I’ve had was two go the last time they were at the Pepsi."