By Jordan J. Michael

GUILDERLAND –– Four out of the five graduating Guilderland wrestlers will be competing at the college level, next year.

Dutchmen wins leader Matt Cubillos will be attending the University of Virginia for Division I wrestling and to study business. Matt Hart will be attending Roger Williams, Devan Van Auken will travel to Oswego, and Brendan Ruddy will wrestle for Hudson Valley Community College.

“We had a wonderful senior class this year and these kids are all going to great places,” said Head Coach Korey Rogotzke. “Hart and Van Auken were capable of Division I wrestling, but Division III should suit them well.”

Cubillos, who had 168 career wins for Guilderland and only 34 losses, also looked at the University of Maryland and Boston University, where his older brother, Mike, wrestles.

“Virginia gave me the best deal and they had the best campus and future in wrestling,” said Cubillos, a three-time Class A champion. He turned down the wrestling scholarship he was offered, said Cubillos, and is participating instead in the financial aid program open to all students from which he will receive $22,000 a year for four years. “Their coach, Steve Garland, is real enthusiastic about the program and wrestling in general. He played a big role in my decision.”

“I think having these guys go to the next level really sends a message to our district that things are in place for kids to come in and wrestle with us,” Rogotzke said. He stressed that Cubillos was the first to get a Division I scholarship. “It’s really motivating the kids for next year. These guys have made our program better and they’ll continue to work with us in the future.”

Ruddy will be helping Rogotzke with coaching duties next season because he’s remaining at home in Guilderland. “It’s nice to have him,” said Rogotzke. “I’m sure he can teach some guys a trick or two.”

Cubillos told The Enterprise that having the career-wins record for Guilderland is “cool,” but he doesn’t think about it that often. “I think it will mean more when I get older,” he said. “Right now, I have to focus on my college career because it’s going to be tough.”

There is one spot open on the Virginia starting roster at 133 pounds and Cubillos is going against two other athletes for the position. He’s getting tips from his brother. Both of the brothers made it to the Class A finals when Matt was in eighth grade.

“Mike told me to do everything in the summer that I could to get ready,” Cubillos said. “He knows because he was there at one point. It’s all about preparation and I’ll give it all I got.”

Matt Cubillos wrestled for Team New York last weekend in the Junior Freestyle Duel Nationals and went 9-3 against national competition.

“Cubillos left a memorable mark on Guilderland wrestling and it won’t rub off anytime soon,” said Rogotzke. “I have a feeling he’ll make something happen in college because he never takes a break.”