BERNE — The Berne-Knox-Westerlo wrestling team is making progress in just its second year.

The team wrestled mostly at the modified level last year but this year its wrestlers are grappling in a mix of varsity and junior varsity meets.

So far this season, the Bulldogs have wrestled in two dual meets and two tournaments.
"The dual meets are the toughest ones I could get," said BKW Coach Jeff Vogel said. "We’re in the Western Athletic Conference, wrestling a varsity schedule which we would do regardless. The five non-league matches are against much bigger schools."

BKW will also have four more junior-varsity tournaments. The Bulldogs will compete in tournaments at Amsterdam, Niskayuna, Ravena, and Burnt Hills. They will also have a non-league varsity dual meet with Rensselaer.
"Our best times have been on the junior-varsity level," Vogel said. "We can compete with anybody at that level."

So far this season, the Bulldogs had a junior-varsity dual meet with Niskayuna and a league match against Duanesburg, which is one of the top small-school teams in Section II.

The Bulldogs had good performances in the two tournaments they have entered so far. BKW took part in the Ravena and Ballston Spa j.v. tournaments.

Keith Domermuth went to the finals in the 275-pound weight class. He also won at the Ravena tournament.

Harold Cameron also did well at both tournaments in the 140-pound weight class.

Josh Glick wrestled well in the Ballston Spa tournament in the 140-pound weight class.

Adam Brinkman was also a finalist at Ballston Spa in the 125-pound weight class.

"Pick and choose"
"We had seven kids wrestle for third place," Vogel said. "The whole plan was to wrestle in j.v. tournaments in December and pick and choose varsity tournaments in January."

BKW is scheduled to wrestle in varsity tournaments in Galway, Fonda, and Hoosick Falls in January.

Between the Dec. 1 start of the season and the school’s Christmas break, BKW will have had eight competitions.

By the end of the season, the Bulldogs will have been in 20 tournmants or meets.
"We’ll have three or four weeks to take everything we have learned," Vogel said. "We should be vastly improved by January. When we face first- or second-year kids we do well. In the Duanesburg match, we faced guys that were in their fifth or sixth year and they put a hurting on us. Our first-time wrestlers were really intimidated. I probably was the only one not scared."

Full line-up

The Bulldogs have a full line-up of wrestlers.

Eighth-grader Tom DellaRocco competes in the 103-pound weight class and was a finalist at Ravena.

Dave Tiernan, a sophomore, wrestles in the 112-pound weight class. He is in his first year and finished fourth at the Ballston Spa tournament.

Tom Bushnell competes in the 125-pound weight class. He is a returner from last year.

Adam Brinkman also grapples in the 125-pound weight class. He is a first-year wrestler and was in the finals at Ballston Spa.

Sophomore Harold Cameron wrestles in the 135-pound weight class and Josh Glick, a freshman, wrestles in the 140-pound class.
"They are two kids that can go very high in this sport," Vogel said.

Najee Stewart, a sophomore, is in his first year wrestling for the Bulldogs in the 145-pound weight class.
"He’s very athletic and has a lot of potential," Vogel said.

Josh Ostrander, a junior, competes in the 160-pound weight class. He is in his first year wrestling.

Freshman Greg Hannay wrestles in the 171-pound weight class and wrestled for BKW last year.

Greg Araldi, a senior, wrestles in the 189-pound class. He wrestled at Christian Brothers Academy before transferring to BKW.
"He’s provided leadership in practice and matches," Vogel said. "He’s been a great addition and helped us a lot."

Stephen Gered, a junior, also wrestes at 189 pounds and is in his first year on the team.

Sophomore Dominic Penk, senior Kevin Sherman, and freshman Ryan Twardy all wrestle in the 215-pound weight class. Penk is a returning wrestler while Sherman and Twardy are in their first year.

Dan McCullough, a freshman, is injured but will join Domermuth in the 275-pound weight class.

There are over 30 kids from grades seven to 12 wrestling in the program. The modified program has about 14 kids.

The Pee-Wee program will be starting in January.
"I told the kids at the pep rally," Vogel said, "that we are the only program that goes from K to 12 in the school. The high-school wrestlers are a big part of that as well."
"Voice of wisdom"

David Funk is the modified coach. He will also assist Vogel with the varsity this season.
"He’s a gift to me," Vogel said. "He ran his own program in Norwich for over 30 years. He’s a voice of wisdom in my ear. He’s forgotten more than I’ll ever know."

Anthony Musciatello will also help out the program.
"He’s a former official and he works in the school district," Vogel said. "He gives us clinics to help us with our mat sets."

The wrestlers are putting more into the sport as a few wrestle in clubs. Domermuth joined the TNT club in Schenectady this summer.

With a young team, the Bulldogs could have a bright future.
"We are loaded with ninth- and 10th-graders," Vogel said. "The key is picking our spots. I don’t believe in throwing the kids to the lions. That is the key over the next year. Something I believe in is going with ability. The kids give everything when they go out there."

The Bulldogs wrestled at Amsterdam on Wednesday in a junior-varsity match. They then will wrestle in the Niskayuna junior varsity tournament on Saturday.