Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, December 9, 2010
Voorheesville wrestling “small but very tough”
By Jordan J. Michael
VOORHEESVILLE –– The Blackbird wrestling team has six weight classes unfilled, but that doesn’t affect its toughness.
Voorheesville hosted its second annual Blackbird Duals on Saturday and the team went 2-3, beating Taconic Hills and Monticello. Catskill, a program on the rise, went 5-0 on the day to finish in first place.
Even though the Blackbirds are missing wrestlers at weights of 96 pounds, 103, 112, 125, 171, and 189 –– Head Coach Matt Robinson said that the other teams’ coaches were complimenting Voorheesville’s toughness on Saturday.
“We’re small, but very tough,” Robinson said on Monday. “Not one of these guys are an easy take down. We’ll fill everything up in a few years, but, in the meantime, we have to wrestle tough.”
Senior co-captains Brian Katchman (215 pounds) and Spencer Glaser (140), and juniors Don Case (285) and Quinn Treadgold (135) all went undefeated at 5-0 on Saturday. Eighth-grader Nick Saccocio (119) got two pins for the first two wins of his career.
“The guys improved as the day went on,” said Robinson. “If they can do that throughout the season, then I think we’ll be in a great place at the end.”
The Blackbirds finished 10th in sectionals last year out of all the class C and D schools. “We’re a couple of weeks ahead of schedule,” Robinson said.
Robinson, who thanked the booster club and the wrestlers’ parents for doing a great job, told The Enterprise that he’s tried to reach out to students who might want to wrestle, but “it’s difficult” because the sport is so unique.
“You can’t really jump into it like other sports,” he said. “It’s better if you start out younger.”
Filling out the Voorheesville team are Corey Markus (130), Caleb Cummings (145), Keegan Nally (160), and Dylan Foster (152), who was sidelined at the Duals with a dislocated shoulder.
“We have little mistakes that need fixing and our confidence needs a boost,” Robinson said. “But, that can all change after winning five matches in a row.”