East's Hayes rises to occasion
Senior wins title; Spencerport takes team crown
Democrat and Chronicle
James Johnson
Staff writer

(February 20, 2005) — It wasn't easy, but Coty Hayes delivered on a promise.

East High's 215-pound wrestler edged Brockport junior Alex Nwaehujor 3-2 during the finals of the Section V Class AA Championships at Webster Schroeder on Saturday.

"I told my coach that I was going to bring him a sectional championship," Hayes said. "I can go up to my mom and say your boy got another patch.

"To see my mom and the look on my coach's face, it felt so good that I almost cried."

Friends and family came out out of the bleachers to hug Hayes (25-3) after his win. The senior was a runner-up in the same weight division last year.

"It's been a long struggle for our program," Hayes said as he rubbed his eyes. "I wanted to show coach that I could do it. He's put a lot of faith behind me, a lot of one-on-one time.

"We haven't had anyone win sectionals in about five years. I wanted to get that started again."

Hayes and every top-four finisher in every sectional class advances to next weekend's SuperSectionals. The winners of their divisions at the State University of New York at Brockport advance to the state tournament.

"It's everyone's dream," Spencerport 189-pounder Jared Plucknette said. "I dream about it.

"In seventh grade, two (Spencerport) guys made it. I thought, 'That must be the greatest feeling in the world.'"

Plucknette settled for his first individual sectional championship on Saturday.

The Spencerport senior was one of eight Rangers to win their weight classes among 10 finalists, including junior Justin Linville at 171. All but one member of Spencerport's lineup earned a berth to SuperSectionals.

This is the 17th time in 18 years Spencerport has won the team title at Section V's highest classification.

Webster Schoeder senior Gregor Gillespie made more history. The former state champion added his name to the short list of five-time sectional class champions.

Gillespie defeated Brockport junior Justin James, a Monroe County League champion, by technical fall in the 145 final.

The Borshoff brothers from Pittsford Sutherland earned their 40th wins of the season on their way to sectional titles.

Kyle Borshoff (40-1), a junior, controlled the 119-pound final to defeat Spencerport's Anthony Borzilleri, 10-0. Jasen Borshoff (41-1), a senior, defeated Schroeder's Torsten Gillespie on overtime criteria at 112.

"I'm a friend of their family," Jasen Borshoff said. "It's not weird when you walk out there, but after the match it's kind of weird. Torsten is an awesome wrestler. All of the kids that I wrestled were tough."

Gillespie tied the score with 45 seconds remaining when he twisted away from Borshoff in the third period. Gillespie, a junior, jumped up to his feet twice in overtime but couldn't get away from Borshoff.

Rush-Henrietta's Phil Gordon defeated Spencerport's Mike Hicks 5-1 in the 130 final. It was a rematch of the Monroe County League finals, won 4-2 by Hicks.

"I wasn't feeling good then but today I was 100 percent," Gordon said. "He's good, he was prepared at counties. I got the first takedown today and that was pretty much it."