(February 25, 2005) — Bryan Bourne was impressive on the wrestling mat during his first full varsity season.

Bourne earned a spot in the lineup at Spencerport, a perennial state power. An eighth-grader, he finished fifth in the 119-pound weight division at the Division I high school state tournament.

Not bad.

"You always want to be like your brother when he's successful at something," Bourne said. "My brother (Mike) was a place-winner at states.

"Seeing him so happy, I just wanted to follow him and do better."

Bryan Bourne came back bigger and better this season as a freshman, but so is the competition. The Spencerport 140-pounder could have a tough road back to states this weekend during the SuperSectionals qualifier.

Including Bourne, there are three wrestlers in the weight class who were top-five finishers at states last season. Canandaigua senior Albert Gianforti at 140, then attending Irondequoit, and Wayne senior Nathan Patterson at 135 each came in third.

One possible reason the trio decided to take their chances in such a tough weight class is that Webster Schroeder senior Gregor Gillespie will wrestle at 145. Gillespie, a former state champion, has a 225-11 career record.

"That's everyone's dream," Bourne said about reaching states. "I know a lot of good wrestlers who haven't made it yet. If you make it, there's a lot of desire to get back. It never gets dull making it to states."

His state title hopes in Buffalo last year came to an end at the hands of Troy Nickerson of Chenango Forks. Nickerson, a four-time state champion, won by technical fall in Bourne's first match of the tournament.

"He was so fast and powerful,'' Bourne said. "I don't see how anyone beat him in high school. I actually took a nap before the match. I got up, but I faced the facts. He was a much more experienced wrestler than I was."

Bourne is short on that type of experience, but he is stronger after moving up four weight classes. He did wrestle at 145 during the regular season.

His brother, Mike competed at 140 pounds his senior year.

"They compare us a lot,'' Bourne said. "We have different styles. I'm a lot bigger than him weight-wise and I have a different scheme. I don't know why I gained the weight. My dad (Chris) was at 119 his senior year (at East Rochester). He shot up to 149 his freshman year in college (State University of New York at Cortland)."

Bourne has handled the weight gain and new competition, well. The 15-year old has a 31-3 record this winter.

"The best heavyweights are the guys that start off in the smaller classes,'' Hilton coach Chuck Partridge said, predicting more success for Bourne. "He comes from a very athletic family and got into a program that's well-structured. He was pretty much earmarked for success.''

It's one thing to be earmarked for success. It's another to go out there and earn the wins.

"He's a pretty consistent wrestler, he gets the job done,'' Spencerport coach Bill Jacoutot said. "You don't see anything flashy, it's very methodical with great positioning.

"His A-game is pretty tough. Right now, he's still a boy, becoming a young man. He's still growing.''

Sometimes, people around Section V wrestling forget that. There are times when Bourne is asked where he is going to college next school year.

"I say, 'I don't know yet,''' Bourne said with a smile. "'I'm only a freshman.' They usually say, 'Oh yeah.'''