SuperSectionals has potential for fantastic wrestling matchups
James Johnson . Staff writer . February 20, 2009
www.rochesterdandc.com

While Josh Veltre has his wrestling matches to prepare for, there is a chance that he will be among the on-lookers if two three-time state champions meet on Saturday.

Palmyra-Macedon's Alex Ekstrom and Warsaw's Ian Paddock could meet in the Division II, or small schools, 135-pound final of the SuperSectionals, Section V's qualifiers for the state meet.

Paddock is an Ohio State University recruit. Ekstrom is headed to Oklahoma. A matchup between those two seniors with lengthy resumes is a must see.

"I might take a peek," Veltre said. "Just a little. I think it's pretty cool that they are in the same weight class.

"They could have gone to different weights and easily won states."

More potential matchups that could be fun to watch include:

. Christian Boley (Brockport) and Brendan Dwyer (Pittsford Mendon) in Division I 189.

. Tyler Marlow (Palmyra-Macedon) and Quinton Murphy (Holley), two former state champions, in Division II at 119.

Veltre, a senior 152-pounder at Greece Olympia, has his bouts to worry about in Division I. He is 53-0 and hopes to earn his third trip to states after he placed sixth last year at 125.

"He has a happier demeanor," Olympia coach Tony Russo said. "He looked like he wanted to be at practice, like he wanted to go to the gym after practice."

There are 15 weight classes in both divisions. All 30 champions receive a berth to states.

Division I wrestlers, such as Veltre, 2008 state champions Paul Glover (Spencerport) and Bobby Dierna (Wayne) must work their way through a 12-man tournament. Division II wrestlers are in 18-man brackets.

At-large berths will be handed to wrestlers across the state on Tuesday, based on their season record, plus performances at state and state-qualifier meets.