Section Six had five wrestlers compete in the finals of the 2018 NYSPHSAA wrestling championships held at the Times Union Center in Albany Saturday night and three grapplers walked away with the coveted State title. 

Claiming the first championship of the night was Willie McDougald, a sophomore from Niagara Falls competing at the 132 lb weight class. McDougald faced top seed Justin Vines, a senior from Wantagh and the two were deadlocked at 2 after three periods. Neither wrestler got a takedown in the first one minute period of OT and McDougald rode out Vines for the second thirty second referees position. In the third OT period McDougald got to his feet, but Vines was first penalized for locking hands awarding Willie one point followed by an escape. McDougald wins the 132 lb title becoming only the second wrestler in the history of Niagara Falls high school to accomplish the feat.

In Div II at 160 lbs Bryce Rowe of Chautauqua Lake reversed top seed Jacob Nolan of Sarnac in the final thirty seconds to win the match 2-1 and the State title.

At 285 lbs in Div II top seed Anthony Robinson of Starpoint held on for a tense 6-5 victory over Jayson Gomez of Eagle Academy Bronx to end the competition for the night. Robinson led 5-2 heading into the third period and outlasted Gomez as the buzzer sounded.

Earlier in the night Justin McDougald of Niagara Wheatfield advanced to the finals for the second consecutive year, this year at 126 lbs. McDougald, cousin of Willie McDougald of Niagara Falls, had a very tough match-up facing Adam Busiello of Eastport South Manor, ranked third nationally at his weight as a junior and has already committed to Penn State. Busiello pinned McDougald at the three minute mark, but the sophomore from Niagara Wheatfield had another outstanding tournament at the State level. 

In Div II senior Corey Keefe of Falconer dropped a 3-0 decision to Doug Simmons of Canastota at 195 lbs to finish second.

Other place finishers for Section Six in Div I are Parker Rozler of Lancaster finishing sixth at 113 lbs, Warren McDougald of Niagara Wheatfield took third at 145 lbs and Joe Andreessen of Lancaster third at 220 lbs.

In Div II Andrew Lucinski of Newfane took sixth at 99 lbs, Zach Braddell of Tonawanda third at 126 lbs, Cory Day of Iroquois fourth at 145 lbs, Dan Torres of Falconer fifth at 160 lbs, Jacob Sarow of Alden-Akron third at 170 lbs, Giuseppe Hoose of Southwestern third at 182 lbs, Patrick Walsh of Olean sixth at 182 lbs, Zach Trim of Maple Grove placed fifth at 195 lbs and Mike Rigerman of Pioneer placed fourth at 220 lbs.

Finals photo gallery below:

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