Lake George and Warrensburg merge wrestling programs

WARRENSBURG | Two schools producing talented athletes in recent history have joined wrestling programs due to the cessation of a longstanding merger, and the realignment in the sport involves four schools. Earlier this year, Hadley-Luzerne decided to abandon a 13-year "WarEagles" wrestling merger with Lake George Central School and instead join Corinth, prompting Lake George to seek a wrestling program merger with Warrensburg Central, and the two latter schools' administrations approved the new joint venture months ago. Lake George Athletic Director Kyle Manny said Nov. 16 that Warrensburg is the host school for the merged Warrensburg-Lake George varsity team and all practices and most all regular-season wrestling meets will be held at Warrensburg High School. Wrestling practice for the Warrensburg-Lake George team started Nov. 14, and three Lake George high school wrestlers have been working out with the Burghers — but more are expected to join the team when the Warrensburg/North Warren-Lake George Wolverines football team finishes off its post-season campaign, the merged team's head coach Mark Trapasso said. Trapasso has been Warrensburg's wrestling coach since 1995. As of Nov. 17, the Wolverines were to compete in the state tournament quarterfinals, after winning the Section II Class C championship on Nov. 11. With the state championships in football being decided Dec. 2 through Dec. 4, Wolverine athletes might join the wrestling team as late as Dec. 5. Also, Grace York, an experienced wrestler and a key member of the Lake George Volleyball team, is expected to join the merged wrestling team this week, which as of Nov. 18 was to be competing in the state volleyball championship playoffs Nov. 19 and Nov. 20. As a member of the now-defunct Hadley-Luzerne/Lake George WarEagles Wrestling team last year, she wrestled primarily against boys and won eight of her matches. Already working out with the Burghers-Warriors team is Lake George junior Olivia Lapointe, who also proved her prowess with the WarEagles last season at 160 pounds by winning two trophies in the New York State Girls Wrestling Championship tournament — in two weight classes. She is joined by schoolmates senior Liam Fahey-Stack and freshman Caelan McLarty, Trapasso said, predicting that a half-dozen or more other Lake George athletes will soon be joining the combined team. York and LaPoint won't be the only girls on the team: freshman Jade Rumble has already been participating in pre-season practices. As an eighth-grader, Rumble won a pivotal match for the Burghers in the opening round of the 2021-22 state team championship tournament. Without her pin in the final bout in the matchup with Saranac Central, the Burghers would have been eliminated from the state tournament, instead of advancing to place third. A week later, Rumble won a New York State Girls Wrestling Championship. Jade's sister Chloe Rumble, a sophomore, is also on the team, Trapasso said. "So far, the merger is working out really well — it's a good fit," Trapasso said. "All the wrestlers are working hard; There are no negatives about this. I'm not sure how many football players are going to wrestle with us, but I anticipate a good number of them will join our team." With the football players enjoying considerable success this year, they are likely to reap similar rewards in wrestling, as the Burghers have a long history of dominance in the sport. Also, each of the two contact sports develops both physical and mental strength that is vital to the other sport. While the Warrensburg football team has won three Section II titles since 2018, the school's wrestlers have also been dominant. The Warrensburg wrestling team has won the Adirondack League and the Section II Class D title for six straight years, and they've taken the "trifecta" of local wrestling, which also includes the Section II title, for at least three years. In addition, the Warrensburg wrestlers have been the Section II Division 2 representative to the New York State Team Duals Meet three times, and have twice secured third place in the tournament. Donovan Santistiban, one of the assistant coaches for the Wolverines, will be assisting Trapasso in mentoring the Warrensburg-Lake George wrestling team.

Signup for our newsletter

Lake George and Warrensburg merge wrestling programs

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS