Peru holds off Saranac for Section VII wrestling title

BEEKMANTOWN | Peru captured its first Section VII Division II wrestling championship since 2020 on Saturday, Feb. 14, edging Saranac in a tightly contested team race at Beekmantown High School. Peru finished with 201 points to claim the program's 36th sectional championship since 1965. Saranac was second with 181.5 points, followed by Beekmantown at 159, Northern Adirondack at 136 and AuSable Valley at 106. Peru produced five individual champions while Saranac had four, and Peru separated itself with additional finalists and third-place finishes throughout the tournament. Peru's champions came at 103, 110, 138, 150 and 190. Alyn Capen opened the finals by pinning Beekmantown's Mark Spooner in 3:14 at 103 pounds. Zachary Goddeau followed at 110 with a fall in 2:44 against Saranac's Liam Smart. Mason Starke won the 138-pound title with a 10-6 decision over AuSable Valley's Kamden Yeager, Nathan Beattie secured the championship at 150 by pinning AuSable Valley's Corbin Guglielmo in 2:29, and Brody Blaise-Smith closed Peru's title run at 190 with a 7-4 decision over Saranac's Haiden Bordeau. Peru added valuable placement points outside the finals, including third-place finishes from Aiden Donah at 103, Sawyer DeZalia at 144 and Myles Cummings at 157, all of which factored into the final team margin. Saranac senior Landen Gadway was named Most Outstanding Wrestler and Champion of Champions after a dominant performance at 175 pounds. Gadway closed his tournament with an 18-0 technical fall, the widest margin of victory among the championship bouts. Saranac claimed four championships across the middle and upper weights. Colby Roesler earned an 11-2 major decision over Peru's Jeremiah King at 126. Teegan Smith won the 144-pound title by pinning Beekmantown's Dean Imhoff in 4:31. Branigan Boulds followed with a 7-1 decision over Peru's Linus Drollette at 165 before Gadway closed the night with his technical fall at 175. Beekmantown produced one champion but placed wrestlers in the finals and consolation rounds throughout the tournament. Chase Devins delivered the Eagles' lone title at 132 by pinning Northern Adirondack's Nolan Gilmore in 3:20. Beekmantown added third-place finishes from Mason Facteau at 126, Jose Susano Trujano at 165, Landon Lahart at 215 and Mason Devins at 190. Northern Adirondack crowned two champions and added multiple podium finishes that helped it secure fourth place overall. Jackson LaBarge captured the 118-pound title with a 5-3 decision over Peru's Kaden Rivers. Hayden Bartlemus won the 157-pound championship with a 7-4 decision over Beekmantown's Nathan Rougier. Northern Adirondack also placed third at 110, 138, 175 and 285. AuSable Valley claimed two upper-weight championships. Warren Pray won the 215-pound title with a fall in 3:06 over Saranac's Josh Wheatley. Nathan Rondeau closed the finals at 285 with a pin in 1:25 against Peru's RJ Bishop. AuSable Valley also placed second at 138 and 150 and added a third-place finish at 132. Three girls championship finals opened the event. Peru's Marlee Cummings won the 100-pound girls title by pinning Northern Adirondack's Sarah Ranger in 3:23. Northern Adirondack's Alena Turner pinned teammate Lilly Brunell in 1:43 to win the 114-pound championship. At 126, Summer McCaffery claimed the title with a fall in 2:09 over AuSable Valley's Lily Carver. Wrestlers will turn their attention to the NYSPHSAA championships at MVP Arena in Albany. The girls individual championships are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26. The boys individual championships will follow Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28.

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Peru holds off Saranac for Section VII wrestling title

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