Chiefs win sectional wrestling title

ELLENBURG | The Saranac varsity wrestling team finally secured the double they have been looking for over the last four seasons, claiming both the CVAC regular season and Section VII championship with their Feb. 12 victory. The Chiefs scored 165 points to earn the title, with Beekmantown placing second with 136 points. AuSable Valley (91), Northern Adirondack (91), and Peru (73) followed. "It was awesome getting the team championship," said CVAC wrestler of the year Collin Clancy with a 35-1 record and a 145-lbs. title and was one of six Chiefs to earn a state bid. "For the past two years, most of us have been working out. We had the numbers and the bodies and we came in here and got the job done. Coming into the season, states was the goal. This was just another bump in the road for us. We got some guys that should be placed pretty high in states. That is our goal." Alex Clancy was named most outstanding wrestler of the tournament at 132, going 22-1 on the season. "Getting the team championship for Saranac is awesome," said Clancy. "This means a lot. I went 3-for-3 this year. It shows that I worked really hard and it paid off. I am looking forward to compete with the best of the best. I want to give a shoutout to Pat O'Connor who let me lift in his basement during Covid." Hunter Devins was named the champion of champions after winning at 152. "We worked all year for this," he said. "Our first goal was to get the CVAC and we got that pretty easily. We worked hard the last couple of days and came here and got it. My goal is to place at states and be the first in my family to place and get the win." Hunter will have competition in that family goal, with Ryan Devins joining him as the 118 champion, along with teammates Ashton Seymour (126), and Landen Smith (172). "Getting the team championship is great," said Devins. "We've been talking about doing it and we did it. We've been practicing and it is all that we can do. My goal at states is to place." "It feels great to get the team win," said Seymour. "It is my second time going to states and hopefully I can place this time, that is my goal." "We are going to states and showing what we can do," added Smith. Sawyer Bell (138), Cornal Brinson (160), and Connor Bushey (285) scored a trio of wins for the runner-up Eagles squad. "I'm looking to go to states and give it my all and do whatever it takes," said Bell. "Whether I place or not, I want to have fun. It's been a great season." "I'm bringing home my first sectional championship my senior year. I've given it my all tonight," said Brinson. "At states, I'm looking to step on the same mat that all my teammates have done before me. I've trained with a lot of them and they are some of the best to work with. At the end of the day, it is about having that experience." "I worked hard all season as well as off seasons and summers," said Bushey. "I've been working hard for this moment and hopefully I'll bring it home at States. I'm glad I got this chance, especially as a 10th grader. It's not my first time winning sectionals, but I'm happy." For the home team, Hayden Bartlemous beat teammate Owen Smith to earn the 102 championship, while Trey McGee won at 215. "It wasn't easy and I had to work hard to win it," said Bartlemous. At states, I have to wrestle hard, whether I place or not. There are a lot of hard kids down there." "I'm going to do my best at states," added McGee Gavin Morrow (110) scored the lone win for the Patriots, while Jack Hanson (189) will represent Peru at states. "I'm definitely excited to go to states. It should be a lot of fun," said Morrow. "I was looking to come back and finish something that I started in eighth grade," said Hanson. "I wasn't able to get it done in eighth and ninth, so I was really looking forward to take home first place this year. I'm really excited to go down to states and wrestle. I've been down there to watch my teammates wrestle and now it's my turn and hopefully get to stand on the podium."

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Chiefs win sectional wrestling title

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