Reynolds High products Nick Sommerfeld and Matt Dunn copped crowns for Columbia University at the recent New York State championships.
Senior 197-pounder Sommerfeld and sophomore 157 pounds, along with teammate Anthony Constatino (149) led the Lions, who finished 4th at the University at Buffalo, with 116 team points, a half-point behind 3rd-place Cornell.
The United States Military Academy at West Point (152) and host University of Buffalo (147.5) ended 1-2 during the 2-day, 18-team tournament.
Via an escape and subsequent takedown, Sommerfeld scored an early 3-0 lead in his championship match against top-seeded Jimmy Hamel. According to Columbia University’s sports information office, Hamel, who defeated Sommerfeld this season at the Mat Town Open, battled back to draw even at 3, but Sommerfeld was awarded one point for riding time, clinching the title, 4-3.
“Sommerfeld did a good job. He followed the game plan and wrestled a smart match,” noted Columbia head coach Brendan Buckley.
Dunn decisioned Army’s Sean Joyce, 2-0, in the title tilt. Leading 1-0, Dunn added an insurance bonus point for riding time en route to his 1st New York State championship. Dunn scored a major decision over NYU’s Greg Accetta in the semifinals.
“Matt Dunn has been wrestling well,” praised Buckley. “This year he jumped up a weight class, and is now starting to feel more comfortable there.”
The Lions had 8 placewinners. In addition to Constantino — a senior co-captain who scored a 2-point takedown to secure a 3-1 overtime victory in the 149-pound championship bout against Buffalo’s Pat Lloyd — he also edged SUNY-Cortland’s top-seeded Paul LeBlanc in OT in the semifinals.
Also, Brandon Kinney qualified for the championship finals, but was forced to forfeit for medical reasons; senior heavyweight Jed Wade finished 5th (7-0 decision over Nassau Community College’s Brandon Williamson), as did junior Kenji Porter (184, pin of Patrick Smith of Army in 3:30). Jerome Greco (133) and Nick Standish (141) each ended 8th.
Columbia does not compete again until Feb. 1.
ä Westminster College’s 2007 football team celebrated its season at its annual awards banquet, and 3rd-year head coach Jeff Hand recognized 43 lettermen and also presented academic and team awards as voted by the players.
For a 2nd straight year senior Brett Ziegler earned Most Valuable Player and Offensive MVP awards. Ziegler, a 1st-team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference selection, caught 52 passes for 696 yards and 6 touchdowns. He became the school’s career receptions leader (142).
Junior defensive end Andrew Robison (Wilmington High) earned the team’s defensive MVP and “Battle of the Trenches” (best interior lineman) awards as Robison ranked 2nd on the team in tackles (69, including 12.5 for loss) and a team-high 7 quarterback sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Punter Dusty Rhodes was voted special teams MVP; fullback Josh Kutzner received the “Titan of the Year” Alumni Award, and freshman offensive lineman Mike Kudelko (Sharpsville High) was chosen “Newcomer of the Year” after he started all 10 games at right guard.
Ed Farrell is assistant sports editor of The Herald
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Reynolds High grads, Dunn and Sommerfeld, win mat titles for Columbia
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