With the weeks winding down towards sectionals, a number of wrestling teams have clinched, or moved very close to clinching, league titles.
Shenendehowa, in its first season in seven years without a Meys brother in the lineup, is unbeaten heading into its final two matches in this season’s abbreviated Suburban Council season. The Plainsmen get Columbia on the 20th, and finish with Colonie on the 28th. The Garnet Raiders need to get past Averill Park on the 20th to set up a battle of league unbeatens on the 28th.
The SC is an eight-team unit this season, with Niskayuna, Bethlehem, Mohonasen and Shaker shunted to the side by the league officials to compete as indendepents.
Niskayuna, under first-year head coach Shaun Neely, is 2-0 against the fellow outcasts, with Shaker coming up on the 20th.
Amsterdam and LaSalle are both off to 2-0 starts in the Big 10, as they point to their Feb. 2 meeting in Amsterdam. Schenectady could spoil things, as the Patriots visit the Cadets on the 20th.
Queensbury is unbeaten with one Foothills Council contest remaining after a 54-22 dismantling of Hudson Falls on Thursday. The Tigers forfeited an uncharacteristic four weight classes in that dual.
The Colonial Council may not be decided until early February.
Watervliet moved to 6-0 with a win over Voorheesville on Thursday. Albany Academy is 4-0 and Schalmont stands 5-1. The Cannoneers are at Schalmont on the 21st, and host the Cadets on the 28th.
Duanesburg is one win from completing another perfect Western Athletic Conference season.
Joe Bena’s Eagles will be looking to get to 5-0 this week against Berne-Knox-Westerlo.
Corinth is one win away from a 4-0 Adirondack League record, thanks to a win over Whitehall earlier this week. Hadley-Luzerne/Lake George stands in the Tomahawks’ way.
Tamarac edged Granville, 40-39, Thursday to win its first Wasaren League championship. Joe Hulsebosch’s pin and Nick Knauer’s win capped a comeback from a 39-12 deficit.
Maple Hill, who else, has the inside track in the Patroon Conference race at 5-0.
NORTH/SOUTH DUALS SET
Queensbury will host the annual North/South Duals on Saturday, a event that traditionally pits teams from the Suburban Council against Queensbury, Hudson Falls and two other teams.
Ballston Spa has entered for the first time this season, and will join SC rivals Shenendehowa, Columbia and Saratoga in taking on the Spartans, Tigers, South Glens Falls and Amsterdam.
The Scotties came to the rescue when it looked like only seven teams would be entered. To facililtate the Scotties, Queensbury coach Rory Johnson moved Amsterdam from the South to the North.
Wrestling begins at 10 a.m.
SECTION DUALS COMING
The Section II Duals are scheduled for next Saturday at Shenendehowa, but the field could be significantly smaller than last winter’s 17 teams.
The smaller schools in the section have lobbied for separate events, based on enrollment, and it may come to that in order to save the event.
Pairings will be drawn on Sunday.
