NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING: NEWARK VALLEY'S POST SEEKS STRONG FINISH TO HIGH SCHOOL CAREER (2020-02-27)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
ALBANY — Newark Valley's Josh Post has had a pretty impressive high school career on the mats and looks to cap it off at the NYSPHSAA Division II Wrestling Championships at the Times Union Center here.

However, he could have easily thrown in the towel following a football injury during his junior year. Instead, Post worked hard to rehabilitate his injured knee and his determination has earned the Cardinal senior an opportunity to perform on the big stage.

"We expect Josh to go out there and do what he has done all year. That is to wrestle hard and intelligently," NV coach Mike Daly said. "I believe Josh can have success this weekend, and is physically and mentally prepared to do so. 

"With that being said 132 is a tough weight class with a great deal of kids in it that have had great success this year, so every match will no doubt be a battle."

The weight boasts three standouts who wrestled in third-place matches at states last year, so the road to the podium is grueling.

Post is no slouch, however. A five-time Section IV place-winner, taking second and third in Division I two times each. After sitting out the entire 2018-19 season, he bounced back to win the Division II title at 132 pounds this season.

He has drawn the eighth seed for his state debut and will face a challenging field. Post (33-4) draws No. 9 Luke Tomlinson (43-2), the Section VI runner-up from Maple Grove.

With a win the challenge becomes even greater with top-seeded Gage DeNatale (28-3) of Locust Valley standing in the way. The Section VIII senior earned All-American status in October.

If Post can pull off the upset, he will most likely face fourth-seeded Alex Chrisman (34-5) from Section VII Saranac or fifth-seeded Aidan Cullen (39-2) from Greenville out of Section II in the semifinals.

A victory in the semis could pit Post against Central Valley Academy's Marek Bush (50-5), the No. 2 seed, or No. 3 Dean Shambo (37-6) from Mexico. Both wrestlers represent Section III and are returning state placers.

Shambo handed Post one of his four losses this season, a 4-2 setback. Post's other losses were to a pair of Division I wrestlers and a D-2 foe who has dropped down to 126 for the state tournament.

DeNatale was third at 132 last year while Bush and Shambo placed third and fourth, respectively, at 126.