IAC WRESTLING: SOLID RETURNING GROUP SHOULD MAKE NEWARK VALLEY COMPETITIVE (2023-12-01)

Tioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY — With a solid group of returning wrestlers and only two graduation losses, Newark Valley could be one of the more competitive teams in Section IV this season.

“If we stay healthy we should have a pretty good group,” coach Eric D’Arcy said. “(We) have some young guys who will need to step in and start right away, and not as much depth as last year.”

The Cardinals are coming off a 15-3 dual meet season which included championships at the Schalmont Binghamton dual meet tournaments. NV also won the Stan Elinsky Memorial Tournament at Deposit.

Team captain Trevor Middendorf (108) returns with a 5th-place Section IV Division II showing under his belt. He went 36-6 last season.

Cadin Creeley (152) placed sixth in the section and was an IAC champion, posting a 32-11 record.

The Cardinals also return four sectional qualifiers. Logan Woodin (138) was 33-9, Logan Rhodes (145) went 22-9, Gabe Merrill (160) had a 27-13 mark and Marcos Escalante (131) was 17-14.

Other returnees who saw plenty of varsity action include Travis Middendorf (124), 14-6; Titus Callahan (160), 14-9; Seth Northrop (215), 21-17; Austin DeBolt (285), 16-14; and Nate Harahus (116), 6-15.

Also back are Mike Wandell (124), Dustin Card (131) and Joe Wagner (124).

Newcomers to the NV roster are Andrew Lelik (101), Leland Houston (108), Karmine Cataloni (116) and Jack Blomberg (190).

Graduation losses were Peter Basti, who won more than 25 matches at 189 and Derek Payne, who came close to 20 wins at 215 as first-year wrestler.

Three-time defending state champion Tioga, which also won the dual meet title last season, is expected to be the top team in the state again this season, but NV and a couple other teams could fare well, especially in the IAC.

“Marathon and SVEC are both good programs with very good coaches,” D’Arcy said. “(We) should also be in the hunt in the IACs for top 2-3 finishes.”

NV opens IAC competition tonight at 5 p.m., hosting Whitney Point. The Cardinals will host the 30th annual Larry Goodrich Memorial Tournament Saturday beginning at 9:45 a.m.

NOTE: New York state weights this season are 101, 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215 and 285.

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IN PHOTO: NV’s Gabe Merrill. ... TCSR STOCK PHOTO.

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