IAC WRESTLING: SVEC EXPECTS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AS SEASON PROGRESSES (2024-12-11)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR / SPENCER — The Spencer-Van/Etten Candor wrestling program brings back some quality competitors on both the boys and girls sides, and expects to be competitive as the season progresses.
BOYS
“The outlook for the SVEC Eagles is very positive,” coach Jesse Buck said. “We have an ever-growing roster, and a good base of talent currently on the team and coming up.
“As the season starts, things might be a bit weaker as kids need time with their weight loss plans to slip into their correct weight classes, as well as awaiting the clearing of John Johnston. Later in the season though we plan on being right in the mix of top teams and having lots of individual success at the local and hopefully state levels.”
The Eagles will be led by John Johnston (170 pounds) once he returns from an injury he suffered months ago. The senior was a state qualifier at 170 last season and finished with a 29-23 record.
Vaow has started the season 4-1 with a runner-up showing at the recent Clyde Cole Invitational where he lost to defending state champion Maverick Beckwith of Norwich. The junior was a 20-match winner last season, but bowed out of the sectional qualifier due to a medical condition and never stepped on the mat.
Kamren Westbrook (138), a junior, and Brennan Zimmer (124), a freshman, are showing a lot of potential for SVEC.
Zimmer went 4-1 and placed second at the Clyde Cole Invitational while Westbrook was 3-2 on the day.
Buck expects freshmen newcomers Gabrial Benjamin (145) and John-Michael Bohling (101) to make an impact in the line-up.
SVEC will miss graduates Shane Neal and Caden Ruben, both of whom were Section IV Division II place-winners last season.
The Eagles shared the IAC Division I dual meet title with Tioga as winter storms forced the cancellation of several dual meets. SVEC was 5-4 overall.
While the Tigers appear to still be the team to beat in the IAC, other teams are expected to challenge Tioga, which graduated seven 30-match winners, for the sectional title.
“Unatego-Unadilla Valley seems to have a very strong roster, and is returning some great talent from last season,” Buck said. “With Tioga being a bit down this year from a lot of graduating talent I would look for UUV to be the team to beat.”
GIRLS
The lady Eagles return a trio of veteran grapplers in junior Tayah Beach (120), and sophomores Dallas Bohling (114) and Katelynn VanEtten (235).
Beach was 18-4 last season with 17 pins. She won three of the four tournaments she placed in, was a Section IV champion and a NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational qualifier.
Bohling went 15-8 last season with 13 falls to her credit. She was a Section IV runner-up, reached the championship round of five tournaments and was a state invitational qualifier.
VanEtten led SVEC at the Larry Goodrich Girls Invitational on Friday, placing third with a 3-1 mark. Her lone loss came against the eventual champ. She placed in two tournaments last season.
Beach, Bohling and VanEtten each won twice as the Eagles hosted their first-ever home meet Tuesday.
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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
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