Paddock, Ekstrom make Section V wrestling history
Paddock, Ekstrom win historic third crowns
www.rochesterdemocratandchronicle.com
James Johnson • Staff writer • March 10, 2008

JAY CAPERS staff photographer

Spencerport's Bryan Bourne begins the celebration after winning the 160-pound weight class for his first state championship. Beyond the five Section V titles and two national titles he's won, the state crown "is probably the most special thing that happened to me so far."

All angles are covered. Every possibility seems to be thought of in advance.

Warsaw junior Ian Paddock and Palmyra-Macedon junior Alex Ekstrom certainly know what they are doing on a wrestling mat.

So do a number of wrestlers, including the hundreds in downtown Rochester for the high school state championships this weekend, but these two seem to be part of a different class.

Paddock and Ekstrom are unique when it comes to the history of area high school wrestling, as they became the first three-time state champions in Section V history Sunday night at Blue Cross Arena.

"To become the first in Section V history with him is an amazing feeling," Ekstrom said.

Ekstrom controlled his Division II, or small-schools, 135-pound final and was a comfortable 14-7 winner over Waverly junior Brian Sewalt. Paddock won a bout between nationally ranked wrestlers in the Division II 130 final, 9-4 over Lansing junior Kyle Dake.

Paddock, whose career record is 214-6, was named Division II's most outstanding wrestler.

"Yes, I'm happy, but I've got to get one more," Paddock said of a fourth state title.

Paddock and Ekstrom were far from the only champions from Section V. They were among nine who won their weight divisions, including Spencerport senior Bryan Bourne and Wayne freshman Bobby Dierna in Division I.

Quinton Murphy might be the state's youngest champion, an eighth-grader who took the Division II 103 title. Letchworth 140-pounder Mike Nevinger became a two-time small-school champion.

Bath junior Cody Hutcheson edged Greene sophomore Tyler Beckwith, 4-3, in the Division II 171 final for his first state title. So did Caledonia-Mumford senior Nate Schiedel, who won the Division II 189 championship after two third-place finishes at states.

Spencerport junior Paul Glover had to beat a familiar opponent to win the Division I 215-pound title. Glover won the only all-Section V final 3-2 in three overtime periods over Webster Thomas senior Robert Eskander.

"I got energy from the crowd," Glover said. "I was ready to go; I knew it was coming down to this."

Glover needed an escape to win. In an instant, Glover surged forward and Eskander had to settle for second place at states for the second consecutive year.

"It really wasn't anything technical," Glover said. "I just ran out. Speed kills."

Geneva 112-pounder Joe Smaldone will have to try again next year to win a title during his senior season.

Smaldone allowed Rob Broda to escape late in the third period of their Division II final, but the Geneva lightweight could not get the additional takedown he needed and lost 5-4.

Warsaw senior Nicholas Czapla lost 8-3 in overtime to Watertown Immaculate Heart senior Derek Brenon in the small-schools 152 championship.

In sectional scoring, the Division I greater Rochester team came in fifth with 135 points. Section II, the Capitol Region, had 238 points and stopped Section V's run at two years as the top scorer.

Section V's Division II team finished second with 203.5, 5.5 less than Section III, the Syracuse-area wrestlers.

Section V's push for points included efforts of wrestlers whose title hopes were finished, but shook off their disappointment to perform well during the consolation matches.

It's not uncommon for a wrestler out of championship contention, who might have lost one or two matches all season, to quickly pick up his second elimination loss at states.

Brockport 152-pounder John-Martin Cannon; Palmyra-Macedon 103-pounder Tyler Marlow, a 2007 state champion; and Palmyra-Macedon 119-pounder Sean Walton all bounced back from first-round losses to finish third in their weight divisions.

Marion's Josh Mayville lost a lead during the third period of the Division II 145-pound semifinals, came back and earned a third-place finish. Brockport 189-pounder Christian Boley and Keshequa senior Jake Dale also finished with one loss this weekend.

Boley avoided being pinned but lost to Shenendehowa senior Hunter Meys during the Division I semifinals, 6-2.

Meys, who became a two-time state champion this weekend, is the national record-holder for most pins during a varsity career (212). Shenendehowa junior Austin Meys, Hunter's younger brother, was named Division I's most outstanding wrestler.

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com