2005-06 Holley Hawks

Grapplers Open Season
The Journal-Register (Medina, NY)
Monday, November 21, 2005

Four defending Section V Class BBB champions — senior Matt Denning along with juniors Matt Banks, Justin Widrig and Key McPherson — anchor the lineup for Holley which last season captured its 13th G-R title in the last 16 years and its seventh Section V crown in the last eight years.

McPherson, who posted a 40-3 record on the season, also captured a G-R title and placed section in the Section V state qualifier. Banks went 34-7 and Widrig 30-10.

The Hawks also return junior Brett Underwood and senior Abe Miller, who placed third and fourth respectively at the Class BBB tournament.

Despite the loss of seven seniors, including three Class BBB champions, Holley also has experience in seniors Andrew Vendetti, Rob Baylor, Casey Doty, Keith Miller and Phil Larnder along with juniors Tom Eberlin and Matt Sanders, sophomore Ken Ryan and freshman Tim Banks.

Also vying for spots in the lineup are senior Justin Thomas, junior Demetrius Mendes and sophomores Garrett DeFilipps and Chris Brown.

“We have a lot of kids in the same weight classes so a big key for us is to get everybody in the right weight class so we can have our best kids on the mat,” Coach John Grillo said. “I expect us to start a little slow but then for us to have all the pieces in place in time for the post season.”

However, Grillo notes that the postseason will have a little different look this year, as G-R officials have voted to eliminate the annual G-R Tournament. It is a decision that does not sit well with Grillo or [Lyndonville Coach] Shingleton.

“I’ve very upset about it,” Grillo said. “I like the tournament because it gets our kids more into a post season mentality heading into the sectionals.”

“I’m pretty disgusted about it,” Shingleton said. “It was a good tournament.”