SOURCE: spectrumlocalnews.com

February 23, 2018

More than 4,000 people packed the Times Union Center to watch the 2018 NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships, but this year's tournament means a lot more than just the matches on the floor.

Legendary coach Joe Bena, who spent much of his coaching career on the mats at Niskayuna and Duanesburg, passed away just one week before the start of this weekend's tournament. Zack Lawrence, a junior at Duanesburg High School, wrestled Friday night and was actually coached by Bena when he was in seventh grade. He is the only active wrestler in this year's state championship to be coached by Bena.