Chinn wraps up second state title: Bid by Schroeder's Gillespie to repeat ends in semifinal match
February 29, 2004

 

By James Johnson
Democrat and Chronicle
February 29, 2004

Full Text: Copyright © 2004 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Reproduced by armdrag.com with the permission.

AMHERST, NY — The way Trevor Chinn looked at it, there was always more to do on the wrestling mat.

Earn a spot in Canandaigua's lineup, then show that he deserved it. Compete with Section V's best, then beat them. Win one state championship, then another.

There is nothing left for Chinn to prove in varsity high school wrestling. The 145-pound senior claimed his second state championship in as many years Saturday, this time with no losses on his record for the season.

"It was nice to win it once," said Chinn. "It's even nicer to get back and win it again.

"Not too many people get to experience the joy two times in a row. It's great to go undefeated and to win states."

Chinn, the 2003 135-pound champion, defeated senior Shaheim Bradshaw from Huntington of Section XI 7-4 during their large-schools division final before 7,446 at the State University of New York at Buffalo to finish 42-0.

Also a two-time state runner-up, Chinn is only the second wrestler in Section V's history to qualify for states five times. He will head to Lehigh University (Pa.) with a career record of 232-22.

"I never processed all of the accolades," said Chinn. "To me, it seemed like wrestlers before me had a more difficult road than I did.

"The sentiment hasn't sunk in yet."

Chinn was one of six Section V wrestlers to win state titles, including 125-pound freshman teammate Kyle Ingraham and Holley senior Andrew Grillo in the 135-pound small-schools division. Pembroke's Nick Price (103), Kendall's Donald Williams (145) and Attica's John Wassink (170) also claimed state championships.

Webster Schroeder junior Gregor Gillespie's push for another state title and his 90-match win streak ended in the 130 semis.

Gillespie shook off enough of his disappointment to wrestle back to a third-place finish.

"It's better than a sixth-place finish," Gillespie said. "In a month or two, I'm going to feel good about coming back and taking third, instead of letting the loss affect me.

"It was disappointing, of course, but I have another year."





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