SOURCE: www.thedailynewsonline.com

February 15, 1988

Pre-tourney favorites capture titles
Pavilion, Le Roy Triumph
By Bill Bruton Jr., Sportswriter
The Daily News, Batavia, NY
Monday, February 15, 1988

Full Text: Copyright © 1988 Batavia Daily News.
Reproduced with the permission of The Daily News.

There were no surprises in team competition at the Genesee Region League and Livingston County League wrestling tournaments Saturday.

The favorites -- Pavilion in the GR and Le Roy in the Livingston League -- easily outdistanced their competition.

Winning the league tournament is old hat for Le Roy as the team captured its ninth straight title.

Pavilion's win was its first since the 1977-78 season.

Genesee Region Tournament

ALEXANDER - Pavilion ended up with 222.5 points. Byron-Bergen was the closest competitor at 124.5 points, with Kendall in third at 115.5.

Pavilion won the league tournament 10 years ago in Coach John Grillo's first year at the school.

Despite being the favorite, Grillo was taking no chances in the event. His club was coming off a close match against Kendall earlier in the week.

"We won, but we didn't look good," said Grillo. "Wrestling's the kind of sport where you never know."

As it turned out, there was no need to worry. Pavilion placed 10 wrestlers in the finals and placed in the top four in all 14 weight classes.

Greg Majors helped key the big win for Pavilion. Seeded fourth at 132 pounds, he upset top-seeded Brian Spicer of Alexander in an early round. In the finals, he won an 8-4 decision over Brian Barnes of Attica, getting revenge for two losses to the Attica wrestler this season.

Arturo Martinez won the individual title at 112 for the Gophers with a pin in :55 over Rob Estes of Elba/Oakfield-Alabama.

At 126, John Bannister won a 2-1 decision over Geof Smith of Alexander. At 145, George Brown won a 4-3 decision over Rich Theal of Attica. Brent Walton (155) decisioned Chris Hart of Kendall 9-0, Jeff Harris (177) decisioned Carl Schroeder of Pembroke 10-7, and Craig Baker won 13-4 over Bryant Tyson of Byron-Bergen.

Finishing second for Pavilion were Chad Draper (98), Tim Sullivan (138), and Dave Lemley (167). Finishing Third for the Gophers were Shawn Wilkinson (105) and Jamie Mott (119). Kip Donegan (250) was fourth for Pavilion.

Other titlists were Tim Herman (91), Dan O'Grady (98), Lee Woodring (119), and Eric Toal (138) of Byron-Bergen; Maurice Robinson (105) and Todd Forkey (167) of Kendall; and Mike Thore (250) of Attica.

Only seven of the league's nine teams were involved. Lyndonville and Holley were unable to attend due to the poor weather conditions.