Armdrag.com: WNY locals compete in Journeymen wrestling tourney

Three locals place in NYS-only event.

While kids and coaches await the start of the high school wrestling season on May 3, locals found a way back to the mat in the meantime.

The Albany-based Journeymen Wrestling Club held its first ever Rudis New York State high school championships April 1 and 2 at Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, Pennsylvania. The club-level, folk-style tournament was run to provide kids throughout the state with a championship event, since NYSPHSAA championships are not being held in any sport this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The point man for the event was Section II Shenendehowa varsity coach Frank Popolizio, who also runs the Journeymen Club. Using a rolling entry system and paid application for the tournament, the athletes were chosen for the event by past experiences in NYSPHSAA tournaments, sectional championship experience, overall record and more.

Of the participants, 55 hailed from Western New York, including 13 of whom who placed in the event. Of those 13, three were from our local programs: Royalton-Hartland's Gavin Ciarfella (fourth place, 113 pounds), Starpoint's J.R. Leur (fifth, 99) and Grand Island's Brian Bielec (eighth, 170).