HF-L wrestlers and coaches proudly show off the program’s first Section V Team Championship trophy last Saturday after winning the Section V Class B1 title. Here’s the article on the achievement. Photo by HF-L Athletic Director Brian Donohue
The Honeoye Falls-Lima Varsity Wrestling team has had several individual Section V champions over the years, most notably 2020 graduate Anthony Noto, but had never celebrated a Section V team title. That is until this weekend.
HF-L won the Section V Class B1 Tournament, the program’s first sectional title, on February 5, rolling up 209.5 points, 34.5 points more than runner-up Palmyra-Macedon. The Cougars, now ranked ninth in the state, took 12 wrestlers to the tournament and five came home as sectional champions, one took second place, one third place and one fourth place.
Chris Noto earned the 102 pound championship, pinning his first opponent in 28 seconds and pinning his quarterfinal round opponent in 31 seconds. He won the semifinal match with a pin and then captured a 7-1 decision over HF-L teammate Jacob McVige. McVige’s run to the title bout started with a bye in the first round, a pin in the quarterfinals and a pin in the semifinals before the 7-1 loss to Noto to finish second. Chris Noto is ranked third in the state and McVige seventh in the state at 102 pounds.
Andrew Spaulding became the Class B1 champion at 110 pounds. He had a bye in the first round, won by pin in the quarterfinals, won by pin in the semifinals and won by a pin in the championship bout. He is ranked third in the state in the weight class.
Jazz Spaulding garnered the 118 pound title as he pinned his first opponent in 52 seconds, pinned his quarterfinal opponent, pinned his semifinal opponent in 35 seconds and needed just 48 seconds to pin his opponent in the championship bout. He is ranked 12th in the state at that weight level.
Waylan Winseman finished third at 126 pounds. He won his first round match with a pin in 29 seconds, then took the quarterfinal match with a 15-0 technical fall before losing by pin in the semifinals. He won his first consolation match with a pin and took the third/fourth place match with a pin in 39 seconds.
Nick Noto was the fourth champion, taking the 132 pound title. After a bye in the first round, Noto pinned his quarterfinal opponent in 41 seconds, won by pin in 28 seconds in the semifinals and won by pin in the finals. He is ranked second in the state in the weight class.
Cooper Levine went 2-2 at 138 pounds. He won the first round match with a pin, lost the quarterfinal match by 11-2 major decision, won his first consolation match with a pin but lost his second consolation match by a pin.
Michael DaGama had a bye in the first round of the 145 weight division. He lost the quarterfinal match by a pin and his first consolation match by a pin.
Andrew Bovenzi placed fourth in the 172 pound weight class. He had a bye in the first round, beat teammate Ben Sackett with a 4-0 decision in the quarterfinal round, lost a 7-2 decision in the semifinals, won by pin in his first consolation match but lost by injury default in the third/fourth place match to finish fourth. Sackett won by pin in the first round match before losing to Bovenzi 4-0 in the quarterfinals and bounced back to win his first consolation match with a 9-6 decision and lost his second consolation match by a pin to finish with a 2-2 record at sectionals.
Alex Zuber was the team’s fifth sectional champion of the tournament, taking the 189 pound title. He won his first round match with a pin in 24 seconds, won his quarterfinal match with a pin, won his semifinal match with a 1-0 decision and earned a 1-0 decision to win the championship. He is ranked 10th in the state at this weight level.
Owen Englert lost in the first round of the 215 pound weight class by a pin, had a bye in the first consolation match and lost his second consolation match by a pin.
The Cougars did not have any wrestlers at the 152, 160 or 285 pound weight classes.
“It is very special for this group to achieve a sectional championship as a team,” said coach Jason Bovenzi, who was named Section V Class B1 Coach of the Year. “Of the 12 boys, 10 of them earned points for us as Cooper and Ben both received seven points. I am very fortunate to coach this group. They did all the work and I also credit the work of my assistant Scott Winseman. Once we got to the semifinal round, we felt we had the talent that would make a championship happen. Our lighter weights, up to 138 pounds, are very special and are some of the best kids in the state. Andrew moved up a weight class and he did very well. Alex beat the #1 and #2 seeded wrestlers.”
Earlier in the week, the Cougars defeated a combined Avon-Geneseo team 54-15 on February 1. Chris Noto received a forfeit win at 102 pounds. McVige earned a 6-4 sudden victory decision in the first overtime in the 110 bout. Andrew Spaulding pinned his opponent in the 118 weight class. Jazz Spaulding won by pin at the 126 weight division. Winseman pinned his 132-pound opponent. Levine dropped a 9-4 decision in the 145 bout. DaGama pinned his opponent at 152 pounds. Andrew Bovenzi captured a 6-4 sudden victory decision in the first overtime of the 160 weight class. Sackett pinned his opponent at the 172 weight level. Englert won by pin over his 189 pound opponent. Zuber won by pin at the 215 weight division. Avon won the 138 pound and 285 pound bouts by forfeit.
HF-L will send Chris Noto, McVige, Andrew Spaulding, Jazz Spaulding, Winseman, Nick Noto, Andrew Bovenzi and Zuber to the SuperSectionals, Section V’s qualifier for the state tournament, on February 12 at 9:30 a.m. at Brockport State.
