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Twenty-four teams from around New York state will make the trip to SRC Arena on the campus of Onondaga Community College for this Saturday's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Dual Meet Wrestling Championships.
Opening ceremonies in Syracuse will be held at 8:30 a.m. with first-round matches beginning at 9 a.m., following with the second round at 10:45 a.m., third round at 12:30 p.m., semifinals at 3 p.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Falconer/Cassadaga Valley will be riding Wednesday's win over Large School contender Olean/Allegany-Limestone into Small School pool play on mat 8.
The Golden Falcons carry a 26-1 record into the day against the likes of No. 2 Saranac out of Section VII and No. 7 Warrensburg out of Section II.
Falconer/Cassadaga Valley is technically the unseeded "drop-in" for its pool, despite many considering them a favorite to advance to semifinal action according to a preview by sectionixwrestling.com.
Drew Wilcox and company will face Saranac in their first-round match of the day, before meeting Warrensburg in the second round. Falconer/Cassadaga Valley will have a bye in the third round when Warrensburg and Saranac meet.
Saranac was able to edge Peru for the Section VII Championship with a 40-26 final, and will come in with a stout lineup that is led by Jacob Nolan.
Nolan sports a record of 30-3 on the year, and is listed at 182 pounds according to trackwrestling.com, but is expected to compete at 170 according to sectionixwrestling.com.
Also carrying strong records for the Chiefs are Hunter Devins at 99 pounds (26-9), Collin Clancy at 113 pounds (23-9), Robert Foley at 132 pounds (23-8), Noah Clausen at 145 pounds (18-2), Bryce Smith at 160 pounds (30-4) and Tim Gadway at 195 pounds (24-8).
Robbie Penhollow will lead Falconer/Cassadaga Valley with a 35-1 record at 182 pounds, his only loss coming against out-of-state competition, while the Golden Falcons also have strong seasons underway from Collin Mower at 285 pounds, Jordan Dustin at 170 pounds, Bryce Baglia at 152 pounds, Nick Saeger at 145 pounds, Jimmy Kramer at 138 pounds and Joey Pillittieri at 126 pounds.
Warrensburg enters Saturday with a well-balanced lineup that includes strong performers such as Robert Ranous at 99 pounds (23-11), Dylan Winchell at 113 pounds (31-1), Tanner McKenna at 120 pounds (34-4), Zach Carpenter at 138 pounds (22-6), Zack Davis at 145 pounds (30-4), Hunter McKenna at 152 pounds (24-1), Nolan McNeill at 195 pounds (17-1), and Chris Wilson at 285 pounds (34-3).
Between the strong resumes of Saranac's Nolan, Penhollow and McNeil of Warrensburg from 170-195, there could be three potential matchups between some of the best grapplers in the state in pool play should any shuffling take place.
Moving on the second round, the final winner off of mat 8 will face the winner of mat 5, which includes No. 3 Peru out of Section VII, No. 6 Central Valley Academy out of Section III and Canisteo Greenwood of Section V.
In Large School action, Olean/Allegany-Limestone will also enter the day without a seed on mat 2.
The Huskies will take on No. 4 Spencerport of Section V before meeting No. 5 Fulton out of Section III in the second round.
Olean/Allegany-Limestone will have a bye in the third round along with Falconer/Cassadaga Valley.