Russell did not leave the spectators at the Southwestern gym in anticipation for very long after a quick takedown, which he eventually worked into a pin at 59 seconds, to secure Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s 46-36 victory.

“Overall, we’re a young team and getting better,” Falconer/Cassadaga Valley head coach Drew Wilcox said. “Matches like this you never know what to expect. Some of those matches were two younger kids going at it where you think he should win, but at the same time you just want to see their hand get raised. It was a good dual meet. We knew it would be close. Southwestern has five really good kids and you’ve got to work around that the best you can.”

With the win, the Golden Cougars (4-1, 4-0) will entertain undefeated Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Panama/Clymer for sole possession of first place in the league next Wednesday.

Russell’s pin may have secured the victory on the scoreboard, but junior Patrick Braley wrestling up about 95 pounds at 285 pounds gave the Golden Cougars the key points needed for the win. Battling Southwestern’s Elliot Cavness, the usual 215-pound Braley worked his first takedown into a pin at 1:41.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Nicholas Russell attempts to take down Southwestern’s Owen Walburg during CCAA Division 1 wrestling Wednesday in West Ellicott. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

“He’s a strong kid and can handle the weight,” Wilcox said about Braley going up a weight. “He’s as strong as any 285 pounder out there. I think he was giving up about 95 pounds. It’s the move we had to make to win the duals, and if I wouldn’t have done it we wouldn’t have won.”

Along with Braley, Noah Brandt secured a pin at 157 pounds, Dylan Newman recorded a second-period pin at 138 pounds and Brayden McCarthy continued back from his football injury with a pin in 34 seconds at 132 pounds.

“It was nice to see Brayden McCarthy at 132,” Wilcox added. “He’s been injured since football season. That is his third match of the year and it’s good to have him back.”

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Clayton Evans secured the only decision not by pin or forfeit at 118 pounds with a 13-5 major decision over Jace Penhollow.

While the Trojans suffered another loss in the league dual meets, they had plenty to celebrate with milestones met by senior Carmine Calimeri and junior Miles Torres.

Prior to the match, Calimeri was celebrated for becoming Southwestern’s all-time wins leader earlier this season and a banner was presented to him for his soon-to-be-reached accolade of 200 career wins.

“He set the all-time record a while ago,” Southwestern head coach John Vogan said. “But we wanted to do something here at home. He’ll get his 200th win the next couple of days, probably at this weekend’s Grove City Tournament.”

At 144 pounds, Calimeri scored one takedown then worked to a pin at 1:48 to improve his career record to 195-36.

“Not only is he our all-time wins leader, he’s the only four-time New York state place finisher that the school has ever had,” Vogan added. “He’s also the all-time leader in pins, so he’s been an unbelievable competitor throughout the course of his career. By the end of this year he will hopefully be a five-time New York state place finisher, which there are not a lot of those in Section VI history.”

Just a few matches before Calimeri, Torres earned a pin in the 126-pound match and reached 100 career victories.

“Miles is only a junior. He’s got a lot more wins to come,” Vogan stated. “He’s ranked No. 5 in the state this year at 118 pounds. He’s had an awesome year. He took fourth last year at states. We’re hoping for a really good run. He has been super dependable, super reliable for us all year. I’m just really excited to see what he can do the rest of this year and the rest of his career.”

Along with the benchmark victories, Southwestern (1-5, 1-4) picked up pins by Brayden Potter at 215 pounds, Evan Lescynski at 103 pounds and Adrian Torres at 110 pounds.

“Right now we’ve got five kids ranked in the top eight of New York state small schools,” Vogan said. “Our goal right now is to send five kids to the state tournament and place five kids there. It’s been a nice plus to get Tavio (Hoose) back for the end of this year. We’ve got a really strong group of leaders and then a lot of young wrestlers getting better every day. Evan Lescynski was one who came out and we needed him to have a pin.”

157: Noah Brandt (F/CV) p. Ryen Hebner, :41

165: Noah Booth (F/CV) won via forfeit

175: Riley Best (F/CV) won via forfeit

190: Tavio Hoose (S) won via forfeit

215: Brayden Potter (S) p. Tyler Anderson, 1:14

285: Patrick Braley (F/CV) p. Elliot Cavness, 1:41

103: Evan Lescynski (S) p. Brayden Beichner, 5:03

110: Adrian Torres (S) p. Mason Corrigan, :46

118: Clayton Evans (F/CV) md. Jace Penhollow, 13-5

126: Miles Torres (S) p. Gage Neid, 3:12

132: Brayden McCarthy (F/CV) p. Jacob Grey, :34

138: Dylan Newman (F/CV) p. Xayvion Troutman, 3:23

144: Carmine Calimeri (S) p. Ethan Dickerson, 1:48

150: Nicolas Russell (F/CV) p. Owen Walburg, :59