Highland’s Malherio wins Section 9 wrestling title

By Bond Brungard
Posted 2/14/19

John McFarland and his coaching staff for Highland’s wrestling team rarely left the corner Sunday at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge during the finals of the Section 9, Division II tournament.

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Highland’s Malherio wins Section 9 wrestling title

Posted

John McFarland and his coaching staff for Highland’s wrestling team rarely left the corner Sunday at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge during the finals of the Section 9, Division II tournament.

Highland sent seven wrestlers and another from Marlboro to the finals, and the Huskies came home with two sectional titles.

Peter Bender, at 106 pounds, beat Rondout’s Rocco DeAverio 7-4 to take that title. Mat Malherio, at 132 pounds, stopped Port Jervis’ Joey Amato 7-3 to take the other title for Highland.

Bender and Malherio now advance to the state tournament at Albany’s Time-Union Center Feb. 22-23.

Justin Halbert, at 145 pounds, Logan Smith, at 152 pounds, Ben Swart at 195 pounds and John Perez, at 22O pounds, were pinned in their finals.

Adian Maduro, at 170 pounds, lost in a major decision. And Marlboro’s John Antonelli, who practices and travels with Highland, reached the 120-pound final and was stopped by Chester’s Liam Bullock 9-7.

Highland was second in the tournament with 174 points.