Clarkstown Wrestlers Get Set for Sectionals

Sunday was not just a big day for football with Super Bowl XLV, but it was also the day that Section 1 high school wrestling had its divisional tournaments, including one at Clarkstown South in West Nyack.

The division 4 tournament, which included Clarkstown North and Clarkstown South, took place at South. Both the Rams of North and the Vikings of South had success in the tournament — each sending double digit wrestlers to sectionals.  

Overall the Vikings had 12 out of 17 wrestlers qualify for the next round and the Rams had 10 out of 17.

One of those 12 Vikings was sophomore Paul Okeke, who wrestles in the 189 lbs. weight class. Okeke lost in the championship round to Kyle Hartigan of Pearl River.

“There was an definitely an added pressure being the hosts of this major event. We knew we needed to represent our school and show what we were made of,“ said Okeke.

The Vikings really like their chances in sectionals with senior’s Jesse Gedeiko and Dan Pragdat leading the way in the 130 and 145 lbs. weight classes. The Vikings also have a solid group  of heavyweights beginning with Okeke at 189 followed by Nick Ochrynowicz at 215 lbs. and ending with Adalberto Fijor, who has been a dominant force in the 285 lbs. class.  

Not only were the Vikings pleased with their performance on the mats but everyone made it home in time for the Super Bowl kickoff.