ALBANY, New York (WWNY) – It was a banner weekend at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships in Albany for the Frontier League, with three wrestlers placing 3rd, one 2nd, and a pair of wrestlers from Copenhagen winning state titles in their respective weight classes.
On Sunday in Copenhagen, it was a day to give their champions a hero’s welcome home.
Despite it being Sunday, the school was open in Copenhagen to welcome home a pair of wrestling champions.
Chase Nevills and Tavian Camper received a police escort back after being crowned state champions on the mat.
For Nevills, it was his 2nd straight state title.
After winning last year at 118 pounds, Nevills captured the Division 2 title at 124 pounds with a 6-3 win over Chris Noto of Honeoye Falls-Lima.
Nevills joins a rare company in becoming a 2-time state champ on the mat.
”It just meant a lot. Both of my coaches told me that the 2nd one was gonna be harder to win than the first one and they were both right. I had to work so much harder than I did to win my first one, so it means a lot,” said Nevills.
Later in the evening on the same mat, Nevills’ teammate Tavian Camper finished his high school wrestling career by claiming the Division 2 title at 152 pounds, beating top seed Caden Bellis of Tioga 4-3.
For Camper, it’s his first state title and he says it’s the culmination of years of hard work and a dream come true.
” It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Seeing all the fans here supporting us made me, it started to sink in, I guess. Made me realize it’s a pretty good accomplishment. It’s not easy. It took me a long, long time to where I’m at now and constant battles with these kids every year,” said Camper.
Copenhagen Coach Clay Russell, who has been coaching both Camper and Nevills since 5th grade, says it’s amazing to see how these 2 have developed over the years and adds the close bond Nevills and Camper have both on and off the mat made this even more special.
”Them being best friends, they feed off each other and they want the best for each other and they push each other. A big part of their success is having each other there in the corner. This weekend, I think probably the biggest highlight of the whole entire tournament is was when Chase was in the corner for Tavian and as soon as Tavian walked off the mat, the big hug that they gave each other, it brings tears to my eyes,” said Russell.
Chase Nevills and Tavian Camper, an inspiration for not only current but future wrestlers at Copenhagen, proving hard work pays off and your dreams can come true.
Before the state championship finals matches, South Jeff Wrestling Coach Pat Conners was honored, being inducted into the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame.
As a wrestler at St. Lawrence, Conners was a 2-time All-American and led the Saints to a national championship and was a national champion in 1988.
As coach of the South Jeff Wrestling Program, Conners has amassed 473 wins, 22 Frontier League titles, and 15 Section 3 titles.
Congratulations to Pat Conners on his induction into the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The SLU Men’s Lacrosse Team was looking for its 3rd straight win to open the season as they hosted Western New England.
In the 1st quarter, the Saints take the lead when Cam Croasdaile connects: 1-0 St. Lawrence.
Tied at 1, Croasdaile scores his 2nd of the game to put the Saints back up 2-1.
Then it’s Judge Murphy with the blast that dents the back of the net: 3-1 Saints.
Murphy scores on the wraparound to make it 4-1. He had 6 goals to lead the Saints’ attack.
St. Lawrence beats Western New England 15-8.
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