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For the first time, Section 6 will know who the best dual team really is.
Starpoint High School will host the first ever Dual Meet Championship this Saturday with eight teams vying for the team crown.
At the beginning of the season, any team who was interested in being considered for the tournament had to sign a commitment to be eligible.
The criteria to be eligible included overall record. Teams who defeated opponents with a 90 percent win-loss record and those with a 75 percent win-loss record received additional points.
The one-day tournament will pit No. 1 seed Falconer against No. 8 seed Gowanda, No. 2 Pioneer will face No. 7 Fredonia, No. 3 Olean will take on No. 6 Depew/Cleveland Hill and No. 4 Newfane battles No. 5 Chautauqua Lake. The winners advance with the championship meet scheduled for roughly 4 p.m.
The competition this week will be stiff as Falconer is the No. 3 team in the state, Pioneer is No. 10 in the state and Olean is No. 20 in the state.
"We have been pushing for something like this for five or six years," Fredonia coach Joe Santilli said.
"It's a step in the right direction. We should have had it years ago. We tried to put it together for years and always seemed like only three or four teams were willing to commit to it. There has been enough movement and voices saying the sport needs it. It's a team sport. For the wrestlers with .500 records who won't be going to Albany for the state tournament, it gives those guys a chance to be involved. It's great things for teams to participate and get caught up in it. Everyone on the mat matters. Everyone is a factor in the outcome. I think it's a great opportunity. It's great for the sport and great for teams and great for the fans. Fans like to talk about this."
See DUALS, Page B4
Santilli also made mention of the fact five of the eight schools come from the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Conference.
"We have been talking for years how our league is overlooked," he said. "Even statewide, we have to be one of the top three leagues in the state. We face Olean, Falconer, Chautauqua Lake. We hang in there. It's a tough league."
Beginning next year, the state will hold a similar tournament to determine the best dual meet team in the entire state. That tournament will be a 16-team tournament. Once each Section holds a dual meet tournament, the winning teams will advance to the state tournament along with a few wild card teams to determine the state's best dual tournament team.
Though specifics on dates are not known, this dual tournament will not impact the individual state tournament as it is believed the Class tournament and state qualifier tournament will be held after the dual meet championships.
"What you may end up seeing is someone creating a tournament for those teams not involved," Santilli speculated. "Coaches want their wrestlers to get an at-large bid for states and points for their own Class tournament and state qualifiers.
"We are looking forward to the challenge," Santilli concluded. "We will see what happens. It's a good experience."