Pair of UB Recruits Excel at New York State Championship
3/2/2012 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
BUFFALO, NY - Chris Nevinger and Tony Lock ended their high school careers on the highest of notes last weekend, with each winning a Division II NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championship. The win was Nevinger's third straight state title and he was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler, while Lock earned a bit of revenge after finishing in second as a junior last season.
Nevinger, wrestling for Letchworth High School, capped his career for the Indians with a title at 160 pounds. Projected to wrestle at either 157 or 165 pounds next season for Buffalo, the standout won four straight matches to push his consecutive wins streak to 143 after his flawless 51-0 season. Previously, Chris won the state title at 145 and 152 pounds. He has also won two NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association) titles as a freshman and sophomore, and placed third last season.
Though his future teammate earned the most outstanding wrestler honor, Lock was simply dominant, not allowing a single point to his opponent through his four matches in the 182 pound bracket. He won his opening match 15-0 before getting pins in the quarter- and semi-finals to earn a chance at redemption in the finals. Facing Keegan Cerwinski of Greene High School, Lock shut him down for a 4-0 victory. Projected to wrestle at 174 or 184 pounds, Tony finished his season with a flawless 51-0 record to cap off a two-year run that earned him a record of 99-2, with one of those losses coming in last year's state final.
The two local standouts will join a Bulls team that will only graduate one starter and finished 7-14 this past regular season.
