Baldwinsville Wrestling Wins Section III Class AA Crown

Baldwinsville High School’s boys wrestling team achieved a significant milestone this season, culminating in a championship victory at the Section III Class AA tournament held Saturday at PSLA @ Fowler. This win marks a turning point for the program, signaling a resurgence after a period of rebuilding.

A Resurgent Program Claims Victory

The Bees secured the Section III Class AA crown with a total of 208.5 points, surpassing their competitors. West Genesee finished as the runner-up with 186 points, followed by Fayetteville-Manlius (185.5), Cicero-North Syracuse (161.5), and J-D/CBA (132). Here’s Baldwinsville’s first class team trophy win since the 2015-16 season.

Dominant Performance in Championship Finals

Baldwinsville’s success was driven by a strong showing in the championship finals, where five wrestlers competed and four ultimately emerged victorious. Coach Tony Burkinshaw highlighted the team’s overall strength and resilience, noting that wrestlers battling back for third-place finishes were crucial to securing the win. “We’ve got a tough team,” Burkinshaw said. “We had guys battle back in their brackets and take third. That put the nail in the coffin for us.”

Did You Know? Baldwinsville’s victory ends a decade-long drought, marking their first class team trophy since the 2015-16 wrestling season.

Individual Champions Lead the Way

Zach Boudreau, boasting an undefeated 33-0 record this season, secured a win at 1:39 by pinning C-NS’s Grady Ellsworth. William Lamson won a 12-4 major decision over West Genesee’s Cole Willis in the 118-pound title match. Cael Bruce claimed the 126-pound title with a 10-0 major decision against Fayetteville-Manlius’s Joseph Rafuse. Scotty Warner added to the Bees’ success with a 12-9 decision over Eric Kozlowski of Fayetteville-Manlius at 144 pounds.

Expert Insight: The Bees’ strong performance in the championship finals, with four out of five wrestlers securing victories, demonstrates a depth of talent and consistent training that is critical for sustained success in competitive wrestling.

Other notable results included Aiden Wright of West Genesee winning an 11-4 decision over J-D/CBA’s Biruk Royal at 103 pounds, and Dominic Schiano of J-D/CBA securing a 4-0 decision over West Genesee’s Brennan Kline at 132 pounds. Victor Petronella of New Hartford-Saquoit Valley-Utica won the 138-pound crown by forfeit.

Looking Ahead

The team’s lightweights, according to Coach Burkinshaw, have been performing exceptionally well. With 11 wrestlers now qualified for the inter-class sectional tournament next Saturday at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College, Baldwinsville has a second opportunity to compete for a team title, having been unable to participate in the Division I dual championship in January due to weather conditions. Burkinshaw expressed confidence in the team’s potential, stating, “I’d like to win because I believe we have a team that can do it…I think the guys we’re sending will make some noise, so it’s going to be fun next Saturday.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final point total for Baldwinsville at the Section III Class AA tournament?

Baldwinsville finished with 208.5 points, securing the championship.

How many wrestlers from Baldwinsville competed in the championship finals?

Five wrestlers from Baldwinsville competed in the championship finals.

When and where will the inter-class sectional tournament be held?

The inter-class sectional tournament will be held next Saturday at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College.

Given Baldwinsville’s recent success and strong showing at the Section III Class AA tournament, what factors will be most critical for them to maintain momentum and perform well at the upcoming inter-class sectional tournament?

Baldwinsville Wrestling Wins Section III Class AA Crown | 2026 Season