TOWN OF LOCKPORT —
If winning one state wrestling championship isn’t enough, the Lockport Kids Wrestling Club went four times better, producing a record four state champions at the recent state youth wrestling championships in Cornell.
The LKWC celebrated these and other top finishes and performances on Friday at its annual banquet at the South Lockport Fire Hall.
J.R. Leuer, 6; Andy Lucinski, 8; Mitchell Seaver, 12; and Anthony Orefice, 14; won state titles for the LKWC.
Sixteen club members went down to the state tournament late last month, along with five coaches, LKWC president Kevin Lucinski, Jimmy Leuer, Chris Duncanson, Shawn Murray and Jerry Kapuscinski.
It was Lucinski’s second straight state title. Last year, he won at 50 pounds and this year, he claimed the 55-pound Empire State championship.
“I was down 2-0,” Lucinski said of his state finals match. “Then in the last period, with about 10 seconds left, I reversed him and got back the points. I want to thank my dad and my mom and all my coaches,” Andy said.
Leuer won the 37-pound title, Seaver, making his second straight trip to states, claimed the 75-pound crown and Orefice won the 118-pound title.
Seaver, whose favorite move is the Lateral Drop, is one the longest standing members of the LKWC, now in his sixth year.
Placing second at states for the Little Lions were Stephen Kapuscinski (95) and Kirk Feeney (130). Feeney went 19-14 at 120 pounds for Joe Scapelliti’s LHS varsity Lions this past season as just a freshman.
“You get a lot out of the club,” Feeney said. “Youth is harder than modified. You have seventh and eighth graders just starting out going against some guys who’ve been in it for five or six years already.”
Placing third for the LKWC was Dontay Gill (80). Placing fourth for Lockport were Max Feeney (70), Julias Williams (75) and Mike Daskavitz (172).
The Little Lions finished fifth overall out of the 107 clubs attending and were the top school-based team in the state.
“Other clubs are all-star teams or paid clubs where the kids can come from anywhere. Lockport had nine place winners, four of them are state champions,” Kevin Lucinski said.
The LKWC currently boasts 58 kids and has had membership numbers as high as 70.
Coming up next are two spring tournaments. The Gene Mills International is this weekend in Syracuse and the Brute Empire Nationals in Rochester follows a week after that.
Sports
Related Photos
-
The Lockport Kids Wrestling Club produced four state champions, two runners up and a third-place finisher at this year’s youth state wrestling tournament in Cornell. From left, first row, are LKWC first-place finishers Andy Lucinski, Mitch Seaver and J.R. Leuer; second row, Dontay Gill (third place), Kirk Feeney (second place) and Stephen Kapuscinski (second place). Not pictured is state-champion Anthony Orefice. John D'Onofrio/Staff
Little Lions go big at states
The Lockport Kids Wrestling Club produces four state champions in 2012
- Sports
-
-
Lions' '9' wins NFL championship
It might not have been the prettiest Niagara Frontier League baseball win on record, nor the most convincing, but head coach Steve Styrzo’s Lockport Lions have written the book on strong pitching and timely hitting throughout this past season.
-
David Ragan revisited
What could Sunday’s Talladega winner David Ragan possibly have to do with Lockport and Western New York?
-
Lockport's Tolli is 3-time Patriot champ
Lockport native Caroline Tolli recently concluded one of the top all-around careers in Bucknell track and field history.
-
Together again
A Newfane family of four, dressed in Bills gear, was among the many who stopped by the Bewley Building to meet former Bills greats Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas.
-
Rampage preseason opener is Saturday
Lockport football fans are gearing up for the premier this Saturday afternoon of the city's newest semi-pro football team, the Lockport Rampage.
-
Barker's Hefferon signs for Seton Hill
Barker senior, Jessica Hefferon signed a National Letter of Intent recently to attend Seton Hill University on an academic and women’s field hockey scholarship.
-
Lord have Mercy
Lockport's Khari Demos will bring a variety of talents with him to Mercyhurst College this fall.
-
LHS senior is diving into college
One of the greatest female divers in Lockport High School history will take her talents and impecable timing to the University of Akron.
-
Reid selects Daemen College
Alex Reid spoke softly and carried a Giant Sequoia throughout his athletic career at Lockport High School.
-
Lockport/Ken East strike cancer out
Niagara Frontier League varsity softball players from Lockport and Kenmore East high schools participated Monday in the second-annual Strike Cancer Out contest at LHS.
- More Sports Headlines
-
MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014
America's Cup Officials Say Race Will Continue
LeBron James Wins NBA MVP for Fourth Time
African American Jockey Aims for Derby History
Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big
Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins
Sacramento Mayor Lauds NBA Vote on Kings
NBA Star's Aunt: I Am Very Proud of Him
Tebow Time in New York Over After Jets Cut QB
White House Commends Jason Collins on Coming Out
NBA Veteran Jason Collins Comes Out As Gay
Raw: Alligator on Fairway at Zurich Classic
Backpacks Banned From Kentucky Derby
Ex Ravens LB Ayanbadejo Talks Equality
Red Sox Fans: Boston 'Getting Back to Normal'
