BARKER —
One of the greatest student-athletes in Barker history is gearing up to compete this weekend in the state wrestling tournament at the Times Union Center in Albany.
Austin Blackley, the son of Sean and Michelle Blackley of Johnson Creek Road, Middleport, has been seeded fourth in the small schools 220-pound weight class.
Earlier this month in East Aurora, Blackley, listed at 6-feet, 3-inches, 220 pounds, took first place in the Section VI State Qualifiers (Class C and D schools). He also took first place at the Section VI Class D Championships that were held in Chautauqua Lake on Feb. 3-4.
“I’ve been coaching him now for six years — two on modified and four years on varsity. He’s tremendous. I’ve never seen a kid grow and gain so much muscle throughout his career. He started as a 120 pounder and now he’s at 220,” said Barker wrestling head coach Nate Sutch.
“Austin’s put in a tremendous amount of work in the off seasons in the weight room. He focused on the weight room in the summer for both football and wrestling that was always his main focus.”
In the fall, as a star player on the merged Barker/Royalton-Hartland football team, Blackley led the team in rushing with 1,315 yards and 20 touchdowns. Barker/Roy-Hart captured the G-R title with a perfect 7-0 record.
In addition to his first place finish at the 2012 Niagara Orleans All-League Wrestling Tournament, Blackley also repeated as a first-place finisher at the 2012 Lockport Wrestling Tournament.
This season, Austin also took first at the Barker Wrestling Tournament, was second at the Akron Tournament and placed third at the Niagara County Community College Wrestling Officials Tournament.
Blackley, who finished 30-4 this season, is just one of three students in the history of Barker to qualify for the state tournament.
“He’s definitely a leader. He’s just a gamer. He goes out there and he’s very physical. He’s got great hips for a wrestler. He gets out of bad situations very well and he’s smart. He takes advantage of other kids’ mistakes.”
Sutch is assisted by Jason Nellist.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Barker senior Austin Blackley CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Barker wrestler seeded No. 4 in state tournament
Austin Blackley is Barker’s third state mat participant ever.
- Sports
-
-
Lakemen mark 30-year anniversary
It’s a small ball and a small world, really, when it comes to baseball.
-
Blackhawks win in triple overtime
The three-overtime opener of the Stanley Cup finals came to a thrilling end at the stroke of midnight Wednesday because the tenacious Shaw is a whole lot more than his reputation for irritating opposing players.
-
Road to Glory road kill
Robert Katzfey put up a better fight at the weigh-in.
-
Rampage open with 25-12 win
The Lockport Rampage broke open a 12-12 contest Saturday night with two late touchdowns, defeating the visiting Buffalo Chargers, 25-12, at Exchange Club Field Outwater Park.
-
Road to Glory 'Road Rage'
“Road to Glory” main event combatants Amer Abdallah of Lockport and Roert Katzfey of Wisconsin don’t like each other and that was evident moments after both light heavyweights weighed in at Lock 34 on Friday night.
-
Son of a Legend
Lockport’s Joe Taylor is used to knocking people down.
-
Local coach tops Buffalo Hall Class of 2013
Respected by his peers for countless years of service to the Western New York high school football landscape, Dick Diminuco leaves an indelible mark on our community and more importantly to all the countless high school athletes he impacted during his career.
-
Ex-Bills QB Kelly battling cancer of the jaw
Jim Kelly intends to deal with the cancer found in his upper jaw bone much like the Hall of Fame quarterback has approached many of the challenges in his life. Head on.
-
Abdallah fight card nears
Just weeks away from the “Road To Glory” professional kickboxing fight card at the Lockport Kenan Arena, hometown warriors — including WKA United States Light Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion Amer Abdallah — are finalizing their preparation.
-
Lions succumb to 'Black Attack'
Lockport High School’s championship baseball season came to a bitter end on Friday afternoon, but the anticipation for 2014 is palpable enough to ease the pain.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Obama Welcomes WNBA Champions to White House
Dems Win Big at Congressional Baseball Game
Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: Australian Begins Cuba to Florida Swim
Tebow Thanks Patriots for Opportunity
Bowl, Bat, Run: Cricket Takes Off in America
MLB Interviewing Players As Part of Drug Probe
Penn State Trustees Hope Sanctions Reconsidered
AP Analysis: MLB Suspensions Could Take Awhile
Obama Hosts Super Bowl Winning Ravens
Ryan Braun: 'The Truth Has Not Changed'
AP Source: Drug Clinic Founder Will Talk to MLB
NFL Hall of Fame DE Deacon Jones Dead at 74
Raw: Thunder Boom Startles Yankees Dugout
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
