After proving that it can be a good dual meet wrestling team, Colonie has a chance to establish itself as a good tournament team.
The Garnet Raiders host their annual Linda Stuart Memorial Tournament Saturday at Colonie Central High School. Thirteen teams are likely to compete including Bethlehem, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Scotia-Glenville, Monticello, Wallkill and defending champion Hudson Falls.
This Saturday will be a nice middle-of-the-line tournament to see how well we will do, said Colonie coach Matt Stein. `I think we can be a good tournament team. It’ll be interesting to see how we do.`
The Garnet Raiders are coming off a strong showing at last Saturday’s Ballston Spa Duals, where they posted a 5-0 record including a 42-25 victory over a Ballston Spa squad that has been one of the top Suburban Council programs for the last four years.
`I was pretty pleased,` said Stein. `We had a handful of guys who went undefeated and pretty much carried us through.`
Stein said Colonie needed the confidence boost from the Ballston Spa Duals after losing to Guilderland by four points in its Suburban Council opener last Wednesday.
`I think the day gave the most confidence to the guys who have wrestled the least (at the varsity level),` said Stein. `It gave them confidence that they belonged at the varsity level and that they can compete.`
The Linda Stuart Memorial Tournament begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the finals scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Bison split matches
Shaker’s wrestling team finished with a 2-2 record at last Saturday’s Watervliet Duals.
The Blue Bison ` operating as an independent team for the second year in a row ` defeated Rensselaer 57-18 and Catskill 51-34, but they lost to tournament champion Salem 58-21 and Watervliet 46-33.
Shaker returns to action Saturday at the Duanesburg Duals.“