Maple Hill’s Svingala stars at Mohonasen Tournament

SCHENECTADY — Maple Hill’s Caleb Svinagala took first place in the 126-pound division at this past weekend’s Mohonasen Invitational wrestling tournament.

Svingala, who finished second in the state in the 106-pound division a year ago, is competing at 120 pounds this year, but wrestled up one class to test himself and he passed with flying colors.

Svingala started the day by pinning Filip Carroll of Albany Academy in 26 seconds. He went on to pin Zoey Lints of Duanesburg in 1:09, then pinned Alex Martin of Ausable Valley in 1:30.

Svingala was matched up against one of Section II’s best in Owen Hicks of Fonda-Fultonville in the championship match and the Maple Hill standout had little trouble in earning a 12-0 major decision victory.

The four vicotiers in the tournament improves Svingala’s record to 5-0.

Three of Svingala’s teammates advanced to the tournament semifinals. Thomas Merhige lost to Clayton O’Connor of Mohonasen by pin in 1:43 in the 106-pound division.

Reese Steele lost an 11-7 decision to Jarrett Thayer of Unatego in the 160-pound division and Adrian Delfavero was pinned in :43 by Unatego’s Sam Cole in the 182-pound division.

Maple Hill placed fiv\fth in the team standing with 124.5 points. Mohnasen was first with 197.5, followed by Saratoga (195.5), Schalmont (140) and Saratoga (140).

Maple Hill returns to action on Thursday when it hosts Taconic Hills in a Patroon Conference match.