Wild cards get another shot at title

The Saratoga Springs senior is among 11 wrestlers from Section II who were granted wild-card entries into this weekend's state tournament.

The wild card is a fascinating thing: a rewind button, but also a fast forward, for wrestlers who may not have performed their best in a state qualifier championship match — Section II had them last Sunday in Glens Falls — that would've garnered automatic entry to Times Union Center starting Friday for the two-day meet.

By last Wednesday a state committee announced the bracket add-ons, after coaches submitted documentation to garner the four extra bids in each weight class.

Points considerations include a mixture of this season's strength of schedule and overall season record.

Had he enjoyed a little more success in postseason wrestle-backs (extra matches after losing in the main draw) the past two years, he would've been included by virtue of the points system.

Columbia landed two wild-card entries (152-pounder Matt McHugh and Dylan Dubuque at 182) but there was immense team-wide disappointment that senior Kyle Greene and a 33-6 record didn't get invited.

"Very bittersweet," Columbia coach Anthony Servidone said of the Blue Devils missing on an entry.