When the Horace Greeley senior received the good news, Wymbs became the first Greeley wrestler since 2006 to qualify for the state events.
Wymbs will begin his quest for the 195-pound Division 1 (large school) state title at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Albany Times-Union Center.
“It’s awesome being the first since 2006 to make the state championships,” Wymbs said. “It’s also cool being Coach DeBellis’ first wrestler to states.”
Burke St. John was Greeley’s last state participant. He was a two-time Section 1 champion in 2005 and ’06.
Wymbs, 36-7 this season, is the sixth seed and will face James Empfield of Lancaster in a first-round match. A Wymbs’ victory would send him to the quarterfinals against the winner of Ben Honis (Jamesville-DeWitt) and Levi Ashley (Shenendehowa).
Even though this is Wymbs’ first state championship, he has received first-hand knowledge from his three coaches. DeBellis, along with assistant coaches Anthony Tortora, a Greeley graduate; and Dan Hall, a Mahopac alumnus; were all sectional champs. Tortora placed fourth in the state his junior year and won the section his senior year.
“The coaches have told me it is going to be a hard tournament,” Wymbs said. “They told me every match is going to be a sectional championship, so I am looking forward to it.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice Chappaqua and receive free news updates.