O'Connor notches 150th wrestling win

Milford senior opens season with second-place finish at Captain Tony Bailey Memorial Tournament

(Milford senior T.J. O’Connor, center with poster, celebrates his milestone Saturday with his teammates. Photo by Mike Perrino.)

WRESTLING
O’Connor gets milestone win

Milford senior T.J. O’Connor placed second at 152 pounds on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Captain Tony Bailey Memorial Tournament in Boonville, notching his 150th varsity win during the event.

O’Connor has wrestled for five seasons for Cooperstown, starting in seventh grade and missing his freshman season because of the coronavirus pandemic. CNYwrestling.com has his career record as 152-27, with 63 pins. He made the state tournament in seventh grade, going 2-2 at 99 pounds in 2019. He also won a Section III Class D title in 2020 (113) and Center State Conference titles in 2019 (99) and 2023 (145). He went 35-4 last season, including the conference title and second-place finishes in Section III Class D and Section III Division II.

Saturday, O’Connor pinned Parker Malone from the host school in 3:59 and then won a major decision, 15-2, over Cobleskill-Richmondville’s Dominic Scolaro to get his 150th win. He beat South Jefferson’s Lucas Edgar, 5-1, and then pinned New Hartford’s Micah Malowicki in 2:14 to make the championship match.

O’Connor and South Jefferson’s Ryley Monica tied in regulation in the finals, with Monica winning, 4-2, in sudden victory overtime.

In addition to O’Connor, several other wrestlers placed in the tournament: Freshman Chris Cohn won two matches and placed sixth at 101 pounds; sophomore Max Koffer won two matches and placed sixth at 116 pounds; junior David Pitt won one match and placed 12th at 124 pounds; freshman Sawyer McManus won three matches and placed ninth at 145 pounds; junior Elias Miritello won one match and placed fourth at 160 pounds; Colton Czadzeck won two matches and placed seventh at 190 pounds; sophomore Matt Perrino won one match and place eighth at 215 pounds; Max Sharf won three matches and placed ninth at 285 pounds.

Cooperstown hosts Mount Markham at Red Bursey Gymnasium for a Center State Conference non-division dual meet Wednesday, Dec. 6.

BOOSTER CLUB HELP NEEDED!

Slots are still open for concession-stand help for all of this week’s home events.

Please sign up to help!

Coverage of Cooperstown’s 2023-24 is brought to you in part by an anonymous local business. To sponsor a team, season or the school year, contact Greg at JYDBook@gmail.com.