Local Youth Wrestlers Shine at NYWAY State Tournament

Falconer, Gowanda, and Westfield/Ripley/Chautauqua Lake clubs see multiple champions and podium finishes

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:03am

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The New York Wrestling Association for Youth (NYWAY) held its state championship tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds, and several wrestlers from the local area found great success. Falconer Youth Wrestling led the way with six individual champions and 18 total podium finishers. Gowanda Wrestling Club had three champions and 11 total placers, while the Westfield/Ripley/Chautauqua Lake Wrestling Club saw two champions and 15 total podium finishes.

Why it matters

The strong performances by local youth wrestlers showcase the strength of the wrestling programs in the region and the dedication of the athletes and coaches. These results will likely generate more interest and participation in youth wrestling in the area, helping to develop the next generation of high school and college wrestling talent.

The details

Some of the top individual performances included Alexandria Ward, Chase Beichner, Hannah Evans, Jaxson Love, Kamdyn Schimek, and Riley Best winning titles for Falconer. Gowanda saw Ashton Draudt, Maverick Olszewski, and Nathan Warrior claim championships, while Audrey Schiedel and Aurora Maring won for Westfield/Ripley/Chautauqua Lake. Several other local wrestlers earned podium finishes as well.

  • The NYWAY state tournament took place earlier this month at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

The players

Falconer Youth Wrestling

A youth wrestling club that had six individual champions and 18 total podium finishers at the NYWAY state tournament.

Gowanda Wrestling Club

A youth wrestling club that had three individual champions and 11 total placers at the NYWAY state tournament.

Westfield/Ripley/Chautauqua Lake Wrestling Club

A youth wrestling club that had two individual champions and 15 total podium finishes at the NYWAY state tournament.

Chase Beichner

A wrestler from Falconer Youth Wrestling who won the D3 (2018) 70-pound title at the NYWAY state tournament.

Ashton Draudt

A wrestler from the Gowanda Wrestling Club who won the D2 (2019) 44-pound title at the NYWAY state tournament.

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The takeaway

The success of local youth wrestlers at the NYWAY state tournament highlights the growth and development of wrestling programs in the region. These results will likely inspire more young athletes to take up the sport, strengthening the pipeline of talent for high school and college teams in the area.