The Goshen Gladiators wrestling program delivered one of its most historic performances at the Section 9 Championships and now will send two qualifiers to the State Tournament since 1997.
Gregory Schaefer captured the Section 9 Championship, becoming the first Goshen wrestler to win a sectional title since Ryan Ellefsen in 2017 and just the 19th champion in program history. He finished the season with a remarkable 44-1 record, setting a new Goshen single-season wins record, and improved his career mark to 121-26.
A two-time Section 9 place finisher, Gregory placed fourth last season before climbing to the top of the podium this year. He also earned national recognition last spring as a MAWA Eastern Nationals All-American, placing third in May.
Evan placed third at Section 9 to earn a berth to the New York State Championships. He concluded the sectional tournament with a 40-6 season record and now stands at 130-36 for his career mark, which is, the third-most wins in Goshen history and just one victory shy of moving into second place all-time.
Evan also ranks second in program history with 90 career pins, trailing only Ellefsen’s 96. A model of consistency, he is a four-time Section 9 place finisher, reaching the podium every year of his high school career (6th, 6th, 4th, 3rd).
The Gladiators’ success extended beyond their two state qualifiers. Five wrestlers earned All-Section honors (top six finishers) for the first time in over a decade. Gavin DeEntremont (285 lbs) placed fourth, Bryant Vass (175 lbs) placed sixth, and eighth-grader Lucas Rotella (110 lbs) finished sixth.
The New York State Championships will take place Friday and Saturday at MVP Arena in Albany, where Gregory and Evan will look to add another chapter to Goshen’s growing legacy.
