FRIENDS OF SECTION 5 WRESTLING
WRESTLING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION – 2025

The 2025 Section 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at Red Fedele’s Brook House on May 14, 2025. Names of the inductees will be added to the Hall of Fame Plaque located in the lobby of the Brook House. Since the Section 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame was started in 1994, 179 people have been inducted. Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased by May 1. You can get more information by calling 585-750-1541 or at fmarotta@rochester.rr.com. A banquet flyer is attached.

Here are some brief comments about the inductees:

Bryan Bourne (Spencerport) Bryan was a NY State Champion in 2008. He previously finished fifth, third and second in the States. He was a 4 time Section V State Qualifier Champion, a 5 time Class Sectional Champion and a 2 time John Ordiway Outstanding Wrestler Award winner at the State Qualifier. In addition he was the first ever Section V Cadet Freestyle Fargo National Champion. He was also the Jr. National Champion at Virginia Beach. At Spencerport his record was 185-20.

Steve Burton (Official) – After an outstanding wrestling career at Hilton in the 1970’s where he was a third place finisher in in 4 Class AAA wrestling tournaments, Steve turned to wrestling officiating so he could continue to part of Section V wrestling. He has refereed high school wrestling for 40 years in Section V and now continues to officiate in Tennessee. During his career, Steve worked numerous Class Sectionals and State Qualifiers. He has also officiated extensively on the collegiate level. As Vice President of the Wrestling Officials Association he was responsible for training new officials. He also served as president for 2 years and was on the Executive Committee for 16 years.

Alex Ekstrom (Pal Mac) – Alex wrestled at Pal-Mac here he had a 226-19 record, won numerous tournaments, Class Sectional championships and outstanding wrestler awards. He won the John Ordiway Outstanding Wrestler Award winner at the State Qualifier twice. He was a 4 time NY State Wrestling Tournament Champion (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009). He was the Jr. National Champion in 2008. He won a scholarship to Division 1 University of Oklahoma but an injury shortened is college career. After returning to NY and graduating from SUNY Plattsburg, he served as an assistant wresting coach for 6 years at Peru High. In 2016 he coached a NY State Freestyle/Greco team against European competition in Sweden. He has continued his coaching at the collegiate level, currently at St. John Fisher.

Andrew Grillo (Holley) – Andrew wrestled at Holley where he won numerous tournaments and awards He was coached by his father, Hall of Fame member John Grillo. He was a 4 time Genesee Region League Champion (2001-2004), 4 time Section V Class Champion (2001-2004) and State Qualifier Champion in 2004 where his also won the John Ordiway Outstanding Wrestler Award . He was NY State Wrestling Tournament Champion in 2004. He had numerous post season wrestling accomplishments and won multiple gold medals at the Empire Games and NY State Championships in both Greco and Freestyle. Andrew continued his wrestling at SUNY Brockport where he was a 3 year Varsity wrestler and on the All-SUNYAC Academic Team.

Dave Toth, Sr. (Brighton) – Dave wrestled at Brighton from 1966-1969. He was Monroe County Champion in 1969. He continued his wrestling at Canton Jr. College and was NJCAA third place winner in 1970 and Region 3 Champion in 1971. He won an athletic scholarship to Ashland College and wrestled under Coach Chris Ford and was a 2 time NCAA College Division All American. In prestigious Wilkes and Great Lakes Tournaments he defeated National Champions Dan Muthler and Don Rohn before losing to World Champion Lloyd Keaser in the Finals. He later served as an assistant coach at Ashland and then at Mendon and Sutherland High Schools. He is currently the State Director of FCA Wrestling NY.

Leo Urbanelli, MD (Wayne) – Leo wrestled at Wayne under Hall of Fame Coach Scott Freischlag. He was a 3 time Sectional Champion and had a career record of 154-21. At Wayne he won numerous invitational tournaments and outstanding wrestler awards from 1992-1996. He later wrestled at Cornell where he was named to the All-Ivy team, was third in the EIWA and was a 2 time NCAA Qualifier, reaching the All American round.. Leo graduated from the SUNY Upstate Medical Center and is a plastic surgeon.