Last night, the 2026 WNYWCA Banquet of Champions was held at our friends at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant and Banquet Facility. Congratulations to all of our award winners, and thank you to everyone who continues to support and strengthen our wrestling community! pic.twitter.com/ICDUZxJSZK
— Friends of WNY Wrestling (@FOS6Wrestling) March 11, 2026
2026 WNYWCA Banquet of Champions Award Winners
Champion of Champions
Boys D1 - Griffin LaPlante (St. Francis)
Boys D2 - Tavio Hoose (Southwestern)
Girls - Michaela Thomas (Iroquois)
WNYWCA Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Colin Crickard (Wrestler, Williamsville East HS)
Jared Lemke (Wrestler, Alden HS)
Mike Arnold (Wrestler, Pioneer HS)
Last night, the 2026 WNYWCA Banquet of Champions was held at our friends at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant and Banquet Facility. Congratulations to all of our award winners, and thank you to everyone who continues to support and strengthen our wrestling community! pic.twitter.com/QgmRAKPmkV
— Friends of WNY Wrestling (@FOS6Wrestling) March 11, 2026
Coach of the Year
ECIC I - Drew Gull & Joe Glinsky (Orchard Park)
ECIC II - Zack Wiedemann (Pioneer)
ECIC III - Abdulgawi Mohamed (Lackawanna)
CCAA I - Ken Rowe (Chautauqua Lake)
CCAA II - Ryan Thierman (Portville)
Niagara-Orleans - Mike Sanders (Albion)
Niagara Frontier - Donny McCoy (Niagara Falls)
MMHSAA - Ron Lorenz (St. Francis)
Girls - Bill Morello (Lockport)
Rookie Head COY - Rick Weber (Eden)
D1 Asst. COY - Bill Platz (Niagara Wheatfield)
D2 Asst. COY - Matt DellaPenta (Eden)
Last night, the 2026 WNYWCA Banquet of Champions was held at our friends at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant and Banquet Facility. Congratulations to all of our award winners, and thank you to everyone who continues to support and strengthen our wrestling community! pic.twitter.com/e2cAfQ4Pgt
— Friends of WNY Wrestling (@FOS6Wrestling) March 11, 2026
Champion Award Winners
Al Feuz Memorial Contributor's Award - Matt O'Rourke
Illio DiPaolo Family Commitment to Wrestling Award - Kenny Schmitz
John Vesper Award - Matt Haberl, HC Cheektowaga HS
Media Award - Mike & Cheryl Wertman (Orleans Hub)