Haverling wrestler Cody Hutcheson takes state honors
GATEHOUSE MEDIA

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STINERPHOTOS.EXPOSUREMANAGER.COM

ROCHESTER - The score stayed close through three periods, but Cody Hutcheson knew he was in control the entire bout and when it was over, the junior wrestler from Bath Haverling was a state champion.

Hutcheson beat Greene's Tyler Beckwith (Section IV) 4-3 in March 9th's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Division II 1 7 1-pound wrestling championship match at Blue Cross Arena. The title is the first for Hutcheson and the first-ever for a Haverling wrestler.

"Unbelievable. Cody is a good kid, we had a couple guys the last few years get close, but Cody's a state champion and I couldn't be more proud of him," said Bath coach Jim Fowler. "Worked all year to prove he deserved to be here, put his time in and won the tournament."

Hutcheson made quick work of Max O'Meara (Red Hook from Section IX) in the semifinals, winning 4-1, and although the title match was tight, Fowler had little doubt that his fifth-year varsity wrestler was in trouble. With a 0-0 score through the first period, Hutcheson went up 2- 1 after a takedown in the second period, carrying a lead into the third where Beckwith took a 3-2 lead off a reversal. Turn about was fair play, as Hutcheson executed a two-point reversal to take the overall victory.

"The score was close, but Cody wrestled tough, he controlled the match when he needed to," Fowler said. "The other kid was really just hanging on."

Hutcheson also avenged last year's 2-and-out result in the state tournament- a goal he set for himself - and this season posted a 48-2 record and is now 180-28 in a career that began in seventh grade.

"That's unbelievable," Fowler said. "All weekend he wrestled tough and did all he needed to do to win a state title."

The championship is also a boost for Bath's wrestling program - one that's been on the rise for the past few seasons, but a sport that's still tough to fill all the weight classes. Fowler hopes Hutcheson changed that Sunday night.

"It's huge. Wrestling is a sport that doesn't get a lot of publicity, so in order to get kids in to the program you have to do things - win . Hopefully kids will see Cody's success and come out."

Join the community today at 11 a.m. for a parade that will be held in Cody's honor. The parade will start at the Bath Fire Station.