The Crusaders Wrestling team has had a strong start to the season with league matches on the horizon.

The Crusaders started the season with a 36-30 victory over Gow. Lucas Schmitz Matos '28 of Getzville, Jude Vine '29 of Buffalo and Noble Chebat-Miller '29 of Buffalo each had an exhibition win via pin. 

The Crusaders then faced St. Francis, where Schmitz Matos won his match 16-6, and Mason Mariani '28 of Buffalo won his first JV match by pin in the first round. 

Corban Burke '27 of Grand Island has had a strong start to the season as well, placing seventh at the Linda C. Knuutila Memorial Tournament. 

Sam Devlin '27 of West Seneca and Burke each placed fourth in a varsity tournament at St. Joe's. In the JV tournament, Vine placed second while Sebastian Chebet '29 of Buffalo and Jackson Polniak '29 of Lancaster each placed third.

Next up, the Crusaders will compete in the Rochester City School Tournament hosted by McQuaid Jesuit before continuing league play matching up against St. Mary's Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary's High School. That's followed by a home match with rival St. Joe's on Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.