Camden Central School District -

The Camden High School wrestling programs combined to earn four state berths, and one individual title as the squads competed at their respective Section III Championship Tournaments over the weekend of February 14th. The Section III Division II Boys’ Wrestling Championship was held on Saturday, February 14th, and the Section III Girls’ Wrestling Championship took place on Sunday, February 15th. Both tournaments were held at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena.

Sophomore Rylie Meagher, a fourth year member of the girls’ varsity wrestling team at Camden, was the headliner on a great weekend for both programs. She earned her first Section III title with a clean sweep of the 120 bracket, with three wins by pin and a fourth by a 13-6 decision en route to top honors. She will attend a NYSPHSAA season-ending event for the third time in her career. She was part of the first two NYSPHSAA state-wide girls’ wrestling invitationals in 2023 and 2024 before the sport received “state championship” designation for 2025 and beyond. She was the third place finisher at 94 lbs at the 2023 Invitational. She has a 28-6 record this season with 94 career victories to her name.

Senior Astro Johnson will also be heading to the girls’ state championship tournament after a herculean run through the consolation bracket in the 185 class. After a quarterfinal setback, the third-year varsity wrestler won every elimination bracket match by pinfall to earn a third place finish, then went on to win the “true second match” over finalist Hayleigh Lenz of Fulton to claim a spot at the state tournament.

Elsewhere in girls’ competition, Peyton Kelley was third in the 100 classification, and Abigail Hebble was sixth in the 165 bracket.

The NYSPHSAA Girls’ Wrestling Championship will be held on February 26th at Albany’s MVP Arena.

In boys’ competition, the Blue Devils will send two athletes to the state level - sophomore Talon Kimball, and senior Mason Butler.

Kimball, the Section III Class B Champion in the 144 bracket, took on all comers on his way to the Division II final with three wins by pinfall. The final, however, went the way of Hannibal’s Zenon Derocha, placing Kimball in the runner-up spot for Division II. Kimball’s season will continue with a place in the state meet, where he will make his second appearance. He placed seventh in the state at 116 lbs back in 2024. Kimball is 25-2 this season.

Butler turned his day around after a Division II semifinal loss to also earn a trip to the state championships. After his setback, the Section III Class B champion at 132 lbs. went on to win in the consolation bracket semifinals, then won the consolation finals by technical fall to place third. This will be Butler’s first state championship appearance. The senior is enjoying the best season of his career by far with a 35-4 overall record.

The NYSPHSAA Boys’ Wrestling Championship will be held on February 27th and 28th at Albany’s MVP Arena.