BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Public School District (BPS) has a new districtwide junior varsity and varsity boys wrestling program for the 2023–2024 season.
The BPS athletics department successfully established a single boys wrestling team comprised of 34 student athletes from 13 different high schools that is competing against other Section VI teams.
"A lot of these guys never met each other and a lot of them don't have wrestling experience," noted coach James Cunningham. "But those that have wrestling experience help coach the other kids and help bring them up to speed."
Among the most experienced of the group is co-captain Joe Littlejohn, who wrestled while attending a private school before transferring to the BPS Math Science and Technology High School.
"It's good for me because I can be a leader and step up for my teammates, " said Littlejohn, who is in his junior year. "For the ones that don't have experience, I can help coach them up a lot by teaching them what I know from my experience."
Cunningham added: "Wrestling is a character revealing sport. It makes kids better. If you can get through just the first week of practice and then you get through the season it changes your life, and will change it forever."
According to the district, Hutchinson Central Technical High School junior Shannowaz Zafor has stated that he plans to attend an Ivy League university after graduating from high school, and it is thought that one of the team's heavyweight wrestlers, Lewis J. Bennett senior Kahamari Cook, may compete at the state tournament this season.
The team will be nicknamed the Generals, in honor of its host school.
The BPS wrestling program’s first home meet is on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. at Lafayette International High School, where the gym capacity is 144 people.
The BPS athletics department is actively working to expand the district’s wrestling program to include a girls varsity as soon as the 2024–2025 season.