Altomer earns All-America honors

Columbia High wrestler Michael Altomer charged through the quarterfinals at the USMC/USA Wrestling Junior Nationals to earn All-America honors on Sunday in Fargo, N.D.

Altomer bested Ohio's Evan Anderson 5-4 in the quarterfinals in the 182-pound weight class in the cadet freestyle wrestling competition.

In the semifinals, Altomer lost to Florida's Michael Tal-shahar, by technical fall 10-0. Tal-shahar advanced to face Minnesota's Bennett Berge on Monday for the title at 182 pounds.

On Saturday, Altomer defeated Ibrahim Ameer of Missouri 10-0 in the round of 16.

Altomer was joined by several Section II wrestlers at the competition, including competitors from Tamarac, Shenendehowa, Shaker, Ichabod Crane, Averill Park, Cambridge-Salem, Averill Park, Whitehall, Coxsackie-Athens, Galway, Ravena, La Salle, Mohonasen, Hoosick Falls, South Glens Falls and Watervliet.

The team was coached by Columbia's Anthony Servidone.

Wrestlers Jair Gomez of Ichabod Crane (94 pounds) and Averille Park's Sean Malenfant (170 pounds) also advanced to Sunday's competition but fell in the 3rd-8th place bracket matches.