For Cato-Meridian, the smallest wrestler, the biggest wrestler and one somewhere in between will be heading to the 2008 NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships this weekend.

The Blue Devils have not sent that many wrestlers to the state championships in at least 20 years. Now, they have the chance to walk away with at least one at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, beginning on Saturday morning.

Sophomore Dominick Giacolone, freshman Nick Lalone and junior Austin Lee have earned spots in their tournament brackets.

Giacolone and Lalone got in by taking the Section III, Division II title in their respective weight classes and Lee made it into the tournament as a wild card despite losing in the sectional finals.

This is a first time tournament appearance for all three. No one on the team qualified last season.

The Blue Devils have not taken home a state title in two years since Jason Brown won in the 215-pound weight class in 2006.

“This is a good experience for them,” Blue Devils coach Dan Butler said. “I expect them to perform to the best of their ability.”

Giacolone, a sophomore, will wrestle in the 103-pound weight class as a favorite to win it all.

He has dominated the mats all season with a 41-2 record by scoring 219 points this season and only allowing six. Giacolone has not lost a match since Jan. 5 when he lost a close 4-1 decision to Arik Robinson from Peru in the Oswego Holiday Tournament.

Robinson is also going to wrestle at the state tournament and is an opponent Giacolone is worried about facing. “I may have to wrestle him in the second round - he is one of the best,” Giacolone said. “If I can get by him, I am confident about the rest of the tournament.”

Giacolone was as confident about sectionals as well; he was favored to win and dominated his weight class, winning his last two matches by pin. Although he is optimistic, Giacolone is also a bit nervous especially since he has not competed since sectionals on Feb. 23.

“I'm pretty nervous, but I think once I start to wrestle I'll settle down,” Giacolone said. “I'm excited to try and bring home the title, and I'm confident.”

The trio has been practicing hard to prepare, including practices at Cicero-North Syracuse High School with other Section III participants.

Giacolone has been specifically preparing for the one opponent he is most nervous about facing.

“We are preparing for the kid that (Giacolone) was beat by earlier this year and we know what to expect this time since we have seen him before,” Butler said.

Also practicing for the tournament is Lalone, who will go into the tournament a young but experienced wrestler competing in the 140-pound weight class. Lalone is especially grateful for the practices after close calls in his last two matches at sectionals, with the second round match ending in a double overtime victory.

“Coming in as a freshman, I am an underdog,” Lalone said. “But I have been working harder than I ever have before.”

Lalone's first match of the tournament won't be easy as he faces senior Jeff Brigham from Section VI's Roy Hart.

“It's tough, he's obviously older but I've wrestled a lot of good seniors this year and hopefully my experience will work for me,” Lalone said.

Lalone has had a very successful season leading to the tournament appearance with a 43-3 record overall, with 189 points and only nine points allowed this season.

“Lalone had the toughest weight class at sectionals,” Butler said. “Each match was grueling but he wrestled hard and did not give up.”

Lalone has yet to wrestle any of the opponents in his weight class this year and that makes it difficult to prepare.

Lalone may be the underdog, but his record shows success in that situation this season - the last time he lost was, like Giacolone, on Jan. 5.

“My coach has been preparing me,” Lalone said. “We have been practicing a lot. It should be a good competition and I am looking forward to it. I am on the better side of the bracket, hopefully my chances are good.”

The third Blue Devil making his way to the tournament is Lee, who was chosen as a wild card for the 285-pound weight class. Every weight class gets four wild cards chosen by a points system.

A few days after Lee's one point loss in the final round of sectionals, he found out he was going to make the trip to the state tournament anyway.

“I was really excited when I found out,” Lee said. “It's cool that I'll finally get a chance to go to states and see what it's like.”

Lee has a 20-4 record on the season after his second place sectionals finish, he has earned 103 points and only allowed 18 points for the season.

“I am a little nervous,” Lee said. “I am hoping to at least place in the top three.”

Not concentrating on a win is part of the mental preparation that Lee is going through, along with the two-day Section III practices to keep him conditioned.

Lee is also looking forward to the four hour practice at the Blue Cross Arena on Friday to help him get ready.

“The first two rounds should be easy for me but I am nervous about the semis,” Lee said. “I am trying to go all the way.”

As for his teammates, Lee thinks they have equally good chances and should place towards the top.

Lee has had a great season and has not had a loss, other than the close call at sectionals, since Dec.28.

Also impressive is the fact that Lee has tallied 13 pins this season.

As for entering the tournament as a wild card Lee does not think that it will make a difference on his chances of winning, but is also concentrating on wrestling well rather than the overall victory.

“Hopefully I can do better and be there again next year,” Lee said.

“I'm really excited, though, and trying to concentrate on just wrestling my best.”