New York USA Wrestling

In the realm of amateur and professional sports, the terms "courage", "hero", and "champion" are thrown around quite casually without regard for reserving such reverence for the genuine article....

DUNIA SIBOMANA-RODRIGUEZ is that genuine article; and on the morning of Wednesday, November 20th, a new life-changing chapter was authored in his ultimate comeback story when NY-USAW's #1 overall 2026 Big Boarder shared via his social media accounts that after a thorough recruiting process; he has made the decision to verbally commit to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill!!!

And in doing so; not only has he inspired a state, nation, and/or planet; but also brought tears of joy to the "Village" that helped to make a moment like today possible!!

The victim of a catastrophic chimpanzee attack in his native Congo at the age of six that not only resulted in severe injuries to his face; but also cost him a lifetime of forming memories with a brother and cousin who were tragically killed in the incident; since arriving in the United States in 2015 (age eight), the current Long Beach HS junior has done nothing but defy odds and serve as an embodiment of the beauty of the true human spirit!!

From not speaking a word of English to being a perennial honor roll student; from close to 20 (and counting) surgical procedures to being a state and national champion on the mats...To know this young man is to love him and sit in awe of him!!

And now, because he refused to ever accept limitations, he finds himself on his way to further build upon a legacy as a matriculated student-athlete at one of the finest academic institutions (#27 per U.S. News and World Report) in the country (as well as a top-25 wrestling program)
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A wire-to-wire headliner/chart topper thus far in the NY-USAW class rankings (dating back to the conclusion of his 8th grade campaign), the Marine standout/Savage Wrestling Academy pupil is among the "hottest"/quickest rising prospects on the grand stage during the course of the past nine months, as since losing a heartbreaker in the 108-pound Large School State finale back in February; he has succeeded in collecting All-American distinction at every available opportunity!!

Climbing to his current status as the #9 ranked 113-pounder in the land (FloWrestling), as well as the #89 overall recruit in America (MatScouts), Sibomana-Rodriguez's ascension commenced with an April trip to Virginia Beach where he'd assemble a 7-2 record with marquee victories over the likes of Dallas Owens (2x West Virginia State runner-up), Landon Quiroga (2x Florida State medalist/2023 runner-up), and Elijah Collick (2x Defending Maryland State gold medalist) en route to taking 5th at NHSCA Nationals!!!

Up next would be a U17 bronze medal-yielding effort in Sin City at the 2024 U.S. Open, as the New Yorker fought back from an opening round loss to win five consecutive bouts in the Greco-Roman discipline....Key triumphs came at the expense of---Alexander Pierce (2x Iowa State Finalist/2023 titlist; 2x Fargo 16U GR AA/2024 National Champion), Konner Blaney (2023 Fargo 16U GR Runner-up), Daniel Goodwin (2024 Illinois State 5th; 2x Fargo 16U GR AA/5th in 2022; 2022 U.S. Open U15 FS 8th), & Max Francisco (2x Alaska State medalist/2023 runner-up; 2023 U.S. Open U17 8th)!!!

In May at the '24 Portuese/NE Regionals, the Long Islander compiled an 8-0 record to be a Double Champion....His path featured GR wins over William Jakeway (2x South Carolina state placer/2023 runner-up; 2023 USAW 16U Folk National runner-up; 2x Fargo AA) & Caden Smith (3x Virginia State medalist/2x Champion; 2024 Fargo Junior GR 7th)....Freestyle excellence was demonstrated in the form of a 62-10 margin (all techs), as he upended Ben Fournier (3x Connecticut Open State Medalist/2023 runner-up), Eli Gabrielson (2024 Prep Nationals 4th; 2024 NHSCA Freshman 6th, Max Tancini (2x PIAA placer), and Empire brethren---Oumar Tounkara (2024 NHSCA National Champion; 2024 Fargo Junior FS 8th; 2024 Super 32 8th)!

July proved to be historic for the future Tar Heel as not only did he become the first Junior FS stop sign winner for New York since Brian Realbuto (2011; 5x State medalist/3x Champion that went on to become a 3x NCAA All-American/2015 runner-up at Cornell); he also had the privilege of being the first Double AA on the junior level since 2016 (Brandon Nunez and Kevin Parker) when he completed his week under the Dome with a strong 5th-place outing in Greco-Roman!

Amassing a 12-2 resume during his week-long stay in the "Home of Roughriders", Sibomana-Rodriguez culminated his trek to immortality when he registered an 8-2 decision in the freestyle finals against Ayden Dodd (2x Ohio State placer/2024 runner-up; 3x Fargo All-American)...

The win on center mat over the Buckeye State rep being his seventh and final arm raise of the FS tourney, Sibomana-Rodriguez had previously bested a who's who of blue chip opponents---Diego Camarillo (4x Arizona State Medalist/2x Finalist/2023 Champion), Gavin Miller (2024 Oklahoma State 3rd; 2023 Fargo JR GR 7th), Aidan Gruenenfelder (2x Wisconsin State finalist/2024 Champion), Caleb Noble (2024 Illinois State Champion; 4x Fargo All-American/2023 Double 16U finalist/GR Champion; 2024 Super 32 belt winner), & Revin Dickman (2x Indiana State gold medalist/5x Fargo AA)!!

He'd complement his FS mastery behind GR dubs over the aforementioned Jakeway, as well as Austin Lopez (2x New Mexico State placer/2024 runner-up), and  ( 2x Michigan State placer/2024 Bronze medalist; 2024 Fargo Junior GR 6th)!!!

Since the start of the fall, the accolades have continued to pour in for Sibomana-Rodriguez, as he bolstered his outstanding body of work by being the runner-up at the 2024 Journeymen Fall Classic and then a top-6 performer in Greensboro at the Super 32... 

At the former, he'd emerge with victories over Brighton Karvoski (2024 Prep National 6th) and Liam Davis (3x Prep National AA/2023 runner-up; 2023 NHSCA 7th)....

The latter saw him prevail in seven of his 10 matches, highlighted by a four-bout winning streak in the consolation bracket versus---Killian Coluccio (2024 NJ State Bronze medalist/2024 Fargo 16U FS 4th), Mason Katschor (2024 Michigan State Champion), [Liam] Davis, and 2023 NHSCA bronze medalist, Nikos Filipos!!

To boot, he banked records of 7-1, 5-0, 6-1 respectively at the NHSCA National Duals, the Spartan FS National Duals, and the Ultimate Club Duals among other additional feats in team format competition!
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While it has been the extraordinary pattern of  fortune/prosperity on the larger scale cited above that has enabled him separate himself from the rest of his class of 2026 peers; it is worth noting/recognizing that within the confines of NYS, "King Dunia" has equally been exceptional/credentialed...

The owner of a 109-12 record during three varsity seasons on behalf of LB, Sibomana-Rodriguez is a three-time defending Nassau/S8 titlist; a 2024 Eastern States Classic champion; & has delivered a medal of each color in his three voyages to South Peal Street for the NYSPHSAA State festivities!!!

Never a shallow end to any bracket in which he has been entered under the roof of MVP arena, he'd enjoy a coronation in 2022 as a 102-pound 8th grader when he posted consecutive triumphs by outcomes of 12-2 major, 9-3 decision, and 1:32 stick in the quarterfinal thru money rounds against Mason Mangialino (Comsewogue; 3x State medalist), Luke Satriano (Valley Central; #3 2025 Big Boarder; 3x State Placer/2x defending titlist; 2023 NHSCA 4th), and Ryan Ferrara (Chenango Forks; #6 2026 Big Boarder; 2x State placer/2022 runner-up; 2024 Fargo 16U GR 6th)!!!

A last-second TD in the semifinals (2-1 loss) of his 110-pound match-up with Satriano as a 110-pound freshman spoiling his repeat bid in 2023, Sibomana-Rodriguez was otherwise utterly dominant, as he marched through a gauntlet comprised of Carlos Salazar (Hewlett; 2024 NYS 8th) and Ryan Cieslinski (Spencerport; 2023 NYS DI 8th) on the front end; and then shook over the loss to his rival [Satriano] on Saturday morning by toppling Austin Zimmerman (St. Joe's Collegiate; 2x All-Stater/3rd in '24), and Ralph Keeney (Ballston Spa; 3x State placer) on the back side!!!.   

This past year [2023-2024), he'd make his return to the "Saturday Night Main Event" by peeling of wins of 3:34 stick, 10-1 major, and 19-8 major against Peyton Hubbard (2x S4 Champion for Forks), Will Russell (Manhasset; rematch of the '24 Section 8 finale), & Anthony LaGala-Ryan (Longwood; 2x NYS 5th; 2024 NHSCA Freshman National titlist)....

Unfortunately, an E1 approximately half a minute into the 3rd period of a scoreless match would the deciding factor as he'd try mightily, but was unable to notch a takedown against another of his nemesis---Newburgh's Cooper Merli (Newburgh Free Academy; 2x Defending NYS DI gold), resulting in a 1-0 loss!!

Prior to the ill-timed blemish, Sibomana-Rodriguez had experienced a majority of positive verdicts in the head-to-head with his Goldback peer, including a 9-2 victory in the ESC title contest...

His lone pilgrimage to Loch Sheldrake (Eastern States) also produced noteable 17-2 TF and 10-1 majors in the quarter and semifinal rounds over 2024 PSAL champ, Tristan Levin (Tottenville), and Keeney! 

An immaculate 13-0 (7 pins, 4 majors, 1 TF) at the Nassau County Championships, Dibomana-Rodriguez has blown away the field on each and every occasion, with signature dubs over Shane Dobbins (Plainedge; 2024 State 6th) and Carlos Arango (Massapequa; 2022 State 6th) in the 2022 quarters and finale; a 14-2 major in the '23 finals over Salazar; and a 6-3 decision versus Russell in '24!
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A road warrior during the better part of the past month in his pursuit of the right fit, Sibomana-Rodriguez travelled as near as Hempstead (Hofstra; 15 miles) and as far as Greeley, Colorado (Northern Colorado; 1,761 miles), with a stopover in Fairfax Virginia (George Mason; 525 miles) in between before opting for "Tobacco Road"!!!

Joining #80 Lucas Littleton-Mascaro (2x Prep National All-American/2023 Champion), who committed in Mid-October, Sibomana-Rodriguez is the second land in the 2026 haul for UNC Head Coach, Rob Koll...

No stranger to developing Empire Staters into collegiate superstars, during his time at the helm of Cornell, Koll oversaw the cultivation of NY royalty such as:

*David Hirsch (2x NCAA All-American/1994 Champion)
*Joe Mazzurco (2x NCAA AA in 2005/2006)
*Troy Nickerson (4x NCAA All-American from 2006-2010; 2009 Champion)
*Kyle Dake (4x NCAA Champion from 2010-2013)
*Michael Nevinger (2x NCAA All-American in 2012/2013)
*Brian Realbuto (3x NCAA All-American in '14, '15, and '17; 2015 runner-up)
*Dylan Palacio (2x NCAA All-American in 2016/2017)--Long Beach grad
*Yianni Diakomihalis (4x NCAA DI Champion from 2018-2023)
*Ben Honis (2019 NCAA All-American)
*Vito Arujau (4x NCAA All-American from 2019-2024; 2x Champion in '23 and '24)....Note: Koll was not present for his two titles
*Jonathan Loew (2022 NCAA All-American)...Note: Recruited by Koll

Presently, the Heels' starting line-up is graced by the presence of Jayden Scott (141; former 4x State medalist/3x finalist/2022 Champion for Rush-Henrietta) & Nicky Fea (165; Middletown resident who did his wrestling at Wyoming Seminary and Bergen Catholic)!!!

Expected to be a 125-pounder throughout the duration of his college career, Sibomana-Rodriguez should benefit immensely from having Associate HC, Tony Ramos (3x NCAA/2x finalist/2014 Champion; 2x Senior World FS Team member), as a director mentor/training partner!!

UNC has not put a wrestler on the podium at 125 since the 2002 campaign when Chris Rodrigues claimed 8th! 

DUNIA SIBOMANA-RODRIGUEZ CHEAT SHEET:

*#1 Overall 2026 prospect on the NY-USAW Big Board/

*#89 National Recruit from the current Junior Class per MatScouts

*Career record of 109-12

*3x NYSPHSAA DI State medalist/2x finalist/2022 Champion @102 

*3x Nassau County/Section VIII Titlist 

*2024 Eastern States Classic gold medalist

*2024 Fargo Double Junior All-American/Freestyle National Champion (5thGR)

*2024 Super 32 6th

*2024 NHSCA Junior 5th

*2024 U.S. Open U17 GR Bronze Medalist