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2025 Eastern States Classic Salute To The Champs (Boys)

01/13/2025, 5:30pm EST
By NY-USAW Media Team

101: Xavier Seabury (North Babylon-11)

The lowest seed among our 13 champs on Saturday, the Bulldog freshman was nothing short of remarkable in earning his first ESC crown off of the #11 line in the bracket...

The owner of a 5-0 record, the present-day DI #6 ranked/returning Suffolk 5th place performer completed his "Cinderella Story" run to prosperity when he utilized a takedown at the buzzer in the 1st period as the difference-maker in a 4-1 decision over fellow Section XI rep, Tyler Conzo (#2 ranked; 2024 State 8th for Smithtown West), in the 101-pound finale...

The second of a pair of victories over returning state placers from a season ago; earlier in the day [Quarterfinals], Seabury hit a trip straight to the back for 3+3 in the last :40 of the 1st period to jump out to a 6-0 cushion before adding his second TD of the bout to increase the lead to 9-0 en route to hanging on for a 9-4 decision against DI #3/2024 State 7th, Brody DiCaprio (CBA)!!

In-between these two triumphs would come a 13-4 major decision over the #4 ranked man in large school polls, Hauppauge's Trevor Patrovich (6th in Suffolk last season), as Seabury broke open a then 4-2 match at the end of 4:00 by tallying three 3rd periods takedowns to create separation!!

Day #1 dubs came in the form of an 18-3 TF over Amsterdam's Di #17 Carlos Rivera-Russe (2024 S2 6th) & a 7-1 decision in the round of 16 against Iona Prep's Dorian Hidalgo (2024 S1 Champion/State Qualifier as an 8th grader while wrestling for Sleepy Hollow)
 

FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Xavier Seabury (North Babylon) DEC Tyler Conzo (Smithtown West), 4-1
3rd Tanner Catrabone (St Francis) DEC Wyatt Sartori (Dansville-wayland Cohocton), 5-3
5th Ayden Labella (Sayville) M FOR Trevor Patrovich (Hauppauge)
7th Cole Desiano (Ridgefield) DEC Marcarlo Mannello (Briarcliff-byram Hills), 4-0


108: WILL SOTO (NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY-9)

Putting on what was perhaps the most dominant display of any of our 13 titlists, the current NY-USAW #1 overall 2027 Big Boarder for the Goldbacks was so commanding on day #2 that it caused her to tell his mother that we truly feel he might be the best top wrestlers in NYS since legends such as Jesse Jantzen (4x State Champion) and/or Lou Ruggirello (3x State gold)....

Amassing a 46-0 margin in his quarterfinal thru final appearances; Soto only made it out of the 1st period in one of his three trips to the mat; as he racked up technical fall conquests by score of 15-0, 16-0, and 15-0 against the likes of Hilton's DI #10 Lukas Yeager (2024 S5 Champ/State Qualifier), BBHVW's #4 Vincenzo Mannello (Top-ranked 2029 Big Boarder; 2024 NYS 5th; 2024 S32 MS National Champion); & current DI #7 Austin Bronco Campsey (East Hampton)...

The method to his superiority nearly identical in all three bouts; the defending NYSPHSAA champ was credited with no fewer than three sets of NF in each of these matches, as 34 of his aforementioned 46 points were derived from his tilting talents...

The money match against the Long Islander, Campsey, lasting a mere 1:48 seconds; after hitting a dump off the whistle to seize the early 3-0 advantage; Soto proceeded to repeatedly turn his foe for the full allotment three different times...

His performance on Friday was every bit as domineering, as he came away with a trifecta of pins in times of 0:19, 1:37, and 2:30 over Liam Horan (Wantagh), Evan Margolis (Smithtown West), and DI #17 Garrett Judd (4th at the 2024 S9 Tourney for Warwick Valley)!!

The champion at 101 pounds in 2024, Soto's successful repeat bid over the weekend now marks three consecutive years that he has been high on the podium (4th as an undersized 8th grader in 2023)!!!
 

FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st William Soto (Newburgh) TF Austin bronco Campsey (East Hampton-prsn-bhampton-ross), 15-0 1:48
3rd Vincenzo Mannello (Briarcliff-byram Hills) DEC Kelly Sullivan (Monroe Woodbury), 2-0
5th Andrew Juliano (Holand Patent) DEC Peter Filli (Ichabod Crane), 7-0
7th Jacob Hurd (New Hartford-sv-up) M FOR Lukas Yeager (Hilton), 0-0 0:00


116: DUNIA SIBOMANA-RODRIGUEZ (LONG BEACH-8)

Making it two weights classes in a row where we witnessed a repeat from a top-billed NY-USAW big boarder (2026); the current Long Beach Marine and/or future University of North Carolina Tar Heel [Sibomana-Rodriguez) took the top prize after prevailing in one of the most highly anticipated match-ups of the weekend!!

A renewal of his rivalry with 2x Defending NYSPHSAA State champion/DI #2 ranked Cooper Merli (Newburgh); just like a season ago in the '24 ESC finale; it was the 3x NYS medalist/2x finalist/2023 Champion from Nassau getting the better end of this round of the epic series (Merli beat him in the '24 State title match last February)...

The head-to-head war all deadlocked at 4-4 (Sibomana-Rodriguez 1st period TD; 2nd period E1; Merli 1st period E1; 2NF in the 2nd; E1 in the 3rd) at the conclusion of eight minutes (sudden victory + alternating rideout periods produced no points); the victor would be determined when in the ultimate tiebreaker, Sibomana-Rodriguez was able to hit a reversal to the back for 2 +4 to claim the 10-4 decision!

Merli being the lone opponent to offer a challenge during Sibomana-Rodriguez's 5-0 vitae between Friday/Saturday; the now two-time ESC king registered bonus points in all prior trips to the mat...

On day #1, he banked 1st period falls at the 1:35 (up 12-3) and 0:35 (up 6-1) marks versus Keaton Venarchick (6th at the 2024 S9 tournament for Cornwall) & Juan Roque (6th at the 2024 S11 tournament on behalf of East Hampton)...

During moving day (Saturday), he came on strong during the 2nd and 3rd periods to turn a 6-5 lead at the end of 2:00 into a 16-5 cushion (2nd period TD + 2pt tilt; 4pt turn in the 3rd) before eventually sticking DI 12th-ranked/2024 State Qualifier, Luca Popolizio (CBA), with 13 ticks to go in regulation (5:47) of their quarterfinal meeting...

Dunia collected one takedown apiece in each of the three periods as part of a 10-2 major decision over DI #13/2x Suffolk 4th, Dylan Reinard (Smithtown East), in the semis!!

In recognition of his body of work, Sibomana-Rodriguez was later named as the recipient of both the Lightweight O.W. award, as well as the recipient of Champion of Champions distinction!
 

FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Dunia Sibomana (Long Beach) DEC Cooper Merli (Newburgh), 10-4 UTB
3rd Edward Vass (Valley Central) DEC Cullen Edwards (St Francis), 10-7
5th Marco Futia (Wallkill) M FOR Dylan Reinard (Smithtown East)
7th Andrew Poh (Valley Stream North) TF Brennen Sprague (Monsignor Farrell), 23-8 4:24


124: Evin Gursoy (Midwood-P)

Two repeats deserves a third...And that is exactly what the Midwood senior 124-pounder [Gursoy] delivered this past weekend when he joined Soto and Sibomana-Rodriguez as our third consecutive two-time champion...

Making his third ESC finals appearance in as many seasons (runner-up in '23), the future Columbia Lion would earn the right to hoist individual hardware when in a collision of 2024 NYSPHSAA State gold medalists/NY-USAW #1 ranked standouts; he picked up the 9-3 decision over Norwich's Maverick Beckwith (DII #1; 2x State medalist/'24 champ as noted above)...

Leading 3-0 at the end of the 1st period after converting a takedown during the opening half minute of action; the big blow for the representative from the PSAL came at the onset of the 2nd period when he'd manage to reverse his highly-touted sophomore opponent to his back for 2+4 to expand his cushion to 9-0...

To the credit of Beckwith (who entered the match undefeated), he fought to the very final buzzer; as notched a TD of his own with short time remaining in the 3rd period to become the ONLY one of Gursoy's six opponents to get on the scoreboard (44-0 in all other outings)...

Beckwith being the final hurdle in a gauntlet that featured four currently top-20 ranked competitors; as referenced above, Gursoy was unsolvable for the better part of the two-day affair as he racked up victories by way 4-0 decision, 8-0 major, and 10-0 major in the round of 16 thru the semifinals against blue chippers---DI #10 (@131), Brody Franklin (Long Beach; 2024 State Qualifier), DI #11 Jake Strianese (Oceanside; 2x Nassau placer), & DI #3/returning NYS 4th, Vincent Mastrianni (Colonie)!

Against the former of this trio [Franklin], the Gotham City resident relied on a 1st period TD and a 2nd period escape before riding out the full 2:00 of the 3rd..

Against Strianese, he'd accrue TDs in each of the first two periods and then tack on a reversal in the 3rd...

Three takedowns (one in each period) did the trick in his semifinal blanking of Mastrianni!

In his initial two appearances of the weekend, the soon-to-be Ivy Leaguer made quick work of Kellenberg's Andrew DiBiase (2024 CHSAA State 5th) and Griffen Freeman of Rush-Henrietta behind a 15-0 2nd period TF and a 46-second fall (crab + half)!
 

FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Evin Gursoy (Midwood) DEC Maverick Beckwith (Norwich), 9-3
3rd Anthony Severino (Lindenhurst) DEC Vincent Mastrianni (Colonie), 1-0
5th Jon Testa (Hilton) MD Charles Przymylski (Mahopac), 12-3
7th Tyler Whiteley (Burnt Hills) DEC Chase Allocca (Carmel), 4-3


131: LUKE SATRIANO (VALLEY CENTRAL-9)

After previous finishes of 3rd and 4th at this event in 2023 and 2024; the extraordinary Viking senior/current #18 in the nation (per Flo), Satriano, made the most of his final opportunity to seize Eastern States' gold....

BUT THE WIN DID NOT COME WITHOUT SOME CONTROVERSY!

Pitted in the finale against HFL junior, Chris Noto (3x DII All-State; 2024 runner-up) in a clash of returning State finalists/present-day #1 ranked wrestlers in the DI and DII polls; 6:00 would not be sufficient for a winner to emerge!

Trailing 3-1 at the start of the 3rd period, Satriano got in on a single-leg and then threw a leg-in for the TD with just under 1:20 to go in regulation go vault himself to a 4-3 lead...

The 3x State placer/2x DI Defending titlist [Satriano] hit for stalling on top in the last 10 ticks to force a restart; Noto would Granby for an escape with just :02 showing on the clock to extend the match...

The 1:00 sudden victory period coming and going without incident; things got interesting in the two alternating rideout OT periods...

On bottom for both ends (Noto chose top when it was his turn), Satriano would escape during OT1 and was then given a free release by Noto at the start of OT2 to hold a 6-4 lead...

In the final :15 of the second overtime, the Cougar 11th grader/Lock Haven verbal commit [Noto] threatened with a double-leg before peaking out and getting behind Satriano...

However, no takedown would be called as the factoring-in of reaction time deemed that proper control as defined had not be met!

Days after the conclusion of ESC; the debate was still ongoing with pundits on both sides of the aisle weighing on with their opinions (Note: We reached out to a handful of officials from various sections; and they seemed to side with the correct call having been made)...

The dispute during the last-stop of his trek to Victoryville perhaps somewhat tarnishing an overall exceptional effort by the gentleman signed, sealed, and promised to the Mountaineers of West Virginia University; Satriano wrapped up his stay in the Capital region as the owner of a 6-0 resume...

The 4pts surrendered against Noto being the only blemishes on what was otherwise a clean sheet on day #2 for Satriano; the S9 native utilized a 2nd period escape and a tilt for the full 4 in the 3rd to pitch a 5-0 quarterfinal shutout over DII #5/returning State 6th, Landyn Shaffer (Deposit Hancock)...

In the semis, he accounted for the only tallies when he earned an E1 in middle stanza and then iced his trip to the 'ship with a takedown during the first 1:00 of the 3rd period en route to a 4-0 goose-egging of Wyoming Seminary sophomore, Marcus Heck!

Going 3-0 on Friday, the highlight for Satriano on the opening day occurred in the round of 16 when a TD approximately half a minute into the 1st period was the catalyst behind a 3-0 decision over DI #5 ranked/2024 State Qualifier, Matthew McDermott (Smithtown East)!

In his only other bouts, Satriano racked up a 35-2 margin in securing respective 16-0 and 19-2 TFs at the expense of 2x S1 placer, Kenneth Keltto (Iona Prep) and Cold Spring Harbor's Devin Pelizzi!

Taking on all comers at every step of his swan song campaign; the title on Saturday was the perfect complement to national-level showings that yielded Satriano 7th at the Beast of the East and 5th at the Powerade!

As the "cherry on top", Satriano was the middleweight O.W. selection!


FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Luke Satriano (Valley Central) DEC Chris Noto (Honeoye Falls-lima), 6-4 TB2
3rd Marcus Heck (Wyoming Seminary) TF Gene Edwards (Central Valley Academy), 20-3 4:07
5th Justin Mullis (Hudson Falls) DEC Taylor Beaury (Saratoga Springs), 5-3
7th Ryan Ball (Somers) M FOR Finnegan O'brien (Chaminade)


138: Gavin Mangano (Shoreham-Wading River-11)

The first of a pair of three-peats on Saturday came courtesy of the Wildcat super sophomore [Mangano]...

The titles at 110 and 124 pounds already in his trophy case from 2023 and 2024, the FloWrestling #16 (@132 ranked wrestler kept himself on track to be an unprecedented five-time ESC crown winner when he polished off a 5-0 weekend by reigning victorious in a battle of current NY-USAW #1 and/or 2024 NYSPHSAA State finalists over Pittsford junior, DI #1 (@145) Samson McKissick-Staley (2x State placer/'24 runner-up; 2024 NHSCA AA)!!!! 

All of the 2x State finalist/2024 Champion's [Mangano] points coming behind a pair of takedowns (go-behind in the 1st; high-C to a scramble finish in the 3rd); even in defeat, McKissick-Staley made a damn fine impression as he induced a locked hands call and then added a reversal in the last :10 to account for the well-fought (on both sides) 6-3 verdict!!

His nemesis from S5 [McKissick-Staley] being the only person that succeeded in making the Long Islander work for his proverbial arm raise; Mangano recorded statement-making dubs of 17-1 and 9-0 in the quarterfinals and semis versus DI #6/2024 State Qualifier, Elijah Brown (Monroe Woodbury) and DII #2/2x State placer, Ashten Haley (Cobleskill-Richmondville)!

In his match against the Crusader [Brown] at the start of day #2, the Suffolk sensation collected three takedowns and two sets of swipes...

The matinee affair against Haley in what may have been a preview of the 2025 Small School State finals went the way of a TD + tilt in the 1st period; fellowed by another takedown in the 2nd!!!

The margin of his first two contests being 27-2, Mangano cruised on Friday by logging pins at the 2:27 and 1:51 marks over Aiden Forster ( Ravena-Coeymans-Selkir; 2024 sectional 6th) and present DI #10/3x PSAL finest (2x defending sectional champ), Jordan Lee (James Madison)!


FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Gavin Mangano (Shoreham-wading River) DEC Samson Mckissick staley (Pittsford), 6-3
3rd Vincent Tripaldi (Iona Prep) DEC Ashten Haley (Cobleskill-richmondville), 3-1
5th Jake Nieto (Chaminade) DEC Greg Green (Shenendehowa), 10-8
7th Colten Ford (Smithtown West) DEC Kaden Dustin (Noble), 8-1


152: LUKE NIETO (PLAINEDGE-8)

DIAscending two steps higher to the mountaintop after a bronze-medal producing display as a junior in 2024; the current top-ranked DII 152-pounder for the Red Devils was dynamic from the opening whistle to the final horn on his way to laying claim to the glory!!

A DI state runner-up a season ago; the Savage Wrestling Club protege most certainly has his eyes on the prize in his final attempt at the NYSPHSAA title (the school has transitioned to DII); and his victory at ESC is going to do nothing but instill further confidence in the Long Island University (LIU) commit...

A front-runner at every stage of his Eastern States coronation, Nieto left no doubt of his supremacy in the 152-pound finale when he upended 2x Connecticut Open State placer (3rd in '24), Evan Schibi (Gilbert-Northwestern Regional), by a decisive score of 13-4...

His defense serving as the best offense in the midst of his championship triumph; the Nassau resident broke open a then scoreless match in the last :20 of the 1st period when he hit an elevator off of his opponent's attacks to roll Schibi to his back for the takedown + 3NF to carry a 6-0 lead after 2:00...

The ability to play the counter game was rewarded again in the middle stanza, as after escaping to go up 7-0; he'd defend off a shot and then o the re-attack was able to create and come out on top of a scramble for his second TD of the bout to increase his edge to 10-0...

For good measure, he added an insurance TD in the last :30 of the 3rd (to go up 13-0) before Schibi was able to avoid the shutout by rallying for an E1 and TD in the waning moments!!

His encore illustration being indicative of how the entirety of the weekend went for the future Shark; every one of his five wins over fellow Empire Staters came at the detriment of an opponent who had a number adjourning their names (top-20 ranked)...

His most substantial wins naturally coming down the homestretch; Nieto struck for four takedowns (two in the 1st period) and added a set of back in the 3rd to secure a 16-4 major decision in the quarterfinals over DII #2 ranked (@160)/2024 NYS 6th, Waylan Winseman (Honeoye Falls-Lima-5)...

As a follow-up, takedowns in the 2nd and 3rd periods were the crux of hs 7-2 semifinal decision versus DI #4 (@145)/returning State 3rd, Anthony Tresch (Minisink Valley)!

On day earlier (Friday), he was punishing in banking conquests by default (up 16-3), 18-0 TF, and 17-2 tech against #20 Maxim Belousov (James Madison; 2024 PSAL runner-up), #17 Reese Bunney (Averill Park; 2024 Sectional 5th), and 15th-ranked Nick Flaherty, of Comsewogue!


FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Luke Nieto (Plainedge) MD Evan Schibi Winsted, CT (Gilbert/Torr/Wolc), 13-4
3rd Zikhriddin Madjidov (Poly Prep) F Anthony Tresch (Minisink Valley), 3:45
5th Zach Gerby (Pittsford) DEC Jake Maddox (Newtown), 4-1
7th Rory White (St Francis) MD Chris Nocca (Horace Greeley), 10-0


160: Jason Kwaak (Brentwood-11)

The third time was the charm for the Brentwood senior!!

After finishing as the ESC runner-up in both 2023 and 2024, the current DI #1 ranked/4x NYS placer [Kwaak] at long last got his chance to enjoy the spoils when in a rematch of last year's finals (lost a 5-1 decision), he used some late heroics to knock off his future North Carolina State teammate, Griff LaPlante (St. Francis; #1 ranked at 152; returning State runner-up; 2024 NHSCA National titlist), 10-5!!

A back-and-forth affair that featured three different lead changes during the last 2:00 of action; Kwaak connected with a double-leg to take a 4-1 lead with 1:10 to go in regulation...

However, his Red Raider rival was able to respond when after freeing himself off bottom to cut the deficit to 4-2, LaPlante notched his own TD (duck under and then collected both ankles on the edge of the mat with :27 still showing on the clock) to pull in front, 5-4...

But alas, Kwaak refused to be a three-time bridesmaid, as in the last half minute, he'd get to his feet and on the ensuing mat return attempt, he'd drive the CHSAA wrestler directly to his back for a 2pt reversal and then 4 near-fall to steal/seal the deal at the 11th hour!!!

This battle of #1s penciled in by pundits from the very get-go; Kwaak more than did his part in all previous rounds to ensure that the paying audience would not be cheated out of an instant classic!!

All three of his wins on Saturday coming over top-10 competitors, Kwaak commenced the day by using TDs in the 1st and 3rd periods to record a 7-2 decision over DI third-ranked/2024 State 7th, Jackson Koppers (Rush-Henrietta); and then lit up the scoreboard to the tune of a 19-3 TF (SIX takedowns) in the semis against DI #9/3x State Qualifier, Quentin Getzin (Ithaca)! 

His first day antics were comprised of 0:29 stick (up 6-1) of "Nutmegger", Marcello Tumminello (Ridgefield; CT), and 19-3 (five TDs, 1 set of NF for the full allotment) teching of #11 ranked (@170)/2024 sectional 6th, Will Roden (Clarkstown North)!


FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Jason Kwaak (Brentwood) DEC Griffin Laplante (St Francis), 10-5
3rd Jackson Koppers (Rush-henrietta) DEC Wyatt Boice (Minisink Valley), 2-1 TB2
5th Lucas Parietti (Wyoming Seminary) DEC Quentin Getzin (Ithaca), 8-5 SV
7th Marc Maurath (Newtown) DEC Eric Wolf (Farmingdale), 4-1 SV


170: PJ Duke (Minisink Valley-9)

For the third time in his career (missed the 2023 edition of ESC), the "Duke" is formally an Eastern States Classic "King"...

His previous titles coming in 2020 at 99 pounds (beat current #7 in the nation at 157, Vince Bouzakis, in the finals)  and last year at 160 (2-1 decision over Current Michigan Wolverine/2x NYSPHSAA DI Champ, Cam Catrabone, of Williamsville North), the consensus top-3 overall national 2025 prospect put on a clinic from his feet in dismantling some incredibly talented foes on his way to the three-peat!!!

Stockpiling 29 total takedowns and not allowing a single offensive point to be scored against himself (97-24 margin), the future Penn State Nittany Lion capped of a 5-0 resume when he converted six TDs to built an 18-6 advantage before locking up a cow-catch to toss DI #3 ranked/returning State 4th, Casey Liess (McQuaid Jesuit) directly to his back for the fall in a time of 1:42!

So utterly on a different level than anyone he faced this past weekend and/or this season as a whole; what was described above could be regarded as "par for the course" when it comes to the carnage that the 3x State Champion/2024 UWW U20 World Bronze medalist has inflicted in his swan song as a Warrior student-athlete!!

Spending no longer than 1:45 on the mat in any of his matches on Friday/Saturday, NY-USAW's top-ranked 2025er racked up seven takedowns in a 21-6 TF in the semis against DI #4 ranked/2023 State 8th/Iowa commit, Paolo Ciatto (Iona Prep)... 

Incorporating some of that judo skill set that enabled him to be a past age-group national champion; the takedowns were coming at such a frenzied pace in the quarterfinals that after connecting for a foot sweep for 3 +2, the refs had to pause the match temporarily to get caught up (11-2)....After resuming, Duke tacked on three more scores to seize the 20-4 TF over DII #6/2x State Qualifier, Kyber Henry (Cobleskill-Richmondville)...

Duke was credited with six more takedowns in the round of 16 before pinning 2024 Catholic State 5th, Aidan Schenk (St. Joe's Collegiate), with :33 remaining in the opening period to close out day #1!

His only other appearance netted a 20-3 TF (4 takedowns, 2 sets of backs) in his opening match versus North Babylon's John Rowland!!!

Not just a banner weekend for himself individually; but also a calling card for the club at which he trains; Duke united with Gursoy, Mangano, and Kwaak to give the KD Training Center gold in four of the 13 contested brackets!!!

Duke was deservedly later named as the upper-weight O.W.!
 

FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Pj Duke (Minisink Valley) F Casey Liess (McQUAID-JESUIT), 1:42
3rd Paolo Ciatto (Iona Prep) MD Logan Pennell (Pine Bush), 8-0
5th Kayleb Martin (Sackets Harbor) MD Rhys Dewar (Central Catholic), 13-1
7th Noah Leitten (Perry) DEC Giorgio Valenzuela (Glen Cove), 3-1


215 Pounds: Alex Berisha (Fox Lane-1)

With finishes of 7th and 5th to his name in past trips to ESC, the Foxes senior 215-pounder could not/would not be stopped in his final shot at Eastern States glory!!

Admirably and convincingly defending the top line of the bracket, the current DI #1 ranked/2024 State silver medalist became Section 1's lone ESC titlist when he prevailed, 8-1, against third-ranked/returning state 7th, Chris Leggett (Newburgh)!

A strong defense from his feet and on the mat being at the forefront of all his points, Berisha would defend a cradle and spin behind for a TD in the 1st period; fend off a tilt try and then scramble his way to an advantageous position for a 2pt reversal in the 2nd; and then stuff a low-single attempt and again circle behind for a takedown in the 3rd to get the better of the a potential state title match preview!...

Firing on all cylinders and everything turning up aces for him in the finals; the GPS Trained would experience his fair share of stress-inducing moments throughout day #2, as never trailed in his quarterfinal or semifinal matches; but did have to withstand rallies in each...

Enjoying a 12-2 lead (four takedowns) in the last :44 of the 2nd period of his Championship round of 8 meeting versus DI #7 ranked/2024 State Qualifier, Jacob DeJesus (Washingtonville), Berisha would surrender eight of the bout's final 10 points (escape + TD in both the 2nd and 3rd periods) to hang on for a 14-10 decision...

The semis was even more nerve-wracking, as after jumping out to a 6-1 advantage in the 1st period; he found himself deadlocked at 8-8 in the 3rd before a reversal in the last 10 ticks enabled him to survive with a 10-8 win in an All-Westchester affair over DI #8 ranked/returning State 6th, Michael Mauro (John Jay East Fishkill)! 

Friday was more to the liking of NY-USAW Top-10 (#7) 2025 big boarder, as he went 2-for-2 in registering falls in the rounds of 32 (1:10 up 6-1) and 16 (3:29 up 9-1) against Colonie's Jaxson Woodward & #19th-ranked/2024 Nassau 5th, Wilson Quintanilla, of Farmingdale! 


FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Alexander Berisha (Fox Lane) DEC Christopher Leggett (Newburgh), 8-1
3rd Cj Mccuthceon (Riverview) M FOR Zachary Caldwell (St Francis), 0-0 0:00
5th Jacob Dejesus (Washingtonville) FOR Michael Mauro (John Jay-ef), 0-0
7th Matthew Harrold (Haverhill) F Amin Ibrahim (James Madison), 0:52


285: Willy Wortkoetter (St. Francis-C)

Lowering the curtain on the festivities would be the Red Raider junior big man [Wortkoetter], who solidified his claim to the #1 spot in the large school polls when he rode out the full 2:00 of the 2nd period and then got on the board via an escape during the initial :07 of the 3rd to register the only point in a 1-0 decision victory against the man just below him in the rankings, #2/returning NYS 5th, Kamdyn Dorchester (Carthage)...

Remarkably not surrendering a single point (9-0) during his voyage to the winner's circle; his victory in the #1 vs. #2 bout was the only appearance in which the 2024 DII State runner-up (while competing for Wilson) was forced to go the full 6:00...

In all previous outings, his prowess as a consummate pinner was evident as he punched his ticket to the 'ship by way of a 48-second stick (body lock straight to the mat) in the quarterfinals of DI 18th-ranked Sean Pausley (Ballston Spa); complemented by a 4:44 pin (reversal and turn in the 3rd) of Bay State guest, Brian Waller-Reitano (Central Catholic; MA), in the semifinals! 

To boot, the U.S. Military Academy (ARMY) pledge spent all of only 2:17 on the mats on Friday, as he had sticks in times of :08 (yep, you read it right) and 2:09 (via bar) versus Brayden Ayles (Newtown; CT) & Freeport's Edwin Aracena

In addition to top solo honors; Wortkoetter would also get to relish in the euphoria of being the brightest star for the eventual team titlists hailing from Hamburg!

6th at the 2024 Powerade; his star continues to rise with each and every subsequent accolade!


FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st William Wortkoetter (St Francis) DEC Kamdyn Dorchester (Carthage), 1-0
3rd Mike Welsh (Frontier) DEC Kazmeier Morosetti North Kingstown, RI (North Kingstown), 4-1 SV
5th Brian Reitano (Central Catholic) DEC Jeremy Mcredmond (Central Valley Academy), 2-0
7th Chase Frole (Lindenhurst) F Zachary Kuelling (Williamson Marion Sodus), 2:29


REMAINING INDIVIDUAL CHAMPS

145 Pounds: Wyatt Fry (Wyoming Seminary; PA)---The 2023 Prep National All-American (5th)/2024 NHSCA 7th/2024 Fargo 16U FS 8th for the Blue Knights took the crown from the #3 among the field when he was able to tally one takedown apiece in each of the three periods to pitch a 10-0 shutout over current NY-USAW #2 ranked/2024 NYSPHSAA State runner-up, Mason Ketcham (Washingtonville)...The victory over the Buffalo commit [Ketcham] was one of three marquee wins registered by Fry on day #2, as earlier on Saturday, he pinned 2024 Connecticut Open State runner-up/2024 NHSCA 6th, Antonio Arguello (Newtown), in a time of 5:25 in the quarterfinals; and then locked up the main event berth via an 8-5 semifinal decision against DII #2 ranked (@152)/3x NYS placer, Patrick Grimsey (Lowville)....On Friday, he amassed a 16-1 TF in the round of 16 over DII #8/2023 State Qualifier, Victor Cusatis (Wilson)!

190 Pounds: Maximus Konopka (Simsbury, CT)---A silent assassin hiding in the #4 spot of the bracket, the 2024 Connecticut Open State Champion/2024 NHSCA National Champion/2024 Fargo 16U FS National runner-up toppled a pair of defending NYSPHSAA champs in back-to-back rounds on Saturday to win the brass ring....Trailing 8-3 in the semis, he'd roll through on a trip/toss attempt to plant DII ranked (@215)/2x State finalist (2024 Champ), Greyson Meak (Cold Spring Harbor-8), on his back for 3+4 in the last :35 to pull off the comeback, 10-8.....His finals match was equally, if not more so dramatic, as he was just inches away from surrendering an E1 in the UTB before diving at the ankles and putting DII #1/2024 NYS Champion, Devin Downes (Plainedge) in danger for a full set of near-fall to emerge with an 8-4 decision!...Not to overlooked was his stick in 3:44 over DII #3/returning State 4th, Luke VanGorden (Palmyra Macedon), during quarterfinal proceedings!! 

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145-POUND FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Wyatt Fry (Wyoming Seminary) MD Mason Ketcham (Washingtonville), 10-0
3rd George Johnson (Iona Prep) MD Patrick Grimsey (Lowville), 10-1
5th Aj Didas (Clarence) DEC Leo Tansey (Collegiate), 15-10
7th Philly Provenzano (Fairport) DEC Gabe English (Berne Knox-westerlo), 8-6

190-POUND FULL MEDAL RESULTS

1st Maximus Konopka (Simsbury) DEC Devin Downes (Plainedge), 8-4 UTB
3rd Greyson Meak (Cold Spring Harbor) FMC Tavio Hoose (St Francis), 16-2 4:28
5th Luke Vangorden (Palmyra Macedon) F Trent True (Holand Patent), 2:43
7th Barron Ransom (Fox Lane) DEC Zach Filip (Minisink Valley), 12-9 SV


TEAM CHAMPIONS: ST. FRANCIS-C

Officially putting six of their nine entries onto the podium, the Red Raiders ran away with the overall team hardware; as they boasted a 47pt win (146.5 to 99.5) over their closest opponents, Minisink Valley!! 

Anchored of course by the aforementioned title victory from 285-pounder, Willy Wortkoetter, and the runner-up status of 160-pounder, Griff LaPlante; St. Francis also received massive contributions from the likes of:

*Tanner Catrabone (101)---3rd
*Cullen Edwards (116)---4th
*Rory White (152)---7th
*Zach Caldwell (215)---4th 

Note: 2x State finalist/2023 Champion, Tavio Hoose, would have been a top-4 performer at 190 pounds; but the current DI #1 ranked man was hit for a flagrant misconduct during his 3rd-place showdown with his state finals rival, Greyson Meak (Cold Spring Harbor)... 

The rationale behind the DQ is not known to NY-USAW at the time of publication!

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