New York USA Wrestling

Here is just a sampling of the senior wrestlers that we will be following closely as they each go in pursuit of claiming the NYSPHSAA crowns that have thus far alluded their grasp!!!

Some the odds-on favorites; others spoilers and/or wildcard selections; these 20 individuals have made impression throughout their careers; and we are eager to see what they can achieve in their last attempt at the mountaintop!!

108: Connor Sheridan (Hauppauge-11)---Finding himself in quite the precarious predicament, the U.S. Naval Academy commit will sit on the #15 line of the bracket; meaning that he is going to have to run quite the gauntlet in order to make his dreams come true...However, if anyone could manage to pull off this seemingly impractical feat; it would be the Sheridan who was a 2023 State runner-up as a sophomore (8th last year), as well as a 2024 NHSCA National runner-up...Ranked 10th on the NY-USAW 2025 Big Board; we have always seen a lot of ability in the Long Islander; and are not about to count him out just yet!!

124: Nico Rivera (Mohonasen-2)---Another weight class where there is a definitive favorite in the person of defending State champion, Evin Gursoy; the third-seeded Rivera most certainly has it in him to shock the world and dethrone the future Columbia University Lion...The owner of a 30-2 record this season with his only loss to an in-state opponent coming in the form of a 5-4 TB blemish to 2024 DII State Champion, Maverick Beckwith; the Mohonasen 12th grader has been very good throughout his scholastic career; but has jumped level to the "extraordinary" in his swan song...Now a four-time State Qualifier; he earned his first All-State distinction as a junior when he finished 7th; but should be that "eyes on the prize" mentality with him!...Should he succeed in going all the way; he will make history as his school's first state titlist!

131: Jacob Hanlon (Averill Park-2)---Expected to be the biggest threat to a Luke Satriano three-peat in this bracket; with the exception of a handful of losses (35-2 record), the returning NYS DI 5th out of Section II has been stellar...Bonus-pointing his way to a second straight sectional gold medal; Hanlon proved that he is ready to contend for the brass ring when he emerged as a 16-4 victor in the S2 finale over 2x State medalist/2024 bronze, Taylor Beaury...Hanlon is seeing to be AP's first State champ in school history!

138: Vincent Tripaldi (Iona Prep-C)---Battling injuries when he settled for 6th place under the roof of MVP Arena as a junior last year; when operating at 100 percent; the Gael student-athlete has more than demonstrated why he cannot be overlooked in a bracket that features blue chip prospects such as Samson McKissick-Staley and Camryn Howard...Amassing a 52-2 record as a senior, highlighted by a bronze medal at the Eastern States Classic and a second straight Catholic State gold; Tripaldi is no stranger to the "main event", as prior to transferring into the New Rochelle based program; he was a 2023 Connecticut State runner-up...

145: Mason Ketcham (Washingtonville-9)---Re-embracing his Empire root last season after starting his scholastic career across the Bridge in NJ; the "Wizard of the Mat" darn-near went the distance in NYSPHSAA debut, as he reached the finals before dropping a narrow 3-1 decision to the current #10 ranked wrestler in the country, Liam Carlin...Ranked 1st by NY-USAW for the duration of swan song campaign and entering this weekend as the top-seed to the surprise of no one; the Buffalo commit has been flawless against his NYS brethren, as evident by the 38-1 resume he sports (only loss coming in the ESC finals to an opponent from PA)...Solidifying his status as the "Bell Cow" in the bracket; it needs to be noted that while in Loch Sheldrake, Ketcham posted respective 8-0 and 12-5 dubs over the #4 (AJ Didas) and #2 (Philly Provenzano) seeded wrestlers!! So if we see a lot of "Chalk" this weekend; he is going to have a mental edge because of these recent head-to-head outcomes!...Gold for Ketcham would put Washingtonville back on the title map for the first time since 1991 when it was Mike Castro rising to the occasion as a senior and delivering individual hardware at 126 pounds!

152: Anthony Tresch (Minisink Valley-9)---A "Warrior" in name and spirit, the returning Large School State Bronze medalist has perhaps not received the same level of attention/spotlight as several of his MV teammates; but in many ways, he is regarded as the heart of the the S9 dynasty...The selflessness he has shown while in the midst of supporting his mother in her health battles; Tresch is definitely a sentimental pick; but he is also the real deal when it comes to his wealth of talents...Carrying a 41-2 record into the NYSPHSAA tournament; he is a deserving #2 seed who we'd love to see contending for the glory on the night of March 1st!

160: Jason Kwaak (Brentwood-11)---Without question the best senior wrestler in NYS who has yet to enjoy the spoils that accompany being a State titlist; the NC State commit has finishes of 8th, 3rd, and 4th in previous trips to NYS Championship tournaments; is a 3x ESC finalist/2025 Champion; a 2024 NHSCA Bronze Medalist; and a 2023 Fargo 16U FS All-American...Regarded as #5 prospect on the 2025 Big Board, it would be only fitting that Kwaak (top-seeded with a 37-0 record) check off this last exclusive box as a proper farewell to a decorated scholastic tenure!!!...A Kwaak crown on Saturday would snap a decade-plus long drought for Brentwood (Carlos Toribio in 2013 at 170)

190: Josh Jorgge (St. Anthony's-C)---The ultimate "turning it on when it most matters" story of Sectional Championship weekend; after never placing higher than 5th at the Catholic HS State tournament; the Friar senior commanded the respect of the entire Evil Empire when he shocked #1 ranked Tavio Hoose (2x State finalist/2023 Champion; NHSCA All-American; 2023 Fargo 16U GR All-American, etc) in a high-scoring affair in the CHSAA finals....Yet to lose to a NYS opponent this season (38-3 overall); Jorgge is as explosive as they come and whom many regard as the man to beat on South Pearl Street despite being the #3 seed in the bracket!...If Jorgge can keep his fortunes flowing; he would join the company of Lucas Magnani (2000 at 112, Grant Greene (2009 at 112), and Jamel Hudson (2012 at 132) as just the fourth NYS champ for STA!

215: Alex Berisha (Fox Lane-1)---A member of the top-10 on the 2025 Big Board for the majority of his high school career (currently #7); Berisha has waited patiently for this moment; and his time has arrived!!!...On the brink of doing the deed as a junior, he advanced to the 2024 "Saturday Night Main Event", but would be upended...Now he returns to MVP arena as a man on a mission!!!....38-2 with both of his imperfects coming to out-of-state foes at the Beast of the East; the Section 1 sensation left no doubt that the 215-pound brass ring goes through him when after previous showings yielding placements of 7th and 5th; he broke through to claim his first career Eastern States Classic gold last month!...Striving to add a second NYS champion to the history of FL (Steven Rodrigues in 2011 @130 pounds)!

285: Kamdyn Dorchester (Carthage-3)----5th at the dance as a junior in 2024; the Carthage big daddy is fresh off of repeating as a Sectional Champion (beat NYS preseason #1/2024 State 3rd, Christopher Belmonte) and is primed to cap off his career in style....The single imperfection in a body of work that witnessed him get his arm raised on 37 of 38 occasions (37-1) this season being a 1-0 decision to the top-seed/2024 NYS DII runner-up, William Wortkoetter, in the finale of the ESC; we'd relish the opportunity to see them play it back for the NYS crown this coming weekend!!...A Dorchester coronation would put him in the elite company of 2013 titlist, Shayne Brady (182 pounds), who remains the only wrestler in Carthage history to take the crown!

116: Jaron Barrientos (Lewiston-Porter-6)----A mainstay at the top of the NYS polls this season; the returning State 5th has not lost to a fellow DII foe this season (36-3) and has no plans to start losing to his peers anytime soon...Seeded 2nd in the bracket; should the Lancer hold serve and punch his ticket to the finals; then a head-to-head against the 2023 Champion, Aiello, ought be among the most highly anticipated contests of the night!!...Kyle Cerminara (2001 at 189) and Laith Alsous (285 in 2017) having previously brought state crowns back to Lew-Port; Barrientos would score one for the lightweights!

138: Zach Rooks (Pal-Mac-5)---Seeded 4th and on the same side of the bracket as nationally ranked Gavin Mangano (2x State finalist/defending Champion; 2024 NHSCA National Champion; 2024 Super 32 placer, etc); the future NCAA DI wrestler (Bloomsburg) has his work cut out for him to reach the finals; but should be somehow manage to pull the upset in the semis; then that momentum could very well vault him to the top of the podium...4th at the NYSPHSAA tournament a season ago; Rooks has compiled an impressive 41-3 vitae as a senior, with his only loss to a DII opponent being to #2 seed/2x State placer, Ashten Haley

145: Patrick Grimsey (Lowville-3)---Improving his lie in each of his subsequent pilgrimages to South Pearl Street; Grimsey has gone from 8th as a freshman to 5th as a sophomore, and then took home bronze in 2024...Seeded 1st with good reason, the the three-time S3 titlist is the owner of a 39-2 record (no losses to DII peers), which included a 4th-place illustration at the ESC...Remarkable thus far in his swan song; it ought to be noted that when he faced off with the #2 seed in this bracket, HFL's Jacob McVige (2x State placer); he was a 10-2 victor at the Eastern States!!...Grimsey is going in pursuit of his school's first state title since 2004 when Taylor Malone was the 125-pound king!

152: Luke Nieto (Plainedge-8)---Having unfinished business under the roof of MVP Arena; the Long Island University commit/#8 2025 recruit out of Nassau County got a whiff of immortality a season ago when he was the DI runner-up for the Red Devils; now he wants a full taste of the glory in his final attempt at the prize...A surefire lock to be on the podium for a third consecutive year (also 5th as a sophomore in '23); Nieto enters the NYSPHSAA festivities on the top line of the bracket after collecting victories in 42 of 45 (42-3) outings in 2024-2025...His only in-state defeat coming in the form of a controversial DQ in the finals of the NYSPHSAA Dual Championships; Nieto claimed the gold at the ESC last month...In a field comprised of many prominent seniors (Caden Inkley, Cooper Reed, Waylan Winseman, etc); he is out to prove that he is THE CREAM OF THE CROP!

160: Jacob Stephenson (Wilson-6)---Catching some people off guard as a junior when he secured a state title berth as the #6 seed (before losing to 3x Champion, Ousmane Duncanson); the 3x S6 King is fully aware that he is no longer the "hunter", but rather, the "hunted"...The top-seed in the bracket, the Lakemen 12th grader has gone 38-3 this season, with his only loss to a DII opponent coming at the hands of former returning/past State runner-up/#1 seed at 170, Tavyn MacDonell...Not going the distance in any of his bouts at the S6 Championships; all signs indicate that Stephenson has his "A" game firing!!...Stephenson would be Wilson's first State champion!!

170: Tavyn MacDonnell (Bolivar-Richburg-5)---Speaking of the highly-touted Wolverine; MacDonell himself is a competitor that is due to finally stand atop the medal stand in his final attempt...A 2x State placer who turned some heads when he advanced to the finals as a 160-pound sophomore (also denied by the aforementioned Duncanson), MacDonnell endured a slight slide last year when he settled for 4th...Entering this weekend as the owner of a 42-1 record; in addition to the already cited triumph over Stephenson in a clash of NYS silver medalists; MacDonnell culminated a dominant trek to his first Sectional gold when he earned a 17-2 TF in the S5 money bout over 2024 State 4th/#5 seeded Noah Leitten!

285: Mason Maring (Chautauqua Lake-WP-6)---Finishing as the DII State runner-up last season as the #6 seed; the Eagle senior heavyweight finds himself in a much more advantageous position this weekend as he will enter in the #2 slot of the bracket....Fresh off of a statement-making effort in hoisting S6 hardware for the first time in his career (previously a 2x runner-up), Maring racked up an 18-5 major decision over this weekend's #3 seed/2x State placer (bronze in '24), Hamza Merrick...His only loss in a 43-1 campaign this year coming to the top-seed in the DI bracket/2024 DII State runner-up, Wortkoetter; Maring may be on the #2 line; but pundits have suggested to us that he is the closest thing to a co-#1 as possible!

114: Teegan Sibble (Bolivar-Richburg-5)----A runner-up at this event in each of the past two years; if there is one person that DESERVES to go out as a State Champion; it is Sibble....A young lady who has represented the Empire with class and prosperity at every stage of her high school career; Sibble is not currently nationally ranked; but she has been a regular in the polls for much of her time as a Wolverine...A multiple-time NHSCA All-American (2023 Champion), as well as a 2x Fargo All-American; Teegan will look to join older brother, Trent (2x State finalist/2023 champion) as NYSPHSAA royalty on Thursday!

132: Taylor "Tater Tot" Aiello (Town of Huntington-11)----With defending State Champion/Fargo All-American, Mia Collins, headlining this bracket; many people are assuming that the title is already locked up...And while we certainly do regard the S2 entry [Collins] are the "smart money" pick; we are not willing to completely rule out Aiello going on a run for the roses!!...A Girls Invitational State Bronze medalist as a junior, the recent Lock Haven commit possesses the toughness to make Collins (accustomed to bullying her opponents) uncomfortable!

235: Patricia Deslandes (Minisink Valley-9)---While it seems impossible to envision anyone standing in the way of a Peyton Mullin repeat; the Warrior senior has shown that she has that uncanny ability to put ANYONE on their backs at a given moment....A returning Girls Invitational Bronze medalist as well as the 2025 ESC runner-up; Deslandes will have revenge on her mind, as Mullin pinned her in the state semis in 2024!!