New York USA Wrestling

Auto Qualifiers?

Wildcards?

Regional Auto Qualifiers?
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After much debate over the past month or so, there HAS to be a change moving forward. After following and attending the New York State Tournament for over a quarter-century now, it is evident that the overall body of "States" isn't what it used to be.

The current system in place allocates a predetermined number of qualifiers per section based on a 3-year average of how many points each respective section scores during the NYS Tournament. Exclusing CHSAA/PSAL/AIS

Although perhaps a subtle way of taking a point system (Wildcards) out of the equation and allowing competitors to instantly know whether "they're in" or "they're out", auto-qualifiers only solve a few minor issues and the politics that follow. 

Any true wrestling fans know that when the wildcard system was in place, the state tournament was deeper and more competitive in both divisions. As a whole, the state of New York needs a change, an immense change—to maintain the integrity and pageantry of the NYS Tournament.

Regardless, there are too many wrestlers, state-caliber wrestlers that DID NOT "auto-qualify" this past season in lieu of the current system in place.

To prove a point, we have compiled a list of competitors, with their credentials. 

SENIORS

2x New York State Qualifier (6-X-Q)
4x Section 5 PF (3-2-3-2)
2x Eastern States Classic PF (5-8)
2023 NYS Freestyle Champion
2x NYS Greco Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 17th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 6 NYS Qualifiers*

Preston Jackson (Rush-Henrietta-5); Fall 3:40
Chris Nocca (Horace Greeley-1); 7-2
Chase Richards (Niagara Wheatfield-6); 12-6
Peter Mikedis (Bellmore-JFK-8); Fall 3:17
Brody Heckman (Alexander-5); 6-3
Phillip Testa (Hilton-5); 6-3 SV

3x New York State PF (8-7-8)
4x Section 11 PF (5-2-2-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 20th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Justin D'Arce (Center Moriches-11); 6-0

3x New York State Qualifier (Q-8-Q)
4x Section 5 PF (3-2-2-2)
2024 Eastern States Classic 6th
2024 NYS Freestyle 4th
NY-USAW Rank: 28th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 5 NYS Qualifiers*

Kasey Kalfass (Cicero-North Syracuse-3); Fall 1:54
Marco Provenzano (Fairport-5); TF 17-2
Braiden Salter (Wayne-5); 8-5
Eian Peterson (Niagara Wheatfield-6); 11-3
Brayden Kellison (Williamsville North-6); 14-6

3x New York State Qualifier 
4x Section 10 PF (2-1-1-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 79th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Liam Harte (Malone-10); TF 15-0
Cole Clifford (Canton-10); Fall 3:55

4x CHSAA PF (2-2-2-5)
2x NYS Freestyle PF (4-6)
NY-USAW Rank: 82nd/Class of 2025

2024 New York State 5th
3x Section 5 PF (3-1-4)
NY-USAW Rank: 83rd/Class of 2025

*Defeated 4 NYS Qualifiers*

Gavin Hornsby (Horseheads-4); TF 17-0
Jake Giannantonio (Ken-Ton-6); TF 18-0
Ryder DePaua-Reese (Elmira-4); TF 15-0
Peyton Hubbard (Chenango Forks-4); Fall 2:34

3x Section 11 PF (3-6-4)
2024 NYS Freestyle 6th
NY-USAW Rank: 86th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Aidan Lee (John Glenn-11); Fall 4:15

2023 New York State Qualifier
4x Section 11 PF (3-5-3-6)
NY-USAW Rank: 108th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 3 NYS Qualifiers*

Tommy Aiello (John Glenn-11); Fall 5:34
Gino Manta (Hauppauge-11); 10-5
Devin Connelly (Longwood-11)(TWICE); TF 17-0 & 1-0

2024 New York State Qualifier
3x Section 2 PF (4-2-4)
2024 Journeymen World Classic 7th
NY-USAW Rank: 114th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Jordan Busby (Newburgh-9); 22-10
Luke Gillis (Hoosick Falls-2); 16-6

2024 New York State Qualifier
3x Section 2 PF (3-1-4)
NY-USAW Rank: 115th/Class of 2025

*Defeated 3 NYS Qualifiers*

Aiden Bowerman (Canajoharie-Ft. Plain-2); 14-5
Asaac Mead (Deposit-Hancock-4): TF 21-5
Henry Martin (Croton-Harmon-1); 19-17

4x CHSAA PF (6-4-5-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 121st/Class of 2025

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Dawson Messinger (Shenendehowa-2); Fall 3:22
Max Collins (Elmira-4); TF 17-0

Jackson Moore (Sherburne-Earlville): 7th (2024)
Justin Castillo (St. Anthony's-C): 2024
Turner Sochia (Gouverneur-10): 2024/2023
Lucas Griffin (Chaminade-C): 2024
Nicholas Plue (Moravia-4): 2024
Nick Moretta (Carle Place-8): 2023
Chris Lotten (Port Jefferson-11): 2024
Ashtyn Amo (Ogdensburg-10): 2022
Alex Keilitz (Babylon-11): 2024
Remy Becker (Hackley-A): 2024

JUNIORS

3x New York State Qualifier (2-1-Q)
3x Section 6 Champion
2025 CHSAA Runner-Up
2024 Eastern States Classic Runner-Up
2x NHSCA PF (4-5)
2x NE Regionals Freestyle PF (2-3)
2023 NE Regionals Greco Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 7th

*Defeated 5 NYS Qualifiers*

Patrick Braley (Falconer-CV-6); TF 22-6
Devin Downes (Plainedge-8); 5-4
Luke Vangorden (Palmyra Macedon-5); 7-0
Zach Filip (Minisink Valley-9); 7-5
Salvatore DiSenso (Ossining-1); 9-7

2x New York State Qualifier (X-Q-2)
4x Section 5 PF (3-3-2-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 28th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Ben Burros (Pittsford-5); Fall :36
 

2x New York State PF (3-2)
4x Section 4 PF (6-3-3-5)
NY-USAW Rank: 31st

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Lucas Hoffman (OMWG-4); 11-7

2023 New York State 7th
3x Section 5 PF (3-2-3)
2021 NHSCA Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 32nd

2x CHSAA PF (3-X-5)
2025 EASTERN STATES CLASSIC 8TH
2024 Journeymen World Classic 6th
2x NYS Freestyle PF (2-3)
2024 NE Regionals Greco Runner-Up
NY-USAW Rank: 37th

*Defeated 5 NYS Qualifiers*

Amirjohn Kholmatov (McKee-SIT-P); Fall 2:36
Luca Popolizio (CBA Albany-2); Fall :26
Jaron Barrientos (Lewiston-Porter-6); Fall 2:36
Christian McCarvey (Freeport-8); Fall 2:03
Rocky Molinare (Petrides-P); Tech Fall 21-5

2024 New York State Qualifier
2x Section 11 PF (6-3)
2024 NYS Freestyle 3rd
2024 NYS Greco Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 40th

3x CHSAA PF (2-2-1)
2024 NYS Freestyle 5th
NY-USAW Rank: 43rd

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Luca Popolizio (CBA Albany-2); 9-6
Rhylee Stotler (Waverly-4); Fall 3:14

3x CHSAA PF (2-4-2)
2024 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
2024 NYS Greco Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 45th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Ryan Ciardullo (Clarkstown North-1); 7-4 SV

3x New York State Qualifier
4x Section 4 PF (2-1-2-2)
2025 EASTERN STATES CLASSIC 6TH
2022 NYS Freestyle 3rd
2x NYS Greco PF (4-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 46th

*Defeated 8 NYS Qualifiers*

Sawyer Dickinson (Ken-Ton-6); 14-1
Dyan Pringle (Niagara Wheatfield-6); Fall 2:49
Chase Richards (Niagara Wheatfield-6); 7-0
Waylan Winseman (Honeoye Falls-Lima-5)(TWICE); 5-4 & 4-2
Jacob Stephenson (Wilson-6); 6-2
Robert Bello (Calhoun-8); Fall 2:38
Bobby Struble (Owego-4); 12-3
Coleton Owen (Horseheads-4); 3-2 UTB

2024 New York State Qualifier
3x Section 4 PF (4-3-6)
2x NYS Freestyle PF (2-6)
2x NYS Greco PF (2-5)
NY-USAW Rank: 51st

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Edward Geer (Chittenango-3); 4-1
Connor Justesen (Tottenville-P); Fall 2:06

Sebastian Mejia (Clarke-8): 2024
Luke LeBlanc (Salem-Cambridge-2): 2024 & 2023
Drew Schiavo (Niskayuna-2): 2023
Victor Cusatis (Wilson-6): 2023
Antonio Faldetta (Mt. Sinai-11): 2024 & 2023
Alex Schiffhauer (Iroquois-6): 2023
Austin Fesinger (West Genesee-3): 2023
Jesse Straus (Pleasantville-1): 2024
Nikita Rusnak (Carmel-1): 2024
Titus Callahan (Newark Valley-4): 2024
Rasheed Scott (Binghamton-Seton CC-4): 2024
Zach Little (Jamestown-6): 2024
Ethan Steuber (Somers-1): 2024
Tanner Knapp (Horseheads-4): 2024
Marcus Rosario (Clarke-8): 2024
Liam Squires (Southampton-11): 2024

SOPHOMORES

2024 New York State Qualifier
2024 CHSAA Runner-Up
2025 EASTERN STATES CLASSIC 5TH
2x Section 8 PF (2-5)
2023 NHSCA 6th
2x NYS Freestyle Champion
2024 NYS Greco Champion
2024 NE Regionals Freestyle Runner-Up
NY-USAW Rank: 5th

*Defeated 5 NYS Qualifiers*

Elijah Brown (Monroe Woodbury-9); 17-5
Domanik Clark (Randolph-6); 14-0
Greg Green (Shenendehowa-2); 10-8
Niko Marnika (Commack-11); 8-7
Elijah Carrington (Kellenberg-C); 16-11

2024 New York State 6th
2x Section 5 PF (3-3)
NY-USAW Rank: 24th

*Defeated 5 NYS Qualifiers*

Aiden Rodriguez (Orchard Park-6); Fall 3:06
Tuffy Griffith (Gouverneur-10); Fall :29
Dylan Newman (Windsor-4); Fall :45
Caden Higley (Sidney-4); 13-2
Kurt Ziegler (Wayne-5)(TWICE): Fall & Tech Fall 15-0

3x Section 8 PF (4-1-X-1)
2x NYS Freestyle PF (4-1)
2x NYS Greco PF (4-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 26th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Zackary Tinyes (Lynbrook-8); Fall 5:38

3x Section 3 PF (4-X-5-5)
2x NYS Freestyle PF (3-2)
2x NYS Greco PF (2-2)
NY-USAW Rank: 31st

2024 Section 11 4th
2x NYS Freestyle PF (3-3)
2x NYS Greco PF (2-1)
2023 NE Regionals Freestyle 6th
NY-USAW Rank: 33rd

2x Section 8 PF (5-6-5)
2023 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
NY-USAW Rank: 38th

​​​​​​*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Devin Pellizzi (Cold Spring Harbor-8); 9-1

2x Section 11 PF (4-5)
2024 Eastern States Classic 8th
NY-USAW Rank: 44th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Devin Connelly (Longwood-11); 8-0

2024 CHSAA 3rd
2023 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
2x NYS Greco PF (2-2)
2023 NE Regionals FS 3rd
2023 NE Regionals Greco Runner-Up
NY-USAW Rank: 46th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Kayden Feagin (Niagara Falls-6); 3-1

2x Section 5 PF (4-5)
2024 NHSCA 7th
NY-USAW Rank: 63rd

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Tristan Webb (Hamburg-6); 7-5
Tyler Stewart (Webster Thomas-5); 3-2 UTB

2x PSAL PF (2-2)
2023 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
2023 NYS Greco Runner-Up
NY-USAWK Rank: 64th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Jason Consalvo (Petrides-P); 9-6

Kolt Wojtowecz (Galway-2): 2024
Jaxson Burchard (Horseheads-4): 2024
Maddox Hubbard (Chenango Forks-4): 2024
Evan Azbell (Niagara Wheatfield-6): 2023
Rafael Rodriguez (Iona Prep-C): 2024
Ashton Presti (John Glenn-11): 2024

FRESHMAN

2024 New York State 8th
2025 EASTERN STATES CLASSIC RUNNER-UP
2x Section 11 PF (4-2)
2x Super 32 PF (3-1)
2024 USOpen Greco Runner-Up
2024 NYS Freestyle Champion
2024 NYS Greco Champion
2x NE Regionals Freestyle PF (2-2)
2x NE Regionals Greco PF (3-3)
NY-USAW Rank: 5th

*Defeated 4 NYS Qualifiers*

Wyatt Sartori (Dansville-WC-5): 4-2
Mason DellaPenta (Eden-6): 3-0
Marcarlo Mannello (BBHVW-1): 10-0
Thomas Matias (Shoreham-Wading River-11): Fall 1:36

2024 New York State Qualifier
3x Section 5 PF (4-2-5)
NY-USAW Rank: 16th

2025 CHSAA 3rd
2024 Section 8 5th
2x NYS Freestyle PF (3-1)
2023 NYS Greco Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 19th

2025 CHSAA 4th
2024 Section 1 Champion
2024 NYS Freestyle Champion
2024 NYS Greco Champion
NY-USAW Rank: 22nd

*Defeated 3 NYS Qualifiers*

Josh Knapp (Horseheads-4): 13-3
Zachary Gubba (Calhoun-8): 9-8
Cameron Crumpler (Niagara Falls-6): 13-5

2024 New York State 7th
3x Section 3 PF (4-2-6)
NY-USAW Rank: 24th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Noah Becker (Mexico-3): 12-7

2025 Section 11 5th
2x NYS Freestyle PF (1-2)
2x NYS Greco PF (1-3)
NY-USAW Rank: 29th 

​​​​​​*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Parker Menechino (Mt. Sinai-11): 13-5

2024 New York State Qualifier
2x Section 3 PF (4-2)
NY-USAW Rank: 34th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Liam Mantell (JE/PB/US/CM-3)(4x): 8-5 / 5-4 / 5-2 / 12-10

2024 NHSCA 4th
2024 NYS Freestyle 3rd
2024 NYS Greco Runner-Up
NY-USAW Rank: 35th

2025 Section 2 6th
2024 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
2024 NYS Greco Runner-Up
2024 NE Regionals Greco 4th
NY-USAW Rank: 36th

2x Section PF (6-1)
2x NYS Freestyle PF (2-3)
NY-USAW Rank: 38th

Teegan Smith (Saranac-7); 2024
Keith King (John Glenn-11); 2024
Reece LaBarge (Northern Adirondack-7): 2024

8th Grade

2024 NYS Qualifier
2x Section 2 PF (3-2)
2023 Journeymen Fall Classic 3rd
2024 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
2024 NYS Greco Runner-Up
2024 NE Regionals FS 5th
2024 NE Regionals Greco 3rd
2022 Super 32 5th

*Defeated 2 NYS Qualifiers*

Kasey Kalfass (CNS-3): Fall :29
Luke Gillis (Hoosick Falls-2): 8-5

2024 Section 11 6th
2024 NHSCA 6th
2024 Journeymen Fall Classic 3rd
2x NYS Freestyle PF (2-2)
2x NYS Greco PF (2-1)
NY-USAW Rank: 3rd

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Colden Friedman (Seaford-8): 12-3

2025 Section 5 3rd
2024 MAWA Champion
2x Ohio TOC PF (1-6)
NY-USAW Rank: 6th

*Defeated 1 NYS Qualifier*

Tyler Stewart (Webster Thomas-5): 7-0

2025 Section 11 4th
2024 NYS Freestyle Runner-Up
2024 NYS Greco Champion
2024 NE Regionals FS 5th
2024 NE Regionals GR 3rd
NY-USAW Rank: 9th

2025 Section 4 6th
2024 Journeymen Fall Classic 4th
2024 NYS Freestyle 5th
NY-USAW Rank: 11th

Ayden LaBella of Sayville, who did not place at 101lbs in the Section 11 tournament, proving how extremely tough Suffolk County is. LaBella placed 5th at Eastern States this year, which was higher than Trevor Patrovich (4th in NYS/6th at ESC) and Marcarlo Mannello (5th in NYS/8th at ESC).

During the regular season, Ayden defeated Section 9 Champion Matteo Walsh (Rondout Valley) via tech fall 15-0. Also, he took out NYS qualifier Casey Powers (Long Beach-8), 8-1 as well as besting 7th place finisher Brody DiCaprio of CBA by a convincing 9-3 tally. His final win over a 2025 state qualifier would come against 5th place finisher Marcarlo Mannello of BBHVW, 4-1. 

In total, 4 wins against state qualifiers - 2 of which finished on the blocks.

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Staying in Section 11, Smithtown West's Colten Ford would suffer the same fate as LaBella and finished with a DNP in Suffolk County , despite placing at Eastern States (7th). Colten's lone state qualifier "dub" would come against Valley Central's Maximus Smith at the ESC. 

Regardless, ending on the podium at New York's toughest in-season tournament is no joke. 

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Staying on the Eastern States ride, we have to mention Iona Prep's Paolo Ciatto. The Iowa Commit placed 3rd, behind NYS finalists PJ Duke and Casey Liess. Aside from Tavio Hoose, Ciatto is arguably the most decorated CHSAA wrestler that fell victim to the atrocious, discriminatory rules set in place which prevents of the Red and Black from more than one auto-allocation. 

During the course of the 2024-2025 season, Ciatto would defeat SIX (NOT A MISPRINT)....SIX NYS QUALIFIERS! 

*Denotes 2025 New York State Place Finisher

James Capasso (Ballston Spa-2): 13-4
*Lucas Mosher (Horseheads-4): Fall 3:23 
Liam Hayes (Monroe Woodbury-9): Tech Fall 18-1
*Giorgio Valenzuela (Glen Cove-8): 10-3
*Logan Pennell (Pine Bush-9): 4-3 / 8-0
Jordan Fisher (Edgemont-1): 7-3

You cannot argue with Paolo's resume, and that's a fact. 

_______________________________________________

Highlighting yet again another podium finish at the Eastern States Classic. Fox Lane's Barron Ransom would finish 7th overall, capping off a great tournament with a 12-9 win over eventual State Tournament top seed at 190lbs, Zach Filip of Minisink Valley.

Let's not forget in Mid-December, Ransom narrowly defeated eventual NYS Runner-Up, Dylan Shelton (North Rockland-1) 8-6. To prove that the narrow victory wasn't a fluke, the Fox Senior would pin Shelton at the Shoreline Classic in Mid-January. 2025 NYS Qualifer and PSAL Champion, Aiden Brito of RKA was the finale victim at that same tournament. Ransom would win the title in exciting fashion!

Cortland Commit/Oceanside Senior Jared Marine also was handed a loss becuase of Ransom. 

2025 Section 1 Champion Salvatore DiSenso (Ossining) suffered the same result, as Barrett would pin him in Sudden Victory.  

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Rounding out the Eastern States Classic place winners is Amin Ibrahim of James Madison. Ibrahim would finish 8th. Early on in the season, Amin picked up a victory over eventual PSAL Champion (215lbs) Kerolos Gorgy, 2-0 and PSAL Champion (285lbs) Lazare Chikhradze, 4-1. Many were led to believe Amin was a lock in repeating his 2024 dominance and claiming his second PSAL title. 

His first loss would come to NYS Place Winner Chris Leggett at ESC. During his 8th place run, the James Madison Student-Athlete defeated Section 2 Champion Marcus Burgos, 3-0.

At the Donald Douglas Memorial tournament in January, Amin would defeated Chikhradze again, 5-4, but drop a 7-6 heartbreaker to Gorgy. 

The Senior from Madison finished the year with no bad losses, yet again, PSAL is allowed 1-entry. 

#BackToWildcards

You might as well call me an archeologist or a History teacher. It's time for me to dig up the past and give you guys a lesson in New York State Wrestling History

The year was 2020, and New York State Wrestling had just wrapped up their annual State Tournament before the wretched COVID-19 Pandemic spanned the globe.

A few highlights before I get to my point...

*PJ Duke wins his first state title as a 7th grader, only the second 7th grader to do so (Tristan Rifanburg of Norwich)

*Nassau County (Section 8) wins the D1 team title, ending a dominant run by Suffolk County (Section 11) sprinkled in with Rochester (Section 5) winning as well.

*Greg Diakomihalis of Hilton wins his 5th state title.

*Cousins Justin and Willie McDougald win titles, back-to-back at 138lbs and 145lbs respectively.

*The famous "Shoe Gate" in the 106lb finale.

_________________________________________________

I have my digging shovel, pen, paper, and magnifying glass ready!

Bust out your bracket and go directly to Division 1, 195lbs. 

Magnifying glass activated - let's closely look at the wrestlers on lines #5 and #13 and their respective section?

Wait a second....they are both from the Public School Athletic League; Anthony Cascen of Truman and Azamat Davlyatov of James Madison.

How could that be? Cascen defeated Davlyatov 11-4 in the PSAL finale....but Davlyatov was in the NYS Tournament

AZAMAT DAVLYATOV MUST HAVE RECEIVED A WILDCARD BERTH

*RANT BEGIN*

The powers that be....going to rephrase that...The people who institute rules, implemented a wildcard system in 2007 to fill out the state brackets. BRAVO! Phenomenal idea - instantly made the tournament deeper and more enjoyable for the fans. 

As stated, the PSAL runner-up in 2020 at 195lbs earned a wildcard berth.

Fast forward, and we now have an auto-qualifier system in place excluding CHSAA/PSAL/AIS. 

Wildcards - okay for CHSAA/PSAL/AIS 
AQ - not okay for CHSAA/PSAL/AIS

*RANT OVER*

*RANT BEGINS AGAIN*

A wrestler can live in the town of Hamburg, compete for Hamburg HS, and can be eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 6. The same wrestler, living in the town of Hamburg, pays tuition and attends St. Francis, and is not eligible for an auto-qualifier spot as the Catholic League is excluded. The schools are 3.7 miles apart.

The same wrestler lives in the town of Hamburg, however, wrestles for 2025 Section 6 DMT Champions, Niagara Wheatfield, and pays tuition to attend Niagara Wheatfield, is eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 6. The schools are 36.2 miles apart.

A wrestler can live in the town of New Rochelle, compete for New Rochelle HS, and can be eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 1. The same wrestler, living in the town of New Rochelle, pays tuition and attends Iona Prep, and is not eligible for an auto-qualifier spot as the Catholic League is excluded. The schools are 3.1 miles apart.

The same wrestler lives in the town of New Rochelle, however, wrestles for 2025 Section 1 DMT Champions, Briarcliff-Byram Hills-Valhalla-Westlake, and pays tuition to attend any of the 4 schools, is eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 1. The schools are anywhere from 13.4 (Valhalla) to 20.2 (Briarcliff) miles apart.

A wrestler can live in the town of Huntington, compete for Huntington HS, and can be eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 11. The same wrestler, living in the town of Huntington, pays tuition and attends St. Anthony's, and is not eligible for an auto-qualifier spot as the Catholic League is excluded. The schools are 6 miles apart.

The same wrestler lives in the town of Huntington, however, wrestles for 2025 Section 11 DMT Champions, Sachem North, and pays tuition to attend Sachem North HS, is eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 11. The schools are 18.4 miles apart.

A wrestler can live in the village of Tarrytown, compete for Sleepy Hollow HS, and can be eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 1. The same wrestler, living in the village of Tarrytown, pays tuition and attends Hackley School, and is not eligible for an auto-qualifier spot as the Association of Independent Schools are excluded. The schools are 1.8 miles apart.

A wrestler can live in Springfield Gardens (Queens), compete for Springfield Gardens and is not eligible for an auto-qualifier spot as the Public School Athletic League is excluded. 

The same wrestler lives in Springfield Gardens (Queens), chooses to wrestle for 2025 Section 8 DMT Champions, Farmingdale, or Lynbrook. Regardless, pays tuition to attend either school, is eligible for an auto-qualifier spot for Section 8. The schools are 21 (Farmingdale) and 5.1 (Lynbrook) miles apart, respectively.

The answer may have been under our nose/right in front of our face/hindsight is 20-20 or whatever cliche you want to use.

The NCAA has had it right this entire time. 

The NCAA delegates a predetermined amount of "auto-qualifiers" at each weight from each conference ("section")

AND THEN....a panel (Not the people who implement rules) determines the "wildcard" or "at-large berth" selections based on record/strength of schedule/quality wins/wins against wrestlers in the tournament with the purpose to fill out the bracket.

__________________________________________________

*Insert New York State People Hoping (to) See At-large Allocations*

-Keep the auto-qualifiers
-Hire panel of 5 (myself and 4 others with no affiliation to any section)
-CHSAA/PSAL/AIS are instantly eligible
-Add 3 at-large berths per weight in D1
-Add 2 at-large berths per weight in D2
-Each weight will be 24 wrestlers
-Adds 3 matches per weight in Round 1 in D1 (39 total)
-Adds 2 matches per weight in Round 1 in D2 (26 total)
-Same for round 1 on the back side. (39/26)
-78 (D1)/52 (D2) matches across 10 mats = 60-90 minutes of extra wrestling on day 1

PROBLEM SOLVED.

Instant solution to the same issue this fine state encounters every season.

GET THE BEST KIDS IN THE TOURNAMENT!

#RiseUp
#SpeakUp
#ManUp