New York USA Wrestling

On behalf the New York-USAW, we are proud to introduce the New Director of Women's State Teams and Head Coach for the Fargo Women's Team, Ms. Dianna Acors.

Coach Acors currently heads the Burnt Hills squad in Section 2. She has been at the helm since 2023, and the Spartans are trending north. In 2023, 13 girls strapped up the headgear for Ms. Dianna. In their inaugural season, while combined with Scotia and Ballston Spa, the Spartans won 2 dual meets and ended the season with one State Girls Invitational representative. Senior Annabelle Hinkle entered the 235lb weight class on line 11. Unfortunately, Ms. Hinkle would drop both matches as she wrapped up her career.

The following season, the numbers increased, and so did the productivity inside the Spartan wrestling room. Seventeen femme fatales were part of the push towards prominence. The Lady Spartans would finish 6-2 in dual meets, with a signature win over Section 2 powerhouse Shenendehowa, 31-30.

Individually, two women qualified for States, Mia Collins and Haley Proulx. Collins, the top seed at 138lbs, would win a NYS title in convincing fashion, racking up a 4-0 record including two techs, one fall, and an 8-0 blank in the finale over Taylor Aiello of Town of Huntington. The latter, Proulx, went 1-2 in her initial appearances at the State Championships. Her lone win came in round 1 against 11 seed Kaegan Rhodes of Corning-4, a 14-4 technical fall.

Coach Acors has a lot to build on for next year's squad. Eight of this year's nine section 2 place winners will return in 2025-2026.

Prior to being the General behind the bench, Dianna was away from the sport for quite some time. During her competition years, she found herself on the mat in 6th grade scrapping with brother, Jon Acors. After 1 season in the modified ranks (7th Grade), Acors was brought up to the varsity squad as an 8th grader for the Burnt Hills boys team. She would continue battling the boys, year in and year out, up until a shoulder injury in the summer going into her junior season.

Coach Acors would shine during her freestyle days. She was a 2x Fargo All-American, placing 7th and 8th. As previously stated, a shoulder injury halted her progression upward, which ended with a surgically repaired rotator cuff and labrum.

Other notable accolades:
Runner-Up @ Northeast Regionals
2x FILA Cadet Freestyle Nationals PF (2-5)
Bronze @ BodyBar Nationals

*Coach Acors was on the Fargo Coaching Staff in 2024*

We are not done! New York-USAW proudly introduces the New Assistant Head Coach for the Fargo Women's Team, Mrs. Amber Benedetto

Amber (Atkins) Benedetto found herself on the mat at the age of 7. Her father, Danny, was the Head Wrestling Coach at Bay Shore for over 20 years and trained Amber in the meantime. Amber was part of the first-ever kids wrestling program at Bay Shore as well. 

As the years passed, Coach B. progressed through the ranks, competing for Bay Shore in middle school and on the varsity squad in grades 9-12.

Amber was a staple on the national level, competing 5 times at the USGWA nationals in Michigan. In 5 appearances, she would reach the blocks four times. 

Senior - 3rd
Junior - 8th
Sophomore - 4th
Freshman - 7th

Like Acors, Benedetto was plagued by the injury bug, not due to wrestling, yet it was the "pitch" that did the deed. Hip reconstruction surgery and knee surgery didn't prevent Amber from competing on the mat, however.

After HS, her love for soccer prevailed, as she found herself matriculating north to SUNY New Paltz. She would complete her undergrad at New Paltz. After coming home from college, she was contacted by Alpha GWC on Long Island, and began coaching. Unfortunately, the pandemic caused the club to close. Undetered and not allowing COVID to halt any further progress, Coach Amber found herself coaching at Ken Corcoran's club team out of East Islip. It was the only Girls Wrestling Club on Long Island at the time.

In 2017, accompanied by the Athletic Director, she approached the School Board at Bay Shore in regards to starting a girls team. In 2019, the first ever girls team was approved. Coach Bendetto has been the HC since it's inception. Bay Shore was the first/only girls' team at that time, and it took a little bit of time to gain some traction. 

The aura of the Bay Shore squad was appealing, and any girl from Suffolk County (Section 11) looking to compete was able to wrestle for Bay Shore. Although there were no dual meets, the squad would train and travel to New York City and Upstate to compete. 

Both Acors and Benedetto are always reaching out for the best competition for their girls. At this year's Eastern States Classic, which is arguably the toughest in-season tournament, Acors had 2 representatives and Bendetto had 3.

The women's programs in Suffolk County are gaining prominence at a rapid rate. The County Tournament is becoming a "buzzsaw", much like the boys. With powerhouses Bellport (2025 NYSPHAA Tournament Champions), Town of Huntington (3rd place @ NYSPHSAA Tournament), and Rocky Point (2025 Journeymen NYS Girls State Duals Champions), Bay Shore held their own and proved they can compete with the best teams in the state. At the county tournament, the Lady Marauders placed 3rd, beating ToH (4th) by 14 points. Three ladies (Katie Porcelli at 107lbs, Brooke-Lynn Murray at 138lbs, Sydney Fisher at 235lbs) claimed Suffolk County titles with 3 others (Melania Turano at 132lbs, Abethina Georges at 165lbs, Alea Gyles at 235lbs) finishing second in their respective weights, 2 of the 3 earning an at-large bid into States. Murray's performance won her the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, and she was also named the Champion of Champions. 

In Albany, Porcelli and Murray took 4th place in their respective weights and helped lead Bay Shore to an 11th place finish overall. 

Coach Amber has left a lasting impact on a lot of her former wrestlers. Three former standouts went on to compete at the collegiate level. Kelsey Squires went to Elmira for a season. Foot surgery would cause an unfortunate halt to her career. Valerie Igleais crossed state lines and attended Felician College in New Jersey. Igleais is currently a Freshman for the Golden Falcons. Mora Peterson crossed many state lines as she headed west to Nebraska to Doane College. As a freshman this past season, Peterson won her conference tournament and qualified for Nationals. 

After speaking with Coach Benedetto, it was evidently clear that her father was an influential mentor for her.

"Nobody believed in us, My father is the reason I am where I am today. He is the only one to ever support me 100%."

Lastly, Amber and Dianna stated they will work tirelessly to get all females the opportunities they never had and the representation they deserve. Be ready, Ladies, it's time to put Team New York on the map!

*Coach Benedetto was on the Fargo Coaching Staff in 2024, and previously in 2021*