New York USA Wrestling

Living up to his top billing among the Large School 138-pound field; the first-year Chief student-athlete (previously a CHSAA State Qualifier for Plainedge in 2024; CHSAA State runner-up for Chaminade last season) was the ultimate catalyst in propelling Massapequa to their second-ever NYSPHSAA State Dual crown (first since 2019)!!!

His team ranked 10th by NY-USAW and seeded 5th by the powers-that-be; Nieto put the 2025 Nassau County Champs on his shoulders and led them to victories over the #6 (Sachem North), #8 (Chautauqua Lake), #1 (Minisink Valley), and #4 [Shenendehowa] ranked schools in the Empire en route to hoisting hardware this past Saturday evening under the roof of SRC Arena! 

One of four 'Pequa representatives to assemble a perfect 4-0 resume [joined by Jon Tutku, Milton Aparicio, and Kevin Daniel); all of the 2025 Fargo 16U GR All-American's head-to-head triumphs came at the expense of current top-20 opponents...

Commencing his day against 2x Suffolk County 5th, #14 Jack Cusumano, in a "Strong Island" collision; Nieto tallied three takedowns (two in the 1st period) to pick up a 9-3 decision....

The following round, he capped off pool-play by bumping up to 144 pounds to take out DII #12 Gavin Burchanowski (3x S6 medalist/2024 runner-up/true 3rd) by a score of 19-6!!

The bout all deadlocked at 3-3 at the end of the 2nd period; Nieto exploded for four takedowns, including a dump for 3+4 in the last half-minute of regulation to lock up bonus points against his Eagle foe!

In a crossover semifinal match-up versus the top-seeded/top-ranked/defending DI Dual King Warriors [MV] where every point was essential; the Savage Wrestling Academy pupil put on a clinic from his feet, as he stockpiled six cumulative takedowns (3 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd) to cruise to a 18-3 TF over #18 Alex Nigro! 

His best single performance coming in an encore capacity; Nieto logged one TD apiece in each of the three periods; plus added a 2NF via cradle in the 2nd period as the crux of an 11-4 decision over Plainsmen standout, Greg Green (2025 DI State 8th; 4x S2 medalist/2025 titlist), in a clash of the #1 and #3 ranked wrestlers in the polls!! 

His immaculate body of work in Syracuse extending his ongoing winning streak to 15 consecutive arm raises (including the top brass at the Eastern States Classic); Nieto will head into the postseason sporting an incredible 29-1 record!

Taking full advantage of the extended MLK weekend; the current DI #3 (@165) ranked/returning NYSPHSAA State 4th on behalf of Horace Greeley was absolutely unbeatable during a six day span that witnessed him hoist individual hardware at not just one event, but two separate tournaments!!

Accruing an overall record of 8-0  between the two outings; the recent Ivy League commit [Brown University] made his descension down to 157 pounds and picked up hardware at the 45th Annual Somers Tournament on Monday the 19th; and then just as dominantly capped off the week by going untested en route to the top prize at the 11th Annual Westchester Championships!

His only true challenge occurring in the finals of the Somers, Nocca registered a 12-10 decision against 2x State qualifier/2024 S9 Champion, Daniel Aviles (Middletown)!

The mano-a-mano clash of Titans above being the only occasion all week in which the Quaker senior was forced to go the distance; he punched his ticket to the 'ship behind a pair of 1st period falls and a forfeit in the semifinals!

Applying the "No Resting on Laurels" mentality; the Section I standout hits the mat again this past Saturday and culminated a 4-0 day when he racked up a 17-1 technical fall in the main event against returning sectional 6th, Matthew Clyman (Lakeland-Panas)! 

Not overlooked in the midst of his brilliance is that in-between the two tourney triumphs; Nocca also added a pin in dual action versus BBHVW's Chris Vulaj! 

His only losses this season transpiring during a strong 4th-place effort at the Eastern States Classic; Nocca presently boasts a 31-2 record, with additional tournament golds earned in mid-December early-January at the Wangle On the Plains and the David Ironman Invitational respectively!

Already bestowed with Long Island Wrestling Association (LIWA) Wrestler of the Week honors; the accolades are piling up for the Marine sophomore [Andreula] following his victory last weekend as part of a loaded 110-pound bracket at the 2026 Eastern States Classic!!

Seeded 3rd among a field that was comprised of a national top-15 ranked 2x Defending State/2x Defending event champion [William Soto], another defending NYSPHSAA DI State titlist [Jon Tutku], a 2025 U.S. Open U15 FS National Champion/returning ESC champion [Xavier Seabury], and a 2025 DII State silver medalist [Adrian Torres] among others....it was Andreula running the gauntlet to be the last man standing!!!

Going toe-to-toe and upending three of the highly-touted gentlemen referenced above; NY-USAW's #4 rated 2028 Big Boarder culminated a remarkable 5-0 resume in Clifton Park when three stalls warnings and an escape (all in the 3rd period) propelled him to a 3-1 decision over North Babylon's Seabury [also a returning NYSPHSAA Bronze medalist to add to his credentials]....

His victory one round earlier [semis] carried just as much proverbial weight, as he'd explode for 10 points, including a counter TD for 3+4 in the last :20, during the 2nd period en route to coming away with the 10-5 decision to hand the Massapequa freshman phenom, Tutku, his first loss of the year!!!

His most dominant performance of day #2 occurring right out of the gate; the 3x NYSPHSAA placer (2x 3rd) was lethal in every position, as he accrued three takedowns and added two different sets of NF (turk in the waning moments of the 1st; bar tilt in the 2nd) to rack up a 17-2 technical fall versus Southwestern's Torres!!!

Not overlooked was yet another top-10 win registered by Andreula to cap off Friday; as he converted one takedown apiece in each of the three periods to pick up a 10-0 major decision shutout over current DI #10 Returning Section 2 champ/NYSPHSAA Qualifier, Brendan Stoutenburg (Saratoga Springs)!

Sitting in the #3 spot of the Large School 118-pound polls prior to his heroics at ESC; his head-to-head triumphs over the #2 [Seabury] and #3 [Tutku] wrestlers at the lower weight, when coupled with #1 Soto's semifinal loss does prevent a compelling argument for the Andreula to be elevated to numero uno!

With the exception of a forfeit in the finals of the Battle at the Beach; Andreula has yet to taste actual defeat thus far in 2025-2026!

Taking home the individual hardware at one of the premier tournaments on the Empire State calendar; the UPenn bound scholastic assassin knocked off not one, but a pair of returning State medalists en route to claiming the 126-pound title at the annual Windsor Christmas Tournament to close out 2025!!!

His finals match one of the most anticipated of the event; [Anthony] Valls came out on top of a scramble in sudden victory to register the only takedown of the match with :08 remaining in the extra frame to seize the 4-1 victory against Brock Frederick (South Jefferson) in a title contest that pitted gentlemen who have combined for three state runner-up finishes (2x for Frederick; Valls in 2024) against one another!!

The win over his University at Buffalo bound foe [Frederick] the second of back-to-back barn-burning and/or edge of your seat triumphs versus decorated oppositions; in the semifinals, NY-USAW's current #9 recruit on the 2027 Big Board broke a 6-6 deadlock in the last :40 of the 3rd periods when he converted a takedown en route to a 9-7 decision over 2024 DII State Bronze Medalist, Kadin Cole (Tioga)!

Not going overlooked was the seven-takedown effort he delivered in the quarterfinals when he boasted a 22-6 TF versus 2025 S4 runner-up/State Qualifier, Dylan Newman, of the host school (Windsor)!

His heroics just prior to the ball dropping to 2026 raising his seasonal resume to an immaculate 16-0; the 2025 Fargo All-American rightfully sits atop the DII polls at the commencement of the new year!

One of three New Yorkers to finish 4th in their respective weight class this past weekend at the Beast of the East; the Blair Academy freshman received the nod this week based on the breadth of his total resume!!!

Compiling an overall resume of 6-2 within the 126-pound bracket; the former 2x NYSPHSAA State Bronze medalist for Locust Valley and/or Chaminade posted head-to-head victories against a pair of State titlists from New England (3x champ; Peter Rincan] and Delaware [3x finalist/2023 champ, Dominic Lucian], as well as a 2025 NHSCA All-American [Freshman 5th, Christian Ramirez; NJ] on day #1 alone!!!

Losing only to the #3 [Mason Jakob] and #20 [Carter Chunko] ranked wrestlers in the nation; the Long Islander split four trips to the mats on Sunday, with highlight being a late reversal in the 3rd period that enabled him to upend blue chip PA freshman/2025 Fargo 16U FS All-American, Jack Cole!

His individual exploits would be complemented/rewarded by team triumph as the Buccaneers went on to win the overall team title by a slight margin (3pts) against a field that boasted five of the top-10 programs in the country [#2 Blair, #4 Lake Highland Prep, #6 Malvern Prep, #7 Bishop McCort, and #8 Christian Brothers Academy)!

A full recap (with play-by-play and opponent credentials] of his body of work can be found on the New York USAW facebook page!

Now a two-time NY-USAW Wrestler of the Week recipient; O'Brien previously received the honor during the early stages of the 2024-2025 season when he upset current University of Michigan freshman/#58 national 2025 recruit, Gauge Botero ( 4x PIAA State placer/2x finalist/2023 champion; 5x Fargo AA/2024 Junior FS Champion], 2-1, in overtime!

It's not often that a 5th-place finisher at a tournament is going to receive this honor...

But the Ironman is no ordinary tournament; and the 4x returning NYSPHSAA placer/2x finalist/defending titlist for the Cougars is not your average/typical 5th-place performer!!

Testing himself against some of the finest talent from across the nation; NY-USAW's #4 overall 2026 Big Boarder was likely one controversial call away from wrestling for the 132-pound hardware last week in Ohio!!

The owner of a 6-2 resume with his only blemishes being identical 4-1 decisions; Noto lost to the eventual tournament runner-up and bronze medalist in the persons of Nathan Rioux (3x Indiana State finalist/2025 Champion; 6x Fargo All-American/2022 16U FS National runner-up) and present #8 in the land, Vincent Anello (2025 Prep National runner-up; 2025 Fargo Junior FS 5th; 2025 U.S. Open U17 FS 8th)...

The quarterfinal clash with Rioux was especially a hot-button topic as the deciding takedown was called in the last half-minute of regulation despite there being no visible change in the ensuing position!

Without that one judgement from the officials; there is every reason to believe that the Lock Haven commit could/would have gone on to win in both the 1/8s on day #1 and the semis on Saturday morning!

The aforementioned nail-biting "shortcomings" in no way defining what was otherwise an outstanding display from start to finish; the true story was that from opening whistle to final buzzer, Noto would rip through a who's who of State Champs, Fargo All-Americans, and whatnot!!

And he did it in the following dominant fashion:

*Pinned Lucas Schulz (2025 Ohio State 5th) in 3:25 in R32

*Pinned P.J. Terranova (2025 NJSIAA State 5th; 2024 Fargo 16U FS National runner-up) in 3:59 in R16

*15-0 TF over Mason Carlson (3x Defending Utah State Champion; 3x Fargo All-American; 2024 USAW 16U Folk National Champion) during the blood round

*13-2 Major decision in the consolation quarters at the expense of Stephen Myers (2x West Virginia State Champion; 2025 U.S. Open U17 FS 5th; 2024 NHSCA Freshman National Champion; 2024 Fargo 16U FS National Champion)

*14-1 major decision in his encore (5th-place contest) against Jensen Boyd (2024 Indiana State 4th; 3x Fargo 16U All-American/2023 GR Bronze; 2022 Double U15 Pan-American Gold Medalist)!

Still in search of his first NYSPHSAA DI State crown after previous placements of 4th and 5th in 2024 and 2025 respectively; the Wolfpack senior certainly looked the part of a serious title contender this past weekend...

Leading Colonie to a 4-1 record (runner-up finish) at the Doug Jones Duals on the campus of Mohonasen; Mastrianni notched one of the biggest individual triumphs of his career when he registered a statement-making 10-0 major decision in a clash of DI and DII #4 ranked competitors against returning 2x State finalist/2024 NYS Champion, Andrew Juliano (Holland Patent)!!

The head-to-head victory over the University at Buffalo commit [Juliano] being the obvious highlight of the weekend; Mastrianni was no less dominant in any of his other four appearances as he racked up falls in all four bouts to bonus point his way through the event!!

***If there is a wrestler that you feel warrant "WOW" consideration; please do not hesitate to submit him/her for consideration....

All nominations should be directed to NYUSAWWOW@yahoo.com***