New York USA Wrestling

You can now call her "Queen B"!!!!

Seeded 4th among the Girls' 12U 69-pound field, Mia Carmela Barro, went from snow day on Friday to pin party on Saturday in the Hoosier State....

Adding the 2026 USAW Kids Folk National crown to the War of the Roses/Midwest Nationals gold she claimed back in October, the Elite Academy Wrestling protege/Poly Prep student-athlete spent no longer than 3:07 on the mat in any one of her three bouts last weekend en route to her coronation....

Her reputation as one of the finest up-and-coming female talents in the Empire/planet preceding her by a solid body of work compiled for various top tier club dual duals (Misfits, Mat Warriors, etc); Barro's ascension was a surprise only to the seeding committee...

Upending two returning All-Americans from a season ago, the Brooklynite commended her trek to the brass ring when up 6-0 in the quarterfinals (one TD apiece in each of the first two periods), she utilized a bar + reverse-half combination to stick 2025 10U 6th, Kasey Kilcoin, of Nebraska in a time of 1:27!...

Her semifinal match being a clash against Maryland representative, Eva Diaz; after mounting a low-level attack off of the whistle, the "Gotham Gal" transitioned to an over/under to toss her foe directly from feet to back as a precursor to the mat slap less than half-a-minute into the affair (0:27)!

Her finale nemesis without question the most credentialed on paper; Barro was relentless in all positions, as she was well on her way towards earning a technical fall, as he built a 14-0 advantage (1st period TD + 4NF via arm bar; 2nd period single-leg TD; 3rd period throw-by TD) before ultimately running another tight bar to turn and hold 2025 12U National Bridesmaid, Priya Capizzi (Virginia) in danger until the end was signaled with :53 remaining in regulation (3:07)!

A winner of nearly 300 matches (per the TrackWrestling database) while climbing up the youth ranks; expect more of this brilliance in the coming years as Barro could very well emerge as the face of the [PP] Blue Devil program (regardless of gender) sooner than later!

Showing exactly why he is not just the top 2030 prospect in New York State; but also among the creme de la creme that the nation has to offer on the junior high level; it was current NY-USAW DI #1 ranked 103-pounder, Marcarlo Mannello (BBHVW) ripping through the 14 & Under, 105-pound bracket to claim his second career USAW Kids Folkstyle National crown (previously won the 12U division in 2024)

Shockingly seeded 8th despite being a past National Champion in the folk discipline, as well as a defending FS/GR National titlist; the GPS Trained phenom boasted a 58-11 margin in terms of points scored as opposed to surrendered en route to accruing a 4-0 resume with all wins being accompanied by some variety of bonus points (2 majors, 1 TF, 1 pin)!!!

Establishing a 12-1 lead before inevitably sticking eventual 5th-place finisher, Brookson Marksbury (Michigan), in his opening round appearance; Mannello was just getting warmed up as he'd seemingly grow stronger with each subsequent trip to the mats!!!

Pitted against the top-seed from Idaho, Austin Armstrong (2025 USAW 14U Folk Bronze Medalist; 2022 USAW Triple Crown recipient; multi-time All-American/Champion in all three styles), in the quarterfinals; the Section I standout blew open a 3-1 advantage when he was able to lock up a cradle from the feet in the final :20 of the 1st period for 3+4 to carry a 10-1 cushion heading into the 2nd...

He added a quick E1 and a pair of takedowns to secure the 17-2 technical fall at the 3:14 mark!!

The semifinals matched him up versus recent Tulsa Nationals 12U Champion/2024 Super 32 11U 5th, Brixton Archuleta (California)....

Allowing an initial TD to briefly trail 3-0 awoken the beast in Mannello, as he responded by stockpiling five unanswered takedowns (three in the 2nd period alone) to cruise to a 17-6 major decision!! 

The main event (finals contest) witnessed him continue to dominate on the feet, as he collected two TDs in the 1st (6-1) and one takedown apiece in each of the last two periods to close out the show with a 12-2 major decision at the expense of Iowan, Davis Westendorf (2025 USAW 14U GR 5th; 2024 USAW 12U FS 8th)!

In recognition of his utter superiority; Mannello was hailed as the overall Outstanding Wrestler in the 14 & Under classificiation!

Sporting a 30-0 scholastic record thus far in '25-'26, highlighted by the brass ring at the Eastern States Classic; the way things are going, Marcarlo seemed destined to follow up his 5th-place effort in Albany as a 7th grader by ascending to the top of the NYSPHSAA mountain! next month!