Wrestling: Ryder, Gallo repeat at states, section brings home 14 medals
Section 9 large-school wrestlers once again showed their dominance on the state level, bringing home five championships and a dozen top-eight medals at the Federation championships held Friday and Saturday in Albany.
Minisink Valley junior Zack Ryder (189 pounds) won his third state title and teammate Ethan Gallo (215) claimed his second. Newburgh Free Academy freshman Cooper Merli won at 102; Valley Central sophomore Luke Satriano at 110; and, Cornwall senior Tyler Reed at 160.
In small-school Division 2, Port Jervis junior Matthew Oosterom earned his second state medal, placing fourth at 215. Schoolmate Charlie Wylie, a freshman, placed sixth at 102, becoming the second girl to place in the boys’ tournament.
Section 9 registered the most Division 1 points (218.5) for the second year in a row and Minisink Valley (95.5) posted the most points among large schools.
Photo gallery: State wrestling championship final matches
Opening rounds took place on Friday, leading to Saturday’s semifinals and finals in the main brackets.
Ryder has blown through the competition since his return from a preseason elbow injury. “I had to grind once I got back,’’ Ryder told the NYSPHSAA website. “The goal was to get better every day. I pushed myself hard.’’
Ryder posted two quick pins on Friday. He needed 3:44 to pin Kwazi Bonsu of Baldwin in the semifinals. Ryder beat Elijah Diakomihalis of Hilton 3-0 in the title round. “It’s been amazing,’’ Ryder said of his title run.
Top seed Gallo, a three-time state medalist, pinned Middletown’s Bryson Tibbs in 1:08 in the semis and dominated Darrien Insogna of Ballston Spa 11-4 in the finals.
“It feels great,’’ Gallo told the NYSPHSAA. “To end my career with a state title means everything.’’
The No. 4 seeded Satriano improved on his fourth-place finish of 2022. Following two dominant wins on Friday, Satriano beat defending state champ Dunia Sibomana of Long Beach, 2-1, in the semis. In the final, Satriano edged No. 3 Evin Gursoy of Midwood 2-1 in extra time. Upon the final whistle, Satriano raised his arms, slapped his chest and flexed his arms to the delight of the crowd.
“I just knew I had to stay composed and calm,’’ Satriano told the NYSPHSAA, “know my surroundings and know what I do best. … I had confidence coming in here. I knew what I had to do, I knew I could do it so I put my mind to it and did it.’’
Reed posted two pins on Friday and followed with a 5-3 win over top seed Connor Gregory of Ballston Spa in the semis and nipping Joseph Mattei of Herricks 7-6 in the final – he credits keeping a level head to come out on top. Reed had lost to Gregory at the Eastern States tournament. He gave out two shouts to the crowd as the referee raised his arm in victory and then jumped into the arms of his coaches on the corner of the mat.
“It’s such a storybook ending,’’ Reed told the NYSPHSAA. “This season hasn’t been perfect by any means. I’ve taken losses. I’ve had injuries but it’s a matter of keeping the goal in mind, recognizing this is where it counts (at state finals). I put everything together today.’’
The top-seeded Merli posted a 7-0 semi win over Ryan Munn of Carthage and beat No. 3 Connor Sheridan of Hauppauge 8-4 in the opening final of the evening session.
“It means a lot,’’ Merli told the NYSPHSAA. “I put in a lot of time, a lot of effort. I’ve been thinking about this since I lost last year.
Wrestling: Minisink wins Division 1 title, posts six championships
Wrestling: Minisink claims seventh Section 9 Duals Division I title
2022 state finals:Section 9 sees three state champions from Minisink Valley
Three Section 9 competitors lost in the finals.
Monroe-Woodbury senior Jordan Brown (138) lost 6-1 to Rocky Point’s Nick LaMonte. Brown beat Gabe Goss of Burnt Hills 5-2 in the semis. Brown is a three-time state medalist.
Minisink Valley senior Andrew Filip (172) dropped a 3-2 decision to Fairport’s Brady Unger in a matchup of two top seeds. Filip won two decisions and got a pin over Leo Venables of Carmel on the way to the finals.
At 285, Middletown junior and top seed Stephan Monchery was pinned by No. 2 seed Sebastian Regis of East Islip in 3:40. Monchery decisioned Cameron Groncki of Mohansen 4-0 in the semis.
Additional medals were secured by Newburgh eighth-grader William Soto (102, third place); Braydon Pennell, a Pine Bush senior (189, fifth); Middletown junior Bryson Tibbs (215, sixth) and Middletown junior Rahmiere Bradley (285, seventh).
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: New York State section 9 wrestling championships Minisink Valley
