Wrestling: Vote now for lohud Wrestler of the Week | Champions edition
After an exciting sectional championship weekend, it's time to crown the final lohud Wrestler of the Week. The final showcase of the season highlights every single Section 1 and NYSAIS title-winners, as well as Iona Prep's six CHSAA state champions in an ultimate poll of champs.
Last week, Rye's Thomas Anderson was voted Wrestler of the Week after pinning his way to a divisional title at Clarkstown South as the No. 3 seed.
We would like you, the reader, to survey our Wrestler of the Week finalists and cast your vote. The wrestlers' credentials are listed above the fan poll — which will be live until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The winner will be announced on lohud social media accounts on Tuesday night.
Now, let's meet the candidates. If the poll at the bottom of the page doesn't load, please click here.
Liam Abraham, Hackley
After a first-period pin in the semifinals to secure his spot in the finale, he defeated top-seeded Alex Wlodarczak of the Dalton School to win the NYSAIS 215-pound title.
Ethan Badillo, Nanuet
He left little doubt on his way to the Section 1 Division II title. The 118-pound sophomore had two pins, before finishing his run with a technical fall over Putnam Valley's Nick Paonessa for the title.
Ryan Ball, Somers/North Salem
The 110-pound Section 1 Division I champ picked up two pins and a 9-0 major decision win on his way to the final. Then, in the title match, he defeated Tappan Zee senior Diego Gonzalez, 8-6, for the crown.
Alex Berisha, Fox Lane
The Foxes' sophomore 189-pounder remains unbeaten against Section 1 opposition. He took care of business, getting one pin, two major decision wins, then a 11-4 finals win over New Rochelle's DeAndre Woods to top it off for the Section 1 Division I title.
Paolo Ciatto, Iona Prep
After a couple of pins to reach the finals, Ciatto defeated his teammate and returning CHSAA state champ Kevin McCarvill, 5-1, to win the 138-pound title.
Sean Degl, Iona Prep
He bulldozed his way to the title, pinning all of his opponents, including St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute's Luke Ventresca in the first period, to win his second straight CHSAA state title.
Mason Dietz, Hen Hud
The Sailors' heavyweight standout topped off the Section 1 Division II championships with a title in their home gym. Dietz pinned his way to the title, including one over Putnam Valley's Jaden Tesher to take the Section 1 Division II 285-pound title.
Nick Espinal, Pearl River
After getting a first-period pin, Espinal outlasted Nanuet all-section grappler Luke Flanagan, 4-2, to win the Section 1 Division II 215-pound championship.
Nick Fortugno, Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake
The 102-pound Section 1 Division I champ logged a pin in the opening round, followed by a 6-1 decision win over Yorktown's Gio Tornambe in the semifinals, before capturing the title with a thrilling 2-0 sudden victory win over Mahopac's Charles Przymylski.
Gabriel Garibaldi, Iona Prep
After falling short last season, Garibaldi took care of business and won the 285-pound CHSAA state title. Garibaldi defeated Kellenberg Memorial's Dylan Page, 8-3, for the crown.
Yiorgos Georgas, Suffern
He helped the Mounties capture their first sectional team title since 2015. He logged three straight first-period pins, before defeating Fox Lane's Nathan Brauning, 13-7, in the finals for the Section 1 Division I 215-pound title.
Eric Grant, Iona Prep
After falling short of the title last year, Grant left little doubt in his run to CHSAA glory. He had two pins and a major decision, before topping his run with an 8-1 decision win over St. Anthony's Thomas Mancini for the 152-pound CHSAA state title.
Josh Hametz, Horace Greeley
He picked up three pins on his way to the finals, where he defeated North Rockland's Robert DePolito, a returning state-qualifier, 7-3, for the Section 1 Division I title. Hametz is still unbeaten against Section 1 competition.
Bobby Hardwick, Nanuet
Mission complete. After taking second in each of the last two sectional tournaments, Hardwick stormed to the Section 1 Division II 138-pound title. He pinned all of his opponents in the first period, including Hen Hud's Giovanni Gioio in the finals.
Thomas Iasiello, Scarsdale
He remains undefeated against Section 1 competition. After picking up a technical fall to start his tournament, he grinded out a 10-8 win over North Rockland's Justin Riello in the semifinals, then gutted another close victory, an 8-7 result over Clarkstown South's Greg Casvikes, to take the Section 1 Division I 138-pound title.
Cole Joseph, Hackley
He won his third-straight NYSAIS title. The senior 138-pound title recorded two first-period pins, followed by a 16-0 technical fall over Collegiate's Will Greene for the 138-pound crown.
Luke LaMagna, Pleasantville
None of his matches went past the first period. LaMagna pinned all of his opponents, including Nanuet's Patrick Green, to capture the Section 1 Division II 132-pound title.
Mike Malfitano, Pearl River
He had a major decision win, followed by an 8-4 semifinal win over Hen Hud's Ismael Andrade. In a tightly-contested battle between Division II state-ranked wrestlers, he edged out Nanuet's Joe Parisi, 4-0, to win the Section 1 Division II 152-pound title.
Matt Masch, Ketcham
His unbeaten run through Section 1 continued with the Division I 145-pound sectional title. Masch recorded three pins, before defeating North Rockland's Tyce Vandergoot, 9-6, in the finals.
Mike McCarvill, Pearl River
He emerged on top in one of the toughest brackets of the Section 1 Division II championships. McCarvill had a pin in the quarterfinals, got a 4-3 win over Nanuet's Ryan Kempf in the semifinals, then gutted out a 5-3 sudden victory win over Edgemont's Kenny Saito for the Section 1 Division II title.
Esuar Ordonez, Putnam Valley
He dominated his way to the Section 1 Division II 126-pound title. The Tigers' standout pinned all of his opponents before the three-minute mark. In the finals, he pinned Hen Hud's Shawn O'Mara Jr., and he was also named the Most Outstanding Lightweight Wrestler of the tournament.
Brendan O'Sullivan, Pearl River
After an 8-1 decision win, the Pirates' eighth-grader pinned his opponents the rest of the way en route to the Section 1 Division II title. He defeated Pleasantville's Alex Wish with a first-period pin for the title, and he was also named Champion of Champions for the Division II sectional championships.
Kevin O'Sullivan, Pearl River
The older O'Sullivan also got a capture a section title, claiming the Section 1 Division II 160-pound crown. He pinned his first two opponents, before defeating Croton-Harmon's Fred Smithwick, 9-3, for the title. He was also named Most Outstanding Heavyweight Wrestler.
John Parisi, Nanuet
The Golden Knights freshman had a first-period pin, before grinding out a 2-1 win in the semis over Pawling's Aiden Soto, then finishing things with a 6-3 win to defeat returning section champ Ciaran Egan of Pleasantville to take the Section 1 Division II 110-pound title.
Kyle Peske, Hen Hud
None of his matches went to the third period. Peske pinned all of his opponents, including Putnam Valley's Alex Gecaj in the finals, to represent the home crowd and win a Section 1 Division II 189-pound title.
Dimitri Pierre, East Ramapo
His storybook season ended with a Section 1 title. After being away from the sport for three years to battle Stage 4 cancer, Pierre came back and pinned his way to the Section 1 Division I 285-pound title. In an epic finale, he pinned Clarkstown North's Justin Smoot in overtime at the 7:13 mark to win.
Joe Ramirez, Mahopac
After pinning his way to the finals, the Mahopac senior locked up the 118-pound Section 1 Division I title by defeating Arlington all-state grappler and defending section champ Dillon Arrick in a 2-1 finale. Ramirez was also named Most Outstanding Lightweight Wrestler.
Tristan Robinson-July, Ossining
Mission complete for the Ossining senior. After falling short last season, Robinson-July made it back to the 160-pound finals and would not be denied. He recorded two technical falls and a pin, then defeated Lakeland/Panas' Stephen Carroll, 7-1, for the Section 1 Division I title.
Justin Shay, Iona Prep
His perfect record remains intact, and he'll get to add a CHSAA state title. Shay pinned his opponents en route to the final, where he defeated Chaminade's Mason Balian for the 132-pound crown.
Joe Tornambe, Yorktown
The Huskers junior pinned his way to the finals, where he faced off against Fox Lane's Justin Gierum in a battle of returning section champs. Tornambe pulled off a 4-3 come-from-behind win to take his second straight section title and extend his Section 1 winning streak to three years. Tornambe was also named Champion of Champions in the Section 1 Division I tournament.
Aidan Veirun, Pearl River
The senior 145-pounder pinned his way to the finals, where he would defeat Croton-Harmon's Henry Martin, 10-4, to win the Section 1 Division II title.
Leo Venables, Carmel
In a top-heavy 172-pound bracket that included several state-ranked wrestlers, Venables reminded everyone that he's the champ, defending his title and finishing as Section 1 champ for the second straight year. He pinned all of his opponents, including Nyack's Sam Szerlip in the finals, and he was named Most Outstanding Heavyweight Wrestler in the Section 1 Division I tournament.
Max Watson, Iona Prep
After a pin, technical fall and a major decision to reach the finals, Watson edged out teammate and second-seeded Kosta Koufalis, 3-1, to repeat as a CHSAA state champ, this time, at 145 pounds.
Cameron Wierl, John Jay-Cross River
In a 152-pound bracket that saw plenty of chaos, Wierl avoided the upset bug and took care of business. He recorded a pin in the quarterfinals, but he also proved comfortable grinding out close victories. Wierl edged out Mahopac's Chris Morris, 6-4, for the Section 1 Division I title.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Wrestling: Vote now for lohud Wrestler of the Week (champions edition)
