Wrestling: Weight-by-weight preview of the 2023 Eastern States Classic

Eugene Rapay, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·18 min read

The Eastern States Classic attracts the best of the best each year and even after a three-year layoff, things are no different as the tournament is set to return for 2023.

Here is a class-by-class numbers breakdown and overall preview, plus some of the top competition that Hudson Valley wrestlers should look out for.

Eastern States Classic: Fan information, schedule and things to know for the 2023 Eastern States Classic

Lower Hudson Valley wrestling: 26 Section 1 and CHSAA wrestlers to watch at the 2023 Eastern States Classic

Rankings: Latest weight class rankings in Section 1 wrestling after first tournament-filled weekend of 2023

Scoreboard: Scores, schedule, results and more for Jan. 9-15 meets and tournaments in the Lower Hudson Valley

Valley Central's Luke Satriano, left, wrestles Newburgh's Cooper Merli, right, in the 102-pound category during the Section 9 Division 1 wrestling championships at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
Valley Central's Luke Satriano, left, wrestles Newburgh's Cooper Merli, right, in the 102-pound category during the Section 9 Division 1 wrestling championships at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

102 pounds

Long Beach's Dunia Sibomana highlights the 102-pound bracket. When he was 6 years old, he survived a chimpanzee attack that took the lives of his brother and cousin when he was in the Congo. He immigrated to the United States, underwent 14 surgeries and became a state champion last winter. He's the No. 2-ranked Division I wrestler in the state at 110 pounds, but will be dropping down to 102 for Eastern States.

Aside from Sibomana, the 34-person tournament field is loaded with 13 returning sectional place-finishers and 11 state-ranked wrestlers.

Top competition: 

  • Jaron Barrientos, So., Starpoint: No. 6 state-ranked Division I 102-pounder

  • Cullen Edwards, Fr. Frontier: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 102-pounder, Section 6 runner-up last season

  • Vincent Graulau, Sr., Mohonasen: No. 7 state-ranked Division I 102-pounder, Section 2 runner-up last season

  • Brayden Kellison-Neglia, 8th, Newfane: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 102-pounder

  • Cooper Merli, Fr., Newburgh: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 102-pounder, Section 9 runner-up last season

  • Dunia Sibomana, Fr., Long Beach: 2022 NYSPHSAA Division I 102-pound state champion, lone returning all-state wrestler in this bracket, No. 2 state-ranked Division I 110-pounder

  • Connor Sheridan, So., Hauppauge: Top-ranked Division I 102-pounder in the state, Section 11 runner-up last season

  • Jack Silfies, 7th, Wyoming Seminary (Pa.): Placed fourth at Battle at Germantown and third at 2023 Bissell Invitational, member of nation's top-ranked wrestling team

  • Will Soto, 8th, Newburgh: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 102-pounder

La Salle's Ryan Conlan and Jared Hood of Ponaganset tangle up on the mat in the 106-pound final.
La Salle's Ryan Conlan and Jared Hood of Ponaganset tangle up on the mat in the 106-pound final.

110 pounds

There's one returning state champion in this bracket, Ponaganset's Jared Hood, who won a Rhode Island state title at 106 pounds last season.

Of the 32 registered wrestlers, 20 of them are returning sectional place-winners, seven finished all-state and 14 are ranked in the New York State rankings.

Top competition:

  • Evin Gursoy, So., Midwood: No. 8 state-ranked Division I 110-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season, PSAL champion

  • Jared Hood, So., Ponaganset (R.I.): 2022 Rhode Island state champion at 106 pounds

  • Ralph Keeney, Jr., Ballston Spa: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 110-pounder, all-state, placed fifth at states last season

  • Mason Mangialino, So., Comsewogue: No. 7 state-ranked Division I 110-pounder, all-state, placed eighth at states last season

  • Chris Noto, Fr., Honeoye Falls-Lima: No. 3 state-ranked Division II 110-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Finnegan O'Brien, 7th, Locust Valley: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 110-pounder

  • Luke Satriano, So., Valley Central: No. 1 state-ranked Division I 110-pounder, all-state, placed second at states last season

  • Deydon Soto, So., Danbury (Conn.): All-state, placed fourth at Connecticut state tournament

  • Austin Zimmerman, Jr., St. Joseph's Collegiate: No. 6 state-ranked Division I 110-pounder, returning CHSAA state champion

Yorktown's Joe Tornambe won a Section 1 Division I title and earned all-state honors at 102 pounds last season.
Yorktown's Joe Tornambe won a Section 1 Division I title and earned all-state honors at 102 pounds last season.

118 pounds

This is one of the more jam-packed brackets of the tournament. Thirty-six of the 46 wrestlers are returning sectional place-winners and 23 of them are state-ranked.

Thirteen wrestlers are returning all-state finishers and two of them captured state championships last season: Northport's Matt Marlow and Connecticut state champion Joe Mahoney of New Fairfield.

Top competition:

  • Dillon Arrick, Jr., Arlington: No. 9 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder, all-state, placed sixth at states and was an undefeated Section 1 champion last season

  • Caden Barrientos, Jr., Starpoint: No. 6 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder

  • Avi Berg, Sr., Glens Falls: No. 7 state-ranked Division II 118-pounder, 2020 Section 2 runner-up

  • Sean Campbell, Sr., Copiague: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Anthony Clem, Jr., Wantagh: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Ryan Devins, Sr., Saranac: No. 10 state-ranked Division II 118-pounder, all-state, placed sixth at states last season

  • Gene Edwards, Fr., Central Valley Academy: No. 3 state-ranked Division II 118-pounder, all-state, placed fifth at states last season

  • Gabe English, Fr., Cobleskill-Richmondville: No. 8 state-ranked Division II 118-pounder, all-state, placed second at states last season

  • Liam English, Fr., Cobleskill-Richmondville: No. 3 state-ranked Division II 126-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Rocco Futia, Sr., Wallkill: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder

  • James Leuer, Sr., Starpoint: No. 7 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder

  • Joe Mahoney, So., New Fairfield (Conn.): 2022 Connecticut state champion at 106 pounds, placed fourth at New England tournament

  • Matt Marlow, Jr., Northport: 2022 NYSPHSAA Division I 118-pound champion, No. 1 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder

  • Jacob McVige, Fr., Honeoye Falls-Lima: No. 6 state-ranked Division II 118-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Shane Meenaghan, Sr., Chaminade: No. 6 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder, 2020 all-state finisher, 2022 CHSAA states runner-up

  • Joe Ramirez, Sr., Mahopac: No. 8 state-ranked Division I 118-pounder

  • Joe Tornambe, Jr., Yorktown: No. 11 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Tyler Whiteley, So., Burnt Hills: All-state, placed eighth at states last season

Ponaganset's Jacob Joyce, left, in action last season.
Ponaganset's Jacob Joyce, left, in action last season.

126 pounds

With 60 registered wrestlers, this is the biggest tournament bracket in any weight class. The crowded field is led by FloWrestling nationally-ranked Rhode Island wrestler Jacob Joyce of Ponaganset, a two-time state champion. Joyce is ranked No. 16 in the country at 126 pounds. The tournament bracket also features former Eastern States place-finisher and returning New York state champion Joe Manfredi of Herricks.

The 60-person field is loaded with 41 returning sectional place-winners, 19 New York state-ranked wrestlers and 12 all-state finishers.

Top competition:

  • Ray Adams, Sr., Calhoun: No. 1 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Trevor Bishop, Jr., Tamarac: No. 7 state-ranked Division II 126-pounder, Section 2 champion last season

  • Joe Clem, Jr., Wantagh: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder, all-state, placed third at states

  • Jaden Crumpler, Sr., Niagara Falls: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder, all-state, placed second at states last season

  • Phoenix Gardella, Jr., Norwalk (Conn.): All-state, placed fourth at Connecticut state tournament last season

  • Jacob Joyce, Sr., Ponaganset (R.I.): FloWrestling No. 16 nationally-ranked 126-pounder, Stanford commit, two-time Rhode Island state champ (2019, 2022), 2020 state tournament runner-up

  • Joe Manfredi, Jr., Herricks: 2022 NYSPHSAA Division I 110-pound champion, went 50-0 last season, two-time all-state, finished as 2020 NYSPHSAA runner-up and placed eighth at 2020 Eastern States, No. 1 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder

  • Cody Marchand, Jr., Noble (Maine): All-state, placed third at Maine state tournament last season

  • Nick Massaro, Jr., St. Joseph's Collegiate: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder

  • Amarfio Reynolds, Sr., Niagara Falls: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 132-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Nathan Sayers, So., Xavierian Brothers (Mass.): All-state wrestler, placed second at Massachusetts state tournament

  • Dylan Sherman, Jr., Fairfield Ludlowe (Conn.): All-state wrestler, placed third at Connecticut state tournament last season

  • Kirk Smith, Jr., Hewlett: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 126-pounder

  • Andrew Spaulding, Fr., Honeoye Falls-Lima: No. 8 state-ranked Division II 126-pounder, all-state, placed second at states last season

  • Theo Townsend, Jr., Brentsville (Va.): Two-time all-state wrestler, placed fourth (2020) and fifth (2022) at Virginia state tournament

  • Waylan Winseman, So., Honeoye Falls-Lima: No. 6 state-ranked Division II 126-pounder

St. John's Prep's Tyler Knox (left) is a two-time state champion from Massachusetts.
St. John's Prep's Tyler Knox (left) is a two-time state champion from Massachusetts.

132 pounds

This field of 53 is highlighted by FloWrestling nationally-ranked standout Tyler Knox, a senior from Massachusetts-based St. John's Prep, who stands in at No. 12 in the country at 132. Knox is a two-time state champion.

Aside from Knox, the bracket features a total of 38 sectional place-winners, 18 New York state-ranked grapplers and 11 all-state wrestlers.

Top competition:

  • Gavin Bob, Jr., Canisteo-Greenwood: No. 9 state-ranked Division II 132-pounder, Section 5 runner-up last season

  • Liam Carlin, So., Burnt Hills: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 132-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Dylan Devine, So., Schalmont: No. 8 state-ranked Division II 132-pounder, placed eighth at states last season

  • Kaden Dustin, So., Noble (Maine): All-state wrestler, placed third at Maine state tournament last season

  • Jesse DeFonce, Jr., Danbury (Conn.): All-state wrestler, placed fourth at Connecticut state tournament last season

  • Brayden Fahrbach, Jr., Mount Sinai: No. 1 state-ranked Division II 132-pounder, two-time all-state, placed third (2020) and second (2022) at states

  • Aidan Gillings, So., Newfane: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 132-pounder, two-time all-state, placed fourth at states in 2020 and 2022, also placed fourth at 99 pounds at 2020 Eastern States Classic

  • Mike Giugliano, Jr., Miller Place: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 132-pounder

  • Patrick Grimsey, So., Lowville: No. 7 state-ranked Division II 132-pounder, all-state, placed eighth at states last season

  • Tyler Knox, Sr., St. John's Prep (Mass.): FloWrestling No. 12 nationally-ranked 132-pounder, two-time Massachusetts state champ (2019, 2022)

  • Jason Kwaak, So., Brentwood: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 132-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Cooper Reed, So., Central Valley Academy: No. 11 state-ranked Division II 132-pounder, all-state, placed sixth at states last season

  • Jazz Spaulding, Sr., Honeoye Falls-Lima: No. 5 state-ranked Division II 138-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

Minisink Valley's PJ Duke, left, wrestles Monroe-Woodbury's Jordan Brown in the 138-pound weight class during the Section 9 Division 1 wrestling championships at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
Minisink Valley's PJ Duke, left, wrestles Monroe-Woodbury's Jordan Brown in the 138-pound weight class during the Section 9 Division 1 wrestling championships at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

138 pounds

Decorated seniors, Honeoye Falls-Lima's Nick Noto and Monroe-Woodbury's Jordan Brown, two wrestlers that have placed at the NYSPHSAA tournament multiple times, highlight the 138-pound bracket.

This pool of 40 wrestlers also features 24 returning sectional place-finishers, 10 all-state grapplers and 15 wrestlers that are ranked in New York State.

Top competition:

  • Thomas Bock, Sr., New Fairfield (Conn.): All-state, placed fifth at Connecticut state tournament

  • Tom Bonasera, Sr., Wantagh: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder

  • Jordan Brown, Sr., Monroe-Woodbury: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder, two-time all-state, placed sixth (2020) and fifth (2022) at states, also placed seventh at 99 pounds in 2020 Eastern States Classic

  • Matt Dimen, So., Wyoming Seminary (Pa.): Placed second at 2023 Bissell Invitational, member of nation's top-ranked team

  • Gabe Goss, Sr., Burnt Hills: No. 7 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Alex Greco, Sr., Warwick Valley: No. 8 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder, all-state, placed eighth at states in 2020

  • Nick LaMorte, Sr., Rocky Point: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Griffin LaPlante, Fr., Starpoint: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 138-pounder, all-state, placed fifth at states last season

  • Cameron Mayfield, Sr., Eagle Academy-Bronx: No. 7 state-ranked Division II 138-pounder, all-state, placed eighth at states in 2020

  • Renso Montalvo, Sr., Amsterdam: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 145-pounder, all-state, placed fifth at states last season

  • Nick Noto, Sr., Honeoye Falls-Lima: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 138-pounder, three-time all-state wrestler, placed fifth at 2019 state tournament, then third at 2020 and 2022 NYSPHSAA tournaments

  • Jackson Stroud, Sr., Brentsville (Va.): Two-time all-state wrestler, placed third at Virginia state tournament in 2020 and 2022

Ithaca's Daniel Parker in the corner of 118-pound teammate Caleb Cole during the Dave Buck Memorial Wrestling Tournament at Elmira High School on Dec. 10, 2022. Parker won the 160-pound title.
Ithaca's Daniel Parker in the corner of 118-pound teammate Caleb Cole during the Dave Buck Memorial Wrestling Tournament at Elmira High School on Dec. 10, 2022. Parker won the 160-pound title.

145 pounds

Michigan commit Cameron Catrabone, the FloWrestling No. 12 nationally-ranked wrestler at 145, as well as two-time Maine state champ Derek Cote, and 2020 Rhode Island state champion Jason Hood are the top dogs in a field of 41 wrestlers, which features a total of 30 sectional place-finishers, 17 New York state-ranked grapplers and seven all-state wrestlers.

Top competition: 

  • Kyle Barber, Jr., Bayport-Bluepoint: No. 6 state-ranked Division II 145-pounder, all-state, placed sixth at states last season

  • Colin Carlin, Sr., Burnt Hills: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 145-pounder, 2020 NYSPHSAA Division I tournament runner-up

  • Cameron Catrabone, Jr., Williamsville North-East: FloWrestling No. 12 nationally-ranked wrestler at 145, three-time all-state, placed sixth (2019, 2022) and third (2020) at states, No. 1 state-ranked Division I 145-pounder

  • Derek Cote, Sr., Ponaganset (R.I.): 2020 Rhode Island state champion, 2022 Rhode Island state runner-up

  • Luke Greiner, Jr., Minisink Valley: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 145-pounder, Section 9 champion last season

  • Colton Havens, So., Canisteo-Greenwood: No. 4 state-ranked Division II 145-pounder, all-state, placed sixth at states last season

  • Owen Hicks, Sr., Fonda/Fultonville/Johnstown: No. 1 state-ranked Division II 145-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Daniel Parker, Jr., Ithaca: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 145-pounder, Section 4 champion last season

Central Valley Academy's Sixx Cook (right) throws Maxx Fesinger of West Genesee to the mat during a 152-pound match in the third round of competition at the Valley Duals Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in Ilion, New York.
Central Valley Academy's Sixx Cook (right) throws Maxx Fesinger of West Genesee to the mat during a 152-pound match in the third round of competition at the Valley Duals Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in Ilion, New York.

152 pounds

FloWrestling nationally-ranked and the state's No. 1 152-pounder Attica-Batavia's Casper Stewart, is bumping up and headlining this bracket.

Of the 39 registered wrestlers, 19 are returning sectional place-winners, five were previously all-state, and 14 are in the New York State rankings.

Top competition:

  • Devone Bogie, Sr., Eagle Academy-Bronx: No. 5 state-ranked Division II 152-pounder, PSAL champion last season

  • Sixx Cook, Sr., Central Valley Academy: No. 3 state-ranked Division II 152-pounder, two-time all-state, placed sixth (2019) and third (2022) at states

  • Nolan Liess, Jr., Wyoming Seminary (Pa.): Placed seventh at 2022 Beast of the East Tournament and second at the 2023 Bissell Invitational, member of nation's top-ranked wrestling team

  • Casper Stewart, Jr., Attica-Batavia: No. 1 state-ranked Division I 152-pounder, two-time all-state, placed third (2020) and fourth (2022) at states, in the top 75 of FloWrestling's national rankings

  • Sean Tansey, Sr., Collegiate: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 152-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Vandavian Way, Jr., Gouverneur: No. 1 state-ranked Division II 152-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Frankie Volpe, Sr., Hauppauge: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 152-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Beau Zeh, Jr., Canisteo-Greenwood: No. 4 state-ranked Division II 152-pounder, Section 5 runner-up last season

Coventry's Christian Rutherford attempts some-take down points during his semifinal match with Nicholas Baccala from Ponaganset.
Coventry's Christian Rutherford attempts some-take down points during his semifinal match with Nicholas Baccala from Ponaganset.

160 pounds

There are five returning all-state wrestlers in this group and three of them are ranked in the top five in New York, while the remaining two are Ponaganset (Rhode Island) tandem Andrew Reall, a state champion, and Nick Baccala, who has finished in the top three at the Rhode Island state tournament in three straight seasons.

This field of 33 features a total of 23 returning sectional place-winners, five all-state grapplers and nine New York state-ranked wrestlers.

Top competition: 

  • Nick Baccala, Sr., Ponaganset (R.I.): Three-time all-state wrestler, placed third (2019) and second (2020, 2022) at Rhode Island state tournament

  • Sean Degl, Sr., Iona Prep: No. 6 state-ranked Division I 160-pounder, CHSAA state champion last season

  • Jack Forte, Sr., Clarke: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 160-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Connor Gregory, Sr., Ballston Spa: No. 1 state-ranked Division I 160-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Gage LaPlante, Jr., Starpoint: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 160-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Joe Mattei, Sr., Herricks: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 160-pounder

  • Kevin O'Sullivan, Sr., Pearl River: No. 7 state-ranked Division II 160-pounder

  • Andrew Reall, Jr., Ponaganset (R.I.): 2022 Rhode Island state champ, two-time all-state wrestler, also placed third at Rhode Island state tournament in 2020

  • Tyler Reed, Sr., Cornwall: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 160-pounder, Section 9 runner-up last season

Minisink Valley's Andrew Filip wrestles in the 189-pound match in the semi-final round of the NYSPHSAA wrestling championships at the MVP Arena in Albany on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Minisink Valley's Andrew Filip wrestles in the 189-pound match in the semi-final round of the NYSPHSAA wrestling championships at the MVP Arena in Albany on Saturday, February 26, 2022.

172 pounds

Half of the in-state wrestlers competing in this bracket are ranked in the top 15 state Division I and II rankings. The 37-wrestler field includes 25 returning sectional place-winners, seven all-state grapplers and 15 New York state-ranked wrestlers.

Top competition: 

  • Andrew Filip, Sr., Minisink Valley: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 172-pounder, all-state, placed fourth at states last season

  • Ryan Gilchrist, Sr., Norwalk (Conn.): All-state wrestler, placed third at Connecticut state tournament last season

  • Will Johnson, Sr., Brentsville (Va.): All-state wrestler, placed fifth at Virginia state tournament last season

  • Rafael Knapp, Sr., Algonquin Regional (Mass.): All-state wrestler, placed third at Massachusetts state tournament last season

  • Preston Marchesseault, So., Ponaganset (R.I.): All-state wrestler, placed third at Rhode Island state tournament last season

  • Michael Schaefer, Jr., Lancaster: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 172-pounder, 2020 Section 6 champion

  • Justin Soriano, Sr., Clarke: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 172-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Landon Smith, Sr., Saranac: No. 4 state-ranked Division II 172-pounder, Section 6 champion last season

  • Sam Szerlip, Jr., Nyack: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 172-pounder

  • Leo Venables, Jr., Carmel: No. 7 state-ranked Division I 172-pounder, Section 1 champion last season

  • Braidon Woodward, Jr., Canisteo-Greenwood: No. 1 state-ranked Division II 172-pounder, two-time all-state wrestler, placed fourth (2019) and third (2022) at states

Fox Lane's Alex Berisha (right) defeated New Rochelle's DeAndre Woods (left) in the 189-pound finals of the Murphy-Guccione Shoreline Classic wrestling tournament at New Rochelle High School on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.
Fox Lane's Alex Berisha (right) defeated New Rochelle's DeAndre Woods (left) in the 189-pound finals of the Murphy-Guccione Shoreline Classic wrestling tournament at New Rochelle High School on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.

189 pounds

The top of this bracket will be elite, with seven wrestlers ranked in the top five of the state's Division I and II rankings. There's also Norwalk's Brendan Gilchrist, who won a Connecticut state title and finished as the runner-up at the New England championships last season, defeating state champions from Massachusetts and Vermont on his way to the final.

Of the 30 participating wrestlers, 21 of them are returning sectional place-winners, five all-state finishers and 11 are ranked in the New York state rankings.

Top competition: 

  • Troy Austin, Sr., Whitehall: No. 5 state-ranked Division II 189-pounder, all-state, placed sixth at states last season

  • Alex Berisha, So., Fox Lane: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 189-pounder, unbeaten at 27-0

  • Eric Carlson, Sr., Manhasset: No. 1 state-ranked Division I 189-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Elijah Diakomihalis, So., Hilton: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 189-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Brendan Gilchrist, Sr., Norwalk (Conn.): 2022 Connecticut state champion, all-state, also finished second at New England championships

  • Jack McDonald, Jr., Orchard Park: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 189-pounder, Section 6 runner-up last season

  • Ethan Randall, Sr., Central Valley Academy: No. 3 state-ranked Division II 189-pounder, placed second at states last season

  • Bryson Tibbs, Jr., Middletown: No. 4 state-ranked Division I 189-pounder, Section 9 runner-up last season

Minisink Valley's Ethan Gallo wrestles in the 215-pound championship match at the NYSPHSAA state wrestling championships at the MVP Arena in Albany on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Minisink Valley's Ethan Gallo wrestles in the 215-pound championship match at the NYSPHSAA state wrestling championships at the MVP Arena in Albany on Saturday, February 26, 2022.

215 pounds

Minisink Valley's 215-pound titan, Ethan Gallo, leads a field that has plenty of decorated wrestlers. Gallo is ranked at No. 11 in FloWrestling's national rankings, and he's also No. 1 in the state's Division I 215-pound rankings, which shouldn't be a surprise as the defending state champ.

He's joined by another state champ and two-time all-state finisher, Homer's Sam Sorenson, who took the Division II state crown last season. This 29-man bracket is filled with 20 returning sectional place-winners, 10 state-ranked wrestlers and nine all-state grapplers.

Top competition:

  • Evan Day, Sr., Salem-Cambridge: No. 3 state-ranked Division II 215-pounder, all-state, placed third at states last season

  • Michael Diorio, So., Ponaganset (R.I.): All-state wrestler, placed fifth at Rhode Island state tournament last season

  • James Duhancik, Sr., Stratford (Conn.): All-state wrestler, 2022 Connecticut state tournament runner-up

  • Ethan Gallo, Sr., Minisink Valley: FloWrestling No. 11 nationally-ranked wrestler, No.1 state-ranked Division I 215-pounder, 2022 NYSPHSAA Division I state champion, two-time all-state, also placed sixth at states in 2020 and took eighth at 2020 Eastern States Classic

  • Darrien Insogna, Sr., Ballston Spa: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 215-pounder, all-state, placed seventh at states last season

  • Jhonnyel Ramirez, Sr., Danbury (Conn.): All-state wrestler, placed fourth at Connecticut state tournament last season

  • Trent Sibble, Sr., Bolivar-Richburg: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 215-pounder, all-state, placed second at states last season

  • Sam Sorenson, Sr., Homer: No. 1 state-ranked Division II 215-pounder, 2022 NYSPHSAA Division II champion, also placed fifth at states in 2020

  • Ben Velasquez, Sr., MacArthur: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 215-pounder

Iona Prep's Gabriel Garibaldi beat Harrison Brown from John Jay-Cross River during the Anthony Tortora Sr. Duals tournament at the Somers Sports Arena in Somers on Dec. 4, 2021.
Iona Prep's Gabriel Garibaldi beat Harrison Brown from John Jay-Cross River during the Anthony Tortora Sr. Duals tournament at the Somers Sports Arena in Somers on Dec. 4, 2021.

285 pounds

This may be the smallest bracket in terms of registered participants, but this 25-person field has no freebies.

Eighteen wrestlers are returning sectional place-winners, 10 are New York state-ranked grapplers and five of them have previously earned all-state honors. There are no fillers.

Top competition:

  • Nuh Adjindoski, Sr., Danbury (Conn.): All-state wrestler, placed third at Connecticut state tournament last season

  • Gabriel Garibaldi, Jr., Iona Prep: No. 3 state-ranked Division I 285-pounder

  • Cameron Gronicki, Sr., Mohonasen: No. 5 state-ranked Division I 285-pounder

  • Stephan Monchery, Jr., Middletown: No. 2 state-ranked Division I 285-pounder, placed fifth at states last season

  • Sebastian Regis, Jr., East Islip: No. 1 state-ranked Division I 285-pounder, all-state, placed second at states last season

  • Christian Solano, Jr., Eagle Academy-Bronx: No. 2 state-ranked Division II 285-pounder, all-state, placed eighth at states last season

  • Doug Traynor, Sr., New Fairfield (Conn.): All-state wrestler, 2022 Connecticut state tournament runner-up

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Wrestling: Weight-by-weight preview of the Eastern States Classic