Thirty-two local Division I wrestlers are ready to take the mats at Albany for the 2023 NYSPHSAA Tournament. Here's a class-by-class look at what lies ahead of them:
Section 1: Meet Section 1 wrestling's 2023 hall of fame induction class
Iona Prep: How the Gaels built themselves into a competitive power
NYSPHSAA: 2023 New York State wrestling championship seeds released
Fan information: Everything to know for the 2023 NYSPHSAA Tournament, and who's going to states
102 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 12 Nick Fortugno, Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake (34-6); No. 13 Charles Przymylski, Mahopac (34-9)
How often do you see teammates take the top two seeds in a single weight class at the NYSPHSAA Tournament?
Newburgh Free Academy's tandem of Cooper Merli (44-3) and Will Soto (43-5) sit atop the 102-pound class, and there's plenty of competition after them, including No. 3 seed Connor Sheridan of Hauppauge, the Eastern States Classic runner-up to Merli, and Eastern States fifth-place finisher Cullen Edwards of Frontier.
Both Fortugno and Przymylski are the higher seeds in their opening round matchups, but will have an uphill journey from there. Should Fortugno advance, he will face fifth-seeded and undefeated Ryan Munn of Carthage, while Przymylski would get Section 5 champion Jon Testa of Hilton.
Despite strong seasons, especially in the second half, neither Fortugno or Przymylski is ranked in the state rankings, so maybe a deep run will be what they need to turn some heads.
110 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 13 Ryan Ball, Somers/North Salem (39-3); No. 14 Diego Gonzalez, Tappan Zee (28-4)
Despite returning state champ Dunia Sibomana of Long Beach taking the top seed in the bracket, there's no real runaway favorite in this weight class, just plenty of competitive contenders and others like Ball and Gonzalez who are looking to crash the party.
A lot of the higher seeded wrestlers have traded wins and losses with one another or hold common opponent victories against those seeded ahead of them, so no one is invincible.
It'll be Ball and Gonzalez's first trip to states, and they'll start as the higher seed in their opening round matchups, which will be a nice way to settle into the atmosphere. They'll have tough tests waiting for them in the round of 16, against a pair of top-three finishers at Eastern States.
For Gonzalez, a senior, he'll look to end things on a high note, but for Ball, a freshman, this is only the beginning and this experience should be an important building block moving forward. Ball will be representing the Tuskers as their first NYSPHSAA qualifier and section champ since Dylan Realbuto in 2013.
118 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 10 Joe Ramirez, Mahopac (43-3); No. 11 Dillon Arrick, Arlington (46-5)
Their experiences battling in a top-heavy 118-pound weight class in Section 1 will help prepare them for another grueling gauntlet at states. Although they didn't receive a favorable seed, Arrick was able to earn all-state last season and find the podium as a 10-seed, so they'll try to channel a similar effort.
Ramirez opens up against Burnt Hills' Tyler Whiteley, who was all-state last season, so there will be an immediate test for him. Meanwhile, Arrick will get Indian River's Tomah Gummow, who will look to put together a better showing at states, after getting bounced out early as the No. 3 seed last year.
These two have made deep high-profile tournament runs, despite being under-seeded, and there's a good chance they continue that streak at states.
126 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 14 Joe Tornambe, Yorktown (34-4); No. 17 Justin Gierum, Fox Lane (30-4)
This is one of two weight classes where there will be no undefeated wrestlers in the bracket. While there are certainly tiers of contenders at 126, it's also considered to be one of the more wide-open brackets of the entire tournament.
There are six returning all-state wrestlers, including Tornambe, but also defending state champ Joe Manfredi of Herricks, who is only the No. 5 seed. Niagara Falls' all-state tandem of Jaden Crumpler (37-1) and Amarfio Reynolds (33-5) hold the top two seeds of the bracket.
Wantagh's heavy-hitter Joe Clem potentially awaits Tornambe, while Gierum would be matched up with top-seeded Crumpler if he advances.
No love from the seeding committee here, and Tornambe and Gierum will have to push their way through as underdogs to the podium in the consolation bracket, unless they're able to pull off massive upsets.
132 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 6 Justin Shay, Iona Prep (51-0); No. 8 Josh Hametz, Horace Greeley (40-4); No. 17 Robert DePolito, North Rockland (38-9)
After a couple sectional tournament upsets and injuries to high state-ranked wrestlers outside of the Lower Hudson Valley, defending state champion Tyler Ferrara of Chenango Forks, who enters 29-0, is looking like the early clear favorite.
Outside of Section 1, Miller Place's Mike Giugliano, Plainedge's Luke Nieto and Burnt Hills' returning all-state standout Liam Carlin will be in contention.
The Lower Hudson Valley trio will be an interesting group to watch. Shay is thriving and will look to go far in his first postseason, after getting his sophom*ore season cut short in Connecticut, where he was the top-ranked wrestler in the state before a season-ending injury.
Hametz is enjoying a career-best season and has been one of the biggest rising stars in the section, while DePolito, a grizzled senior, won't go down without a fight in his second trip to Albany.
138 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 10 Paolo Ciatto, Iona Prep (46-5); No. 17 Thomas Iasiello, Scarsdale (32-5); No. 19 Greg Casvikes, Clarkstown South (35-3)
Top two seeds, Rocky Point's Nick LaMorte (40-0) and Monroe-Woodbury's Jordan Brown (39-1) are on a collision course to meet once again, after LaMorte handed Brown his only loss of the season, a 3-0 result, en route to the Eastern States championship.
Third-seeded Tom Bonasera of Wantagh will also be in the hunt. At 47-4, he only has two in-state losses, both of which came against LaMorte and Brown.
It's possible that Ciatto, Iasiello and Casvikes run into these three top seeds in the main bracket.Although local wrestlers didn't get any favors with seeding, they might turn some heads and command respect from the rest of the state if they can string together wins and place.
145 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 8 Matt Masch, Ketcham (43-2); No. 12 Max Watson, Iona Prep (37-1); No. 20 Tyce Vandergoot (34-8)
Eastern States champion, nationally-ranked junior and Michigan commit Cam Catrabone headlines a competitive 145-pound bracket.
Once the tournament gets down to the quarterfinals, the remaining rounds will be compelling to watch, with narrow margins separating the top wrestlers in this weight class. Masch and Watson seem primed to go far.
Masch was the highest-placing wrestler from the Lower Hudson Valley at the loaded Eastern States Classic, so he's proven that he can compete with some of the best around.
Meanwhile, Watson has been nearly perfect and a fixture in the state's top 10 rankings. An injury prevented him from competing at Eastern States, but he's ready to put the state on notice.
As for Vandergoot, he's taken great strides after missing out on the postseason last year, and he's no stranger to defying the odds.
152 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 7 Eric Grant, Iona Prep (53-0); No. 10 Cam Wierl, John Jay-Cross River (34-8); No. 20 Anthony Lofaro, Ossining (19-3)
For the second straight year, Grant has a chance to topple the Section 1 champ. There will be a rare Lower Hudson Valley opening round matchup between him and Wierl.
Last season, Grant defeated Mamaroneck's section champ Owen Deutsch on his way to a blood-round finish. This year, he'll have a rematch against Wierl, who he defeated in the Westchester County finals by technical fall.
Wierl has shown great consistency over the last month and mental toughness to triumph in close matches, and will aim for revenge. Grant has the tools to put together a deep run, but Wierl and Lofaro should be interesting to watch as first-time NYSPHSAA tournament attendees.
Wierl came out on top in a competitive weight class in Section 1, while Lofaro surpassed doctors' expectations after a football injury nearly took away the entire season.
160 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 5 Tristan Robinson-July, Ossining (43-6); No. 8 Sean Degl, Iona Prep (45-5); No. 19 Stephen Carroll, Lakeland/Panas (37-8)
Experiencing defeat at the Eastern States Classic seemed to be the turning point for Robinson-July. He made it to the second day, but missed the podium, and he hasn't lost a match since then. He enters as the highest-seeded wrestler in all of Section 1.
Last year, he went winless at states, but will look to go far this time around. There's a chance he gets an opportunity at revenge against Cornwall's Tyler Reed, the 4-seed, in the quarterfinals. Reed defeated him by major decision at the Mid-Hudson Tournament.
Also keep an eye on Degl, who barely missed the podium last season, losing in the blood round after a deep run as a 19-seed. This year, Degl took sixth at the Eastern States Classic, so he's capable of competing with the best.
Like several other weight classes, the top of the bracket became a bit more manageable after Starpoint canceled the remainder of its season for off-mat controversy, as returning all-state wrestler and Eastern States champ Gage LaPlante likely would've been the top seed.
Lastly, Carroll has an uphill climb, but he'll try to go the route that former teammate Connor McGannon took last year, shocking a few others outside of the section during a deep run into the blood round at Albany.
172 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 11 Leo Venables, Carmel (36-4); No. 12 Sam Szerlip, Nyack (31-6)
After grinding their way through a top-heavy 172-pound division to secure their spot to states, Venables and Szerlip will have to gear up for another highly-competitive bracket at Albany. Despite being ranked in the top five in the state, the two Section 1 standouts didn't get any favors with seeding.
Venables will aim for a better showing at states, after going winless last year. His first opponent, 6-seed Mike Schaefer, lost to Szerlip, 6-3, at Eastern States, so there's some solace for Venables. If Szerlip can win his opening round matchup, he'll face 5-seed Luke Smeader, who didn't last long at Eastern States and went 1-2, while Szerlip took sixth.
After that, the top seeds will be tough to crack. Brady Unger is 42-0 and has been the top-ranked 172-pounder in the state all season. Second-seeded Andrew Filip of Minisink Valley and third-seeded Justin Soriano of Clarke each finished in the top four at states last season.
While the road might be difficult, it's possible that Section 1 gets both of its representatives on the podium in this weight class.
189 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 7 Alex Berisha, Fox Lane (45-2); No. 17 DeAndre Woods, New Rochelle (33-3)
It's been a dream season for Woods, who came back after missing the last couple of years due to season-ending injuries and challenges from COVID-19. Now, a senior in his first full varsity season, he's on his way to states.
The road won't be easy. If he can win his opening round matchup, he'll be slotted to take on nationally-ranked two-time state champion Zack Ryder of Minisink Valley.
As for Berisha, a seventh-place finisher at Eastern States, he's been one of the most pound-for-pound dominant wrestlers in Section 1 this season, while only being a sophom*ore.
Expect him to be firmly in the running for a podium spot. He'll likely cross paths with second-seeded Elijah Diakomihalis in the quarterfinals, the latest of the highly-decorated wrestling brothers. It'll serve as a fun test and a potential match to make a massive statement, otherwise, he'll have to make some noise in wrestlebacks.
215 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 12 Yiorgos Georgas, Suffern (18-2); No. 14 Nathan Brauning, Fox Lane (25-10)
These two seniors enjoyed breakout seasons and now they'll look to close their varsity careers on a high note. They are both the favorites according to seeding in their opening round matches, and then it'll be a steep climb from there.
Nationally-ranked defending state champion Ethan Gallo of Minisink Valley is the favorite to repeat, but Ballston Spa's Darrien Insogna, a returning all-state finisher, Hilton's 41-0 Nate Kasper, as well as Bellport's Jaiden Green, Central Square's Rocky Files and Middletown's Bryson Tibbs should also be in contention for a podium finish.
Georgas and Brauning have had some experience going up against state-ranked caliber opposition, and they'll try to elevate their game even higher as they try to scrape together as many wins to keep their journeys going as long as possible.
285 pounds
Local wrestlers: No. 14 Gabriel Garibaldi, Iona Prep (37-3); No. 16 Dimitri Pierre, East Ramapo (19-3); No. 20 Justin Smoot, Clarkstown North (39-3)
How will Pierre's storybook comeback season end?
After three years away from wrestling to overcome Stage 4 cancer, the East Ramapo senior was able to win a Section 1 title in dramatic fashion, but now, he and the other two Lower Hudson Valley representatives will have an uphill climb ahead after drawing lower seeds in the bracket.
This bracket is brimming with heavyweight talent, with Eastern States champ Stephan Monchery of Middletown sitting atop the bracket. Last year's state runner-up Sebastian Regis, who is 46-1, will also be in the mix.
It's also the only weight class where the top four seeds align with the Division I state rankings, so keep an eye out for Colonie's Will Hotaling and Mohonasen's Cameron Gronicki.
If there's any solace for Garibaldi, Pierre and Smoot, last year's 285-pound bracket featured three all-state finishers seeded outside of the top 10, which was tied for the second-most in the Division I NYSPHSAA championships.
Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at@erapay5and on Instagram at@byeugenerapay.
