Top ranked Yianni Diakomihalis of Hilton.

Top ranked Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State.

Top ranked Adam Busiello of Eastport South Manor.

Top ranked Brian Realbuto of Cornell.

NEW YORKERS WRESTLERS - NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED

By Jim & Tony Nordland

     Fifteen nationally acclaimed wrestlers headline the NYS Rankings that feature two top-ranked wrestlers in the country. Both, Adam Busiello (102-7 career) a freshman of Eastport South Manor at 106 and junior Yianni Diakomihalis (191-3) of Hilton, now at 138 pounds, claim the top spot in the national rankings. Reigning state king Busiello won the Super 32 and Diakomihalis has garnered three state crowns and recently captured the Cadet World Championships, he has been unstoppable over his career and leads a strong Hilton HS team from Section Five (Rochester area) that includes teammate Louie DePrez (165-29) ranked 9th nationally at 170 pounds. Another Section 5 rep is sophomore Frankie Gissendanner (154-10), 9th at 145 of Penfield. Long Islanders that are nationally ranked include junior Vito Arujau (148-1) of Syosset, 3rd rated at 132, Thomas Cox (6th at 113) of Deer Park, Peter Pappas (14th at 126) of Plainview and the Hauppauge tandem of Jake Silverstein (19th at 120) and Chris Mauriello (215 career wins), ranked 17th at 152. Other elite LI matmen are Princeton-bound Christian Araneo (145-29) of Ward Melville, 7th at 195 pounds and John Glenn's Edwin Rubio (138-9) holds the 10th spot at 285 pounds. Other nationally recognized grapplers include Holland Patent's Alex Herringshaw (218-30) at 160, Kevin Parker (179-40) at 170 of Shenenendehowa, both ranked 13th in their respective weight classes, Kelan McKenna (126-23) 14th at 120 of New Hartford and Poly Prep's Leonard Merkin, 17th in the 145 pound class.

   Defending Division I state champions include; two-time winner sophomore Jacori Teemer (112-4) of Long Beach and John Arceri (150-22) of Huntington, both are in the 126-pound class. Returning Div. II winners are AJ Burkhart (88-9) of Waverly at 113, Jonathan Gomez (88-6) of Locust Valley, Theo Powers (183-43) of Mexico, both are at 120, Kellen Devlin (221-5)  of Amherst at 126 and Holland Patent's Hunter Richard ( 182-23) at 145 pounds. Three former Division II gold medalists from 2014 return; Dane Heberlein (150-9)  of Alexander, Matteo DeVincenzo (Port Jefferson) and Hunter Dusold (Locust Valley), that elite trio are all in the 126-pound class.

MAT NOTES:

     The Empire State's top team appears to be Monroe-Woodbury, they are ranked 32nd in the nation according to both Amateur Wrestling News and InterMat. The perennial Section Nine power has a strong dual squad that includes Dylan Earl (106), Marco Vespa (113), Anthony Stramiello (120), Kevin Kelly (132), state placer Evan Barczak (152), Kendall Elfstrum (182) and state finalist Nick McShea at 220 pounds. In a recent dual meet in Section Eight (Nassau County), the winning team posted a 90-0 shutout. The dual had eight falls (7 pins in the first period) and seven forfeits. The entire dual took 7 minutes and 42 seconds, not really good for wrestling...On the NCAA scene two New York natives are No. 1 in their weight classes - national finalist Brian Realbuto (Somers HS) now at Cornell at 174, and two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski (Duanesburg HS) now at NC State in the 285-pound class...