All fourteen returning NYS champions advanced to the semifinal round at the 53rd annual NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany. Defending sectional team champion Section Eleven has a commanding lead and is lead by three-time winner Nick Piccininni (224-5 career) of Ward Melville, who has recorded two tech falls at 126, and Chris Mauriello (203-20 career) of Hauppauge in the 160 pound class.

     Sitting in second place is Section Eight who have been paced by their three returning state kings, Jacori Teemer (98-4) of Long Beach at 106, Kyle Quinn (158-16) from Wantagh at 113, and Vito Arujau (134-1) of Syosset at 132 pounds.

     Section Five is currently in third place and is led by two-time champion sophomore Yanni Diakomihalis (175-3) who was has posted two falls at 120. Another Section Five returning champ is Dave Heberlein (51-2) of Alexander at 113 in Division II.

     Norwich teammates and reigning champions Tristan Rifanburg (44-1) at 145 and Frank Garcia (44-1) at 152 have rolled into the semifinal round in their respective weight classes. Long Island Divison II champions Matteo DeVincenzo (39-0) of Port Jefferson and Hunter Dusold (30-2) of Locust Valley are both lodged in the 120 pound bracket.

     In the individual team scores in Division I Hilton is leading with 38 points followed by Hauppauge (32) and Monroe-Woodbury (31). The Division II team leader is Locust Valley with 46 points followed by Mexico (43) and Warsaw (36.5).

Sachem East's Sean Dee cradles Roosevelt's Monair Macdonald to win 5-0 at 285 pounds.

Vincent Feola of Walt Whitman singles Elmer Mendez of Port Washington. Feola won this 220 pound quarterfinal 8-4.

Plainedge's Andrew Rakitsis single legs Queensbury's Chris Goudy to win 5-3 in OT at 195 as coaches Matt Cellan and Rob Shaver look on.

Ward Melville's Christian Araneo battle Freeport's Deny Tavarez and won this close 195 pound quarterfinal 4-3.

Francisco Bisono of Hauppauge  hangs on to Travis Race of Fulton to win 10-3 at 170.

Hauppauge's Chris Mauriello, the defending New York State champion works for a takedown on Ballston Spa's Tyler Barnes. Mauriello used a series of slick single takedowns to win this 160 pound quarterfinal bout 17-6. Suffolk County has a commanding lead early into the tournament.

John Glenn's Brandon Aviles controls Vinnie Darpino of Newark Valley en route to a 6-3 victory at 160.

Jakob Restrepo of Sachem East bar arms Elias Kokalis of great Neck South. Restrepo came away with a 5-3 win at 152.

Jake Einbinder of Bethpage singles Tristan Broddus of Fayetteville-Manlius winning this 145 quarterfinal 4-1.

Commack's Mike D"Angelo uses a bar arm on James Matias of Rocky Point. D'Angelo won 2-1 at 138.

Brad Wade of Islip secures near fall points on Ricky Stamm of Levittown Division to win 8-1 at 138.

Vito Arujau of Syosset controls Dalton Powell of Suffern and picks up the fall at 132.

East Islip's Jesse Dellavecchia rides Mosignor Farrell's Matt Dietz and comes away with a 3-1 victory at 132.

Nick Piccininni of Ward Melville controls Dom Inzana of Saratoga picking up a 17-1 tech fall at 126.

Hilton's Yanni Diakomihlais takesdown Syosset's Alex Vargas en route to a fall in the 120 pound quarterfinal.

Wantagh's Kyle Quinn is in control of Rocky Point's Anthony Cirillo in the 113 pound quarterfinal. Quinn came away with a 2-1 victory as Nassau rests in second place.

2015 NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

 QUARTERFINALS